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EmailAs a frequent visitor to New York City for the past five years, thanks to a son working and living in Manhattan, I've become somewhat immune to the oft-remarked reaction I get when I say I'm from Seattle. OK, technically I'm from Whidbey Island, but it's just easier to say Seattle.
It's not the usual suspects like Starbucks, Bill Gates or any one of our pathetic sports teams including the Seahawks, Mariners and that basketball team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics. The number one response is: "I hear it's really beautiful there, but doesn't it rain all the time?"
But we didn't hear a word about rain during our recent Christmas visit; it was all about snow. My hubby and I flew from Seattle to Newark, New Jersey on the morning of Dec. 23. Fortunately, we hit it just right, traveling between snowstorms and not booked on Alaska Airlines. We'd heard horror stories about the long lines and delayed flights, so were surprised to be only 30 minutes late in leaving Sea-Tac.
It was cold when we landed in Newark, in the mid-20s. Remnants of an earlier snowstorm were stacked up alongside streets and roads, and the sidewalks were icy. But by week's end, things had warmed up, and compared to what was going on back home (Nickels' Nightmare Before Christmas), it was Springtime in New York.
From the midtown salon where I got my hair cut to a cafe in Greenwich Village, it seemed that every other New Yorker I talked to knew about our big snow. "Wow, I saw it on the news last night, you guys really got hammered!" and "So what's with the no salt in Seattle?" were just a few of the responses. And for once, I didn't have to defend our good rain and give my usual explanation that it actually rains more in Gotham City than the Emerald City. Annual precipitation in New York City is 47", whereas Seattle's is only 36". It just drizzles more in Seattle.I kept up with the weather situation in Seattle, thanks to emails from friends and reading Cliff Mass's wonderful weather blog. Our only weather related incident while we were in New York was having to buy umbrellas at the corner market — two for eight bucks. I wonder if they're that cheap in Seattle?
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Comments:
Posted Thu, Jan 1, 3:05 p.m. Inappropriate
Sue, you know that REAL Seattleites don't carry umbrellas. That's how we tell the natives from the come-latelies.
Posted Thu, Jan 1, 5:24 p.m. Inappropriate
See,
This is the kind of stuff that keeps folks from wanting to move here.
In honor of Emmett Watson, I tell folks who ask me about Seattle's pathetic snow removal efforts that Mayor Snowball is pulling all the stops for the next snowstorm.
He's gonna replace 2 rubber bladed snowplows with a couple left over Zamboni's.
Posted Fri, Jan 2, 8:52 a.m. Inappropriate
I would like to know how folks used to cope with snow when it used to regularly during the Winter. It has snowed twice in Seattle during the 15 years I have been here, in sufficiency to disable street traffic. Old Times tell me that you used to be able to sled down the big hills regularly back during mid-20th century.
Posted Fri, Jan 2, 11:02 a.m. Inappropriate
A long time ago, I learned the answer to "Doesn't it rain a lot in Seattle?" Especially from New Yorkers. As you mention, it turns out statistically, Seattle has LESS rain than New York! We just happen to have more overcast days and as in good sex, it's called foreplay!
But I won't argue the fact that today, those who are now in charge of our city are no longer experienced in knowing how to deal with snow when it does come.
Posted Fri, Jan 2, 12:24 p.m. Inappropriate
You're right ... true Seattleites don't use bumbershoots, they just wear Goretex to the opera! I recall a big snowstorm back in the mid70s when Seattle pretty much closed down, and I had to cancel my hubby's surprise birthday party in late November at a Pioneer Square resto. Now, for whatever reason, everything seems to be a MUCH BIGGER DEAL -- whether it's the weather or the reporting thereof. Back then it was just a season called winter, now it's a minor catastrophe. And those in charge today are short a few shovels when it comes to dealing with something as simple as snow.
Posted Fri, Jan 2, 1:18 p.m. Inappropriate
That New Yorkers know anything about us is an improvement. In the 80's when I lived in New York and said I was going to move to Seattle friends asked if it was in one of those 'square' states.
Posted Fri, Jan 2, 1:25 p.m. Inappropriate
LOL dacbn! It's sort of like folks in "the other washington" ... I was at a party of Beltway types in the DC area back in the '70s and many of the people thought I lived in the boonies and were surprised to discover that we had theater, museums, etc. Oh, electricity and water, too.
Posted Fri, Jan 2, 2:06 p.m. Inappropriate
To slow Seattle down, I think all local mossbacks should generate as much misinformation about our terrible weather as we can get away with. For starters, how about letting it be known that the City is thinking about using coffee grounds to break up the snow and ice when the next winter storm hits. A very green Seattle solution.
Posted Sat, Jan 3, 10:43 a.m. Inappropriate
Sue,
When confronted with the "rains all the time" type of comments about Seattle, I just say the rain is so bad that we rust instead of tanning in the summer.
Denise
Posted Sat, Jan 3, 10:44 a.m. Inappropriate
Hi Sue!
When confronted with the "rains all the time" type of comments about Seattle, I just say the rain is so bad that we rust instead of tanning in the summer.
Posted Sat, Jan 3, 1:15 p.m. Inappropriate
When I get asked that standard question (doesn't it rain there all the time?), I usually respond, "That's right" with a smug look on my face. 8 times out of 10, they get it and say, "You're just saying that so we don't move there,...right?" And I say again, "That's right."
Posted Sat, Jan 3, 9:44 p.m. Inappropriate
And there's a classic line in [i]Sleepless in Seattle,[/i] where Rob Reiner says to Tom Hanks: "You know it rains 9 months a year in Seattle." That'll help keep 'em away ...
Posted Sun, Jan 4, 9:35 a.m. Inappropriate
The secret to keeping the migration in check is talking about slow moving traffic,high rents and house prices and the rush to whirrled class. Also pointing out that there are very steep hills that are dangerous to negotiate in the snow.