Snow in Chicago is not like Snow in Wales

Yes, the snow is white in both places. Yes, it still falls from the sky. Yes, you can build snowmen out of it.

But....

In Chicago, there are plows. Here in Cusop, the cars just flatten out the snow.

In Chicago, sidewalks are shoveled. Here in Cusop, peoples feet walking (because they can't drive on the road, because it isn't plowed) flatten the snow.*

*Unless, of course, you consider our short drive, which has been shoveled by Boo and his boy-sized plastic shovel.

In Chicago, we would grumble because the roads are so bad, climb into our minivans and SUVs, and struggle down the road. Here, people just pull on their wellies and their snow hats, load the littler ones in strollers or sleds, and get walking.

In Chicago, the salt trucks hit the road before the snow starts, here, they spread a bit of grit, and deliver grit or salt to the box up the road. You go get some and spread it yourself.

In Chicago, I would open my garage door and start the car, so it would be warm when the kids got in. Here, I pry open my frozen doors, pray the battery on my hybrid keeps running so that the car will warm up, then scrape the windows. Outside, and inside.

In Chicago, we grumble about the snow, and keep moving. Here, we raid the grocery stores, emptying the shelves of bread, eggs and milk, and hunker down. (Jill, I finally get what you deal with in Southern Illinois.)

In Chicago, if the snow was on the ground, the kids wouldn't be allowed outside for recess without snowpants and snowboots. Here, everyone goes outside to play, no matter the weather - snow, rain, and I've seen kids outside with weather in the 30s and no coats.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not knocking it here. I'm thinking that those Chicago weathers I've endured have made me soft!