Listen Up Minnesota

You did not invent winter. Other places have it too.
My patience is gradually fraying with the "colder than thou" mentality I so often come across. When I say I grew up in Maine, the correct response is something like "My! What a lovely coastline!" and not "Hoo boy, you better get ready for some cold!" My jaw has started to clench during these interactions. Many Minnesotans seem to think that every other state is populated by flamingos and they are the only state which knows what snow looks like. I'll give it to you, Minnesota. You truly do have vicious winters. But you're not the only state which sells winter coats, so stop telling me to go buy myself one. I have ice-skated on the Atlantic Ocean because it was cold enough to freeze over. I am well versed in frostbite. I know what long underwear is and am likely wearing some right now. I'm not intimidated by the temperatures until they hit about -20, because in my experience (again, experience) that's when my eyeball liquid starts to freeze. I may be from out of state and need to puff my inhaler before stepping outside, but when I comment on the cold it's because I am a human with a functioning nervous system and probably not because I left the house in my underwear, as you seem to be implying.
Plus you don't have anything close to a respectable ski mountain, so pfffft.


I have needed to get this off my chest since the day I arrived.