So when the forecast said that snow was on the way I snapped to action.
“Hi!” I say to the man at the Toyota place. “So here’s the deal. I’m from California, this is my first real winter, and I need to get my car ready.”
“Okay.”
“So…I need a little help in terms of what kind of stuff to get.”
“Well, you’ll need like, an ice scraper, a shovel…”
“Okay. I have a scraper. Do you guys sell shovels?”
“No.”
"Okay. Do you think I need anything else besides that?"
"That's totally up to you."
“Right. But if you were me, what would YOU do?”
"It really varies."
"Um, right. But so like, I'd rather be prepared for the worst then get into some disaster situation. So like, washer fluid, snow-melting stuff...?"
"Maybe some washer fluid."
I look to the shelf with ten different brands of washer fluid.
"Which one would you recommend?"
"Well, really, its up to you. Whatever you prefer."
"Okay, sorry, but let me reiterate. I'm from California..."
“Wait,” he says, as though just waking up. “You’re from California?”
“Yep.”
“And this is your first winter?”
“That's right.”
“Ha!!! Good luck.”
After twenty more minutes of deep discussion with the man, about five more repetitions of "Totally up to you" and me repeating that I genuinely needed HELP, I walked out with a new scraper (bigger and better than my original one and with a handy little brush on the side), winter wipers and a giant plastic container of bright blue washer fluid. Looks like a sports drink and works as low as -25 degrees. Got a $9 shovel at home depot, and today when I woke up the city was covered in a soft white blanket.
Ironically enough, nobody on the news, radio, or in the streets were excited. Their tones seemed to be saying "Well, here we go. Its official now. No more warmth for another three to four months. Super."
I went to Lexington to walk Keely (Uncle Nick & Aunt Becky's doggie), and was glad to spend time with someone who shared the same fascination as me. Look how beautiful it is! Look how wintery it looks! This is the beginning of the real east coast experience!
In general, my experience is that when I am outside for a while, it doesn't seem that cold. I think "This isn't so bad! I can handle it!" And then of course once I get back inside, my nose starts running and the heat confuses my body as to whether it should be tough or surrender to how cold it really is.
However, one thing is for sure. I will walk out of this winter a tougher and more skilled...um, winterer. California Schmalifornia.
