THE BANANA BELT!
There has been great concern for me and my family since our arrival in Rapid City, South Dakota. It does not take a doctorate in Meteorology to know that the weather differential between Louisiana and South Dakota would be considerable. Being sensitive to those differences, we were assured over and over again that this part of South Dakota is known to be part of "The Banana Belt." That term is an attempt at explaining the unusual weather patterns during the winter which have seen 70 degree temperatures on Christmas Day! It's a way of informing outsiders that the images conjured from watching the movie "Fargo" do not apply here.
We moved here in mid-August and discovered a wonderful climate, especially considering that we left 100% humidity and temperatures to match. While we bragged to our friends and family back home that we were chilly in the mornings, they perpetually peppered us with preparatory warnings that "winter is right around the corner." Their tone suggested a sense of retaliation in their ability to brag when their temperatures were mild and ours were extreme. We did not have to wait long for them to get their just due.
In October, Southwest South Dakota experienced one of the worst early-season blizzards on record. At least that's what everyone told us. It warmed up and things seemed to return to normal. Then the last several weeks we've had temperatures that have remained below zero for several days. The snow hasn't yet melted. Everyone keeps insisting that what we're experiencing is unusual for this time of year. In fact, everyone keeps apologizing for the weather!
Then we have a day like today. Forecasted highs are in the 40's. It's amazing how warm 40 degrees feels when it's been below zero. (It's amazing how warm 10 degrees is when it's been below zero!).
Many people continue to try to explain, justify or apologize for the weather. The funny thing is that we LOVE it! We find it remarkably bearable (with the right clothes). The air is crisp and fresh. The smell of fireplaces throughout the neighborhood is a special treat. Hot cocoa tastes better and coffee warms the hands and stomach.
My wife, Alison, and I are Cajuns in the truest sense. Alison's mom has traced our genealogy back to our roots with the Acadians of Nova Scotia and France prior to that. It gets cold in Nova Scotia. And France is known for its cold winters also. Cold weather, therefore, runs in our veins. It might not be part of our South Louisiana experience, but cold weather, snow and frost, and all of the wonderful things that God affords us here are part of our heritage and genetics!
We meet the title of "Banana Belt" with a bit of skepticism, but whether it warms up now or later doesn't matter to us. We are Acadians. As long as Alison's gumbo is on the stove, we're home...even in the Banana Belt of Rapid City, South Dakota.
