Well, Chicagoans, winter is indeed upon us. I know because my mom text me this morning at nine to tell me so.
"Bundle up, it's going to be cold and windy by you today"
What? Cold and windy you say? In Chicago? Say it ain't so, Ma? I jest. It truly is cold here. It's the deceiving type of cold though.
You wake up in the morning with the sunlight streaming through your window. You walk through the living room to see the cat happily laying in the sun and he does that little stretch and roll which means "look how cute I am! PET ME!" So you end up spending five minutes or so lying in the sun petting the cat with a little smile on your face thinking "what a great day". You go into the kitchen and start to make your morning cup of coffee and even pour yourself a bowl of cereal, go ahead, be adventurous it's a beautiful day outside! You pour yourself that perfect cup of coffee (just enough sugar and that perfect splash of cream; not like those bitches down at Dunkin Donuts do it.. "sugar and just a little bit of cream." You end up drinking coffee flavored milk, ick) and that's when you know for sure that this is going to be THE day. Today you'll be walking with that extra pep in your step, you'll grab the bull by the horns, you'll...wait a second...what is that noise? No...it can't be. Ahhh, but you live in Chicago and you will never ever forget this sound.
That is the sound of the wind picking up and what little leaves are left on the trees rustling together. Then your windows start to rattle, because you live in a building that was erected in the 1930's and even though they are beautiful you're pretty sure that these are those original windows. Through the wavy glass of one window you see it. The trees violently swaying to and fro, thrashing even, trees smacking into other trees. "Alright," you say to yourself "it's a little windy out, the sun is still shining and there's not a cloud in the sky." And then you do it. Coffee cup in hand you unlock the back door and the wind throws the door open and the chill from outside penetrates your apartment. You manage to fight the wind and close the back door. You are determined to not let this ruin your perfect day, so you decided to continue on with your usual routine.
You shower and pick something to wear. You recently bought a new pair of jeggings those would look nice...long sleeves? Where did all of your long sleeve shirts go? Two? You have two long sleeve shirts?? You live in Chicago, how is this possible? No matter. Wear the white one. Ok. Great. Now you dry your hair and it looks perfect, you've never seen your hair look so good! It must be that new heat protectant you've been using. Then you put on some makeup. Hot damn! You look amazing! The hair...the face...the clothes, ahh yes a perfect day! Now you get your "winter" coat out of the closet and grab a scarf. Gloves? You should probably wear gloves. Where the fuck are the gloves? Sock drawer...you're sure there's a pair in the sock drawer and there is. Then you remember that you can't use your iphone with gloves on. Stupid fucking touch screen! How am I supposed to keep my hands warm and change songs at the same time?!? You find that pair of fingerless gloves hidden in the back of the drawer, these will have to do, even though your fingers are not protected from the elements, which is more important? Fingers or skipping that Ke$ha song you bought when you were drunk? Coat, scarf, gloves...hat? A hat? Shit...you suddenly flashback to last winter and you see yourself "thinking" you put your hat in your purse and, oh no, you miss the purse and your hat lands in the slushy snow mess outside of Hamburger Mary's! NOOOOOOOOOO! Your poor little ears will be so cold. You glance at the clock, "Shit." you say to no one in particular. You're running late. You must leave the house now!!
You run down the front stairs and pause at the front door, brace yourself now, the first chill is always the worst. You open the door and wind whips around your body. Not so bad, alright, now just 15 minutes until you're at the train. The wind picks up as you cross Clark street and your perfect hair is now in your perfect face, sticking to your lips. You should know better than to put chapstick on before you go outside in the windy city. Your pushing against the wind, but it's putting up a good fight, almost knocking you to the ground a few times. You're almost there now you can see the train through the perfect hair in your face. If you had a hat you wouldn't be having this problem. You're in the train vestibule and about to go through the turn style, when you hear it...another sound that you know so well...
The train. Your train. Passing right above you. You can do this! You can make it! Quickly now! Through the turn style and up the stairs, taking them two at a time. You make it to the platform and run to the first car you see...NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! The doors are closed and the train is pulling away...fuck. You wait under the heat lamps, you're still freezing. Another train should be here soon, so says the iphone. And soon enough you are on the red line heading to work. You settle in, turn on your kindle and start to read that book that you love. You think you hear someone's phone ringing...but it's not stopping. You lift your eyes from your book and hone in on that asshole who decided he wants the entire train to know what he's listening to! WHY? Just tune him out. Just another 25 minutes. Maybe he'll get off before you. No such luck, he gets off at Jackson, same as you.
You work your shift and the only thing that makes this messed up perfect day better is seeing your regulars who laugh with you about the weather and you swap winter horror stories. You tell them the one about the hat. After your shift is over it's time to get back on the dreaded red line. You get to the platform and hear that guy who raps...he's not very good, but he always has a crowd. Thankfully, a train comes quickly. The sun has gone down now and it's ten degrees colder then when you left earlier, but the wind has subsided. Why do you live here? It's freezing cold...in NOVEMBER. You have to walk everywhere in the cold. What's going to happen to you when there's snow on the ground and, somehow, the slush saturates your boots to the point where your socks are wet?
You see the playground! You're almost there. If you run you could make this light. You pick up the pace and miss the light. No matter, you're almost home, you could cry you're so happy. You make it across the street and up the stairs. Aaaaaa...home.
You take off your coat and scarf and lay them over the chair. You peek in the kitchen to see your boyfriend opening up a bottle of your favorite wine...and he has two glasses. And you're reminded of why you do live here and why you do actually like winter.
Winter is the time for red wine and watching three movies in one night. Winter is the time for staying in bed an extra five minutes because it's just so warm under the blankets. Winter is the time for beating video games in two days, because there's nothing else to do. Winter is the time for self evaluation and getting back to you. Winter is...
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