It is not the heat, it is the humidity

So here is a little pop quiz.

On Friday in Royalton, MN, it was -11 degrees with a 5 mph wind, while in Mason City, IA, it was 15 degrees with a 15 mph wind.  Which place is "colder?"

When I moved up to Alaska, most people said the same thing - Oh boy, I bet that will be cold!  And don't get me wrong, it was cold.  Many times when I would travel to Fairbanks and Delta Junction and it would be -20, -30 and yes, -40 degree weather.  Up there it's completely normal to have a block heater hooked up to your car when it was parked overnight and to leave the engine running while delivering daffodils because if you didn't they would freeze.  Ever smelled thawing daffodils?  It is ain't a pretty smell.

But I learned something about being cold when I moved back to Iowa after my time in Alaska - once you hit 10 degrees, it just feels cold no matter the number, but once you add in a 25 mph wind, well that is down right cold.  Iowa is a tricky state, it can seem to be really nice outside until your eye wonders down to the wind report on weather.com and then your day automatically changes.  You look out and think, "Mmmm.  What a beautiful day, I should get out and ride!"  Then you walk outside and bam!  You are hit with a 20 mph wind gust that fills your lungs with the smell of sunshine and barn.  Yum.

But as bad as the wind can make a sunny, warm day in July, it only makes it 500 million, bagillion times worse in the winter.  You know you phase - it isn't the heat it is the humidity?  Well in the midwest it should be changed in the winer to it isn't the subzero temps, it is the soul sucking wind chill.  Wind that makes your face feel like it is going to fall off as you walk around the corner of a building and straight into a new direction of wind.

Braving the cold at the Hollidazzle Parade
 with Rachel, myself, Carl and Amber

This past weekend I traveled down to the the Twin Cities for my Birthday celebration.  The weekend consisted of some typical "Minnesotan" things - trip to the Mall of America and IKEA followed by the Hollidazzle Parade and dinner.  I had friends from both the Cities and Iowa coming to celebrate the big 2-8 with me.  On top of a recent snowfall, the state was enjoying the sunshine and cold temps that followed the storm.  Nothing says welcome to winter like doing the no-jacket-shuffle up seven flights of stairs in a over crowded parking garage, listening to how your friends managed to get their cuddle duds to fit under their skinny jeans, and of course by spending 30 minutes bundling up your body to stand and watch a lighted parade in downtown Minneapolis for 5 minutes before running back to your heated hotel room.

As much as I may complain about the cold, I know that it is what makes me stronger as a person.  You know you are a true Minnesotan when you are willing to bypass your shoes to run out to your car quick to grab your cellphone.  But the best part about living where it is cold, is finding out the things that truly make you warm.  From spending time with friends and family to remembering why you love the state you were raised in and recently moved back to.  The fun conversations shared over a fireplace; new games played while eating pickle dip in a warm hotel room; and the joy that a remote car start brings to your life.  Things that truly make you warm inside.

At the end of day, it may be cold outside and the wind may blow but all the memories that happen while trying to stay warm makes it totally worth it.  Because in the end the best part of being cold is that you can only get warmer.  That is, unless the wind picks up.