[wirthjason]

Growing up in Chicago as a kid I was always envious of people living in places where it never got “freeze your ass off” cold. They seemed magical. Not needing a heavy coat, being able to go outside in the the winter. I was young and didn’t really know any better. The Chicago summer is nice this time of year but winter can be brutal. I couldn’t fathom the downsides of the summer.

I’ve come to realize that it’s quite different, all the things I enjoyed as a kid, playing outside, riding bikes, backyard sports, etc. are all but impossible in that kind of heat.

I’m not sure which area is better prepared for climate change but reading these articles makes me appreciate where I grew up and remind me, when I’m freezing my ass off, that sometimes the winters aren’t so bad. As my parents used to say, “you can always wear an extra sweater but there’s only so many you can take off.”