What Illinoisans Pretend To Love But Secretly Hate About Winter

I'll always say it: I love living in Illinois, but when winter rolls around I kind of have regrets.

We all go through the winter wonderland experience when the first snowfall hits, then reality sets in.  The snow doesn't stop, the cold get colder.  We get sick.  Noses start to run.  Not a fun time.

What Illinoisans Pretend To Love But Secretly Hate About Winter

We act like it’s the best thing ever, like we’re all going to gather outside to build snowmen and make snow angels.  But really, we’re panicking because we forgot to put the snow brush back in the car.

I'm guilty of it, are you?

The layers.  The fashion.  You never really fully prepare yourself for winter.  Uggs, a scarf, and some gloves won't cut it.  You better be prepared to wear three layers under your coat because the wind is slicing through you at 40 mph. We all have that one coat that makes us look like a walking sleeping bag — and we feel like the abominable snowman.

Don't even get me started on driving in the winter.  Every year, I say I'll leave early for work and take it slow on the roads.  Then, I end up sliding around North Second because I hit black ice.  Not fun at all.  Scary stuff, actually.

I always tell myself, “Oh, it’s winter! You just adjust!” No, no.  You don't.

Oh, and shoveling.  Hands down the worst chore on the planet Earth.  Snow is heavy. It's sticky, wet, and messy.  And if you shovel too early, it snows again just to humble you.

And finally, the biggest thing we pretend to love? “The holiday vibes.”  Unless you decorate and deck out your house every year, or splurge on gifts for everyone, it's just a long few months stuck inside hoping spring arrives early.