Lately I’ve been driving around and noticing new cars on the road. I’ll be driving along and see what I think is a new car. It takes me all of 5 seconds to realize that actually that car is just clean. Winter brings snow, which means salt on the roads. Pretty much everyone’s car is covered in salt for several months. In Minnesota, many times the car washes are closed because it’s too cold out and the water would freeze your doors and locks. We really only get a few windows of time that we can wash our cars during the winter. I feel like I must have wrote about it this year, but it seems to strike me every winter.

This winter has been especially cold and I’m so happy that I finally invested in a down coat that comes down to my knees. A couple of weeks ago I even wore my snow pants to work every day. I’ve got the gear now. Even down mittens and new winter boots. I wish I had all of this in Lithuania when I was out walking in the cold much more.

It is what it is. Right? That’s what a Minnesotan would say. It’s winter, so deal with it. What else would you expect? Sunny skies and warm beaches? A very common saying around here. It is what it is. While that small phrase can really rub you the wrong way when you’re the one dealing with someone, sometimes it reminds me to relax and remember that I can’t change everything.