He was sure this city would have won me over by now

...even without his relentless campaign.

Everything is so much better here, he says.

“You should be getting a check from the Midwest Visitors and Convention Bureau,” I say.

“You should stop being such a whiner,” he says.

But we are no closer to resolving our geographic differences.

Our positions have hardened like the crust of dirty ice hanging off the bottom of my car.

The colder it gets, the more he pretends to love the weather.  The more he pretends to love the weather, the colder I get.

“I love this weather,” he says, almost every day. “It feels so fresh.”

I make a mental note to check out EPA air quality studies for Chicago vs. Miami. “Yeah, it’s fresh,” I say.  “These are fresh tears frozen to my cheeks.”

In the morning, I scan the newspapers for weather-related mishaps.

“Look at this,” I say. “A man was killed clearing snow off his car.”

He takes the paper from my hands.

“He was shot,” he says.  “People get shot in Miami.”

“Yes,” I say. “But they die warm.”

Overnight snow has left the driveway impassable. “Wake up winter boy,” I say.  “I need to get the car out.”

But he cannot be broken. He gets up and shovels the driveway without complaint.

What will it take, I wonder, to make him see things like I do? 

He looks out the window in the morning and he sees a Currier & Ives print. He walks to the train station in icy rain and thinks how lucky he is not to be stuck in traffic. 

“Isn’t it nice being in a place where the seasons actually change?” he says.

“From snow to mud?” I say.

But he never gives up.  He puts in heated floors and buys me palm trees.  “So I can watch them die? I say.

But they don’t.  And neither do I.

The truth is, I am struggling with my commitment to hate this place.  I blame the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Greek restaurants, Michigan Avenue, Second City and men in long black coats.

Also, it turns out I look good in boots.

Photo: Some see the world through tulip-colored glasses. 

Comments

[Foolery]

Take a little strain out of the relationship: move to a place you BOTH hate equally.

[Ben]

Aww, the cold isn't THAT bad, and winter is so pretty. Especially once you get an ice storm and the trees become crystallized, it's amazing.

[whit]

I'll take seasons over hurricanes any day. Can't say I like the wind though.

[Lisa]

And what about the pier? Don't you just love the men in uniform???

[Mish]

I live in Miami, and while chicago is a bit too cold, I NEED SEASONS!!! Hot and less hot dont count.

[Catherine]

What a great post! I'm adding it to my shared items. My husband is from San Diego, I'm from Minnesota, and we too live in Chicago. A bird can marry a fish...but where will they live? ;)

[Whimspiration]

Thanks for the chuckle. *smile*

I was born in Florida, he was born in Maine. We live in Missouri, the perfect in between. *grin*

Hope it all works out!

[suddenly suburban]

I love it here - love the changing seasons and the fall colors, the snow, the summers, even with the humidity that causes my hair to defy all natural laws - but this part of the year - this bitter cold - not so much