new found respect

I've been learning some new things these last few days (keeping in mind that I'm from NC living in ME):

1. In Maine things don't close because it's snowing.
2. In Maine people drive anyway even if it's snowing.
3. In Maine people go out late at night even if there is snow all over the roads.
4. In Maine there are plow/salt/sand trucks out when it is snowing doing their job to make the roads a little bit safer.
5. In Maine people may still go out and buy all of the milk and bread in the grocery store when it snows (just like they do in North Carolina).
6. If you live in Maine (or anywhere where it snows) you should have snow tires, winter windshield wipers, and an ice scraper with a snow brush on it (as well as a blanket in the back of your car, some water, and a granola bar or two ... just in case) because life goes on, even in the snow!
7. I need winter windshield wipers and an ice scraper with a snow brush on it.

Due to these new things I've been learning, I have a new-found respect for New Englanders and anyone who lives in a place where it snows. It's not easy to get it in your freezing cold car and drive home in the snow when the road is covered completely!!! This is something that takes all of your attention, and your muscles may be tense while you're focusing so hard! I realize that I am relatively new to this whole driving-in-snow thing, but I appreciate how level-headed most people up here are about doing this whole winter thing. And I respect it.

More on this whole winter thing later.