I never really understood the meaning of a winter wonderland. Since I have lived for most of my life in warmer climates, it usually causes some trepidation every time I encounter snow and ice. This winter has been no exception. I've been spending a lot of time in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. Needless to say, there has been a lot of snow so far. It has been a few years since I have experienced freezing temperatures that actually hurt with just a few seconds of exposure.
While the fresh snow looks nice, it does have its challenges. Rental car companies don't provide the shovels and ice picks that I needed in the last several trips. The snow and ice were challenging in Duluth and Minneapolis, and I really needed that shovel in Chicago and Grand Rapids after experiencing the same snow storm twice in the same week. The small brush and ice scraper that I had available was just not enough to dig myself out of the parking lot.
There are still several more weeks of winter, and I'm not quite finished with my travels into Minnesota for now. I have yet to understand this concept of a winter wonderland. However, I do wonder when this winter will end.
See ya.
