Things I Hate About Winter

Winter theoretically begins on the winter solstice, December 21. Here in Minnesota, however, we start one, usually two months before that, and go on way past the vernal equinox in March. We accept this. We know what is going to happen, and we stoically plod on through our lives, as it is as normal as the sun coming up in the east every morning. It's what we do, it's where we are, it's the life we have chosen.
There are, however, some annoying things which my relatives in California and Washington State don't think about when I beg them to feel sorry for me.
Darkness. Here at lattitude 44, it's dark WAY too long. As I write this at 4:15 PM, the sun is tickling the horizon and will be gone in about 15 minutes. We rejoice for the winter solstice, knowing we will gain a precious few minutes of light every day for the next 6 months.
My brakes. One of the things we learn to do is driving without the use of our brakes. We have learned to drive with our accelerators only. Braking, even with anti-locks, on an icy road is asking for a spin, a fishtail, an increase in our insurance premium, and an otherwise really bad day. I like my breaks. I'd like to be able to use them year around.
Snow. When there is a big snowfall, we love our snow removal workers, snowplow drivers, etc. They should get all the plates of Christmas cookies baked in the midwest. They do a splendid job of scooping us out. We want it off our streets, sidewalks, parking lots, our driveways,etc, but we don't really think about where they PUT IT. Initially, it goes from the street back in our driveways, and that give and take goes on for a while. Streets get a buildup on the side or in the middle of the road, then several days later they may scoop it up in trucks and take it - where??? the Mississippi? Lake Superior??. Often it builds up along the streets. Corners are huge bunkers. No way to tell if another car is coming. You just have to nose out and hope they are able to stop (see last para.)
By spring, if we haven't had a thaw, the roads get so narrow because of side buildup you just close your eyes and hope that no one is coming toward you in the tunnel that used to be 4th Avenue.
Mittens. Absolutely necessary accessories. Gloves are for wimps. Good mittens save digits. Every year I splurge on good mittens, usually thick wool or down. I do this every year because they wear out or usually, I loose one of them.  For all their splendor, however, mittens are awkward. Hard to use a key, pick up a piece of paper, turn radio dials, fish coins out of your handbag to pay for your hot coffee at the drive-in.
Everything freezes. This includes your water bottle you keep in the car, your iPod and GPS in your car, your tires (ka-bump, ka-bump), and if you aren't careful, you and your friends and pets.
Walking. Best done in a mall or a SuperTarget during the winter. Those of us living in a winter climate adopt a strange, sort of waddling walk in the winter. It keeps our feet on the ground whilst maintaining our center of gravity in the center of our body. Compacted snow turns into dense, hard (10 on the mohs scale) ice and stays until sometime in May of June in many shaded places. We all know about YakTrax.
Is there anything I LIKE about winter? I have been thinking about that for several days.
1. it's closer to spring than fall
2. Being retired (too cold? oh, well...)
3. vacations
4. cats do not try to get out the front door

Six months from now, we will be complaining about the heat and of course, the humidity.