Tuesday, March 22, 2011

We'll bring the beer.

You've probably heard it before- you know, the thing about people in the midwest being "so nice".  I know...what the heck does that even mean?  Like, you can take a bunch of people connected only by their geographical location and label them all as "nice"?  And who decides what "nice" is?  And honestly, "nice" is a lame word anyway.  It doesn't really tell you anything about anything.  When we moved here I had heard all these things, just like you have, but still had no expectations whatsoever.  I had, after all, met plenty of "nice" people all over the place in my life.

What I came to know in a very short time is that "nice" here in beautiful southwest Michigan doesn't mean saying only sweet things in a sugary tone, or nodding at one another with a serene smile.  Thank God.  'Cause if you know me you know I wouldn't fit in very well in a "nice" place like that.  On the contrary, there's a lot of good-natured teasing, and unexpected goof-balling.  As in, there is rarely a serious moment 'round these parts at all (hallelujah!).  Instead, what the "nice" people of Michigan are is amazingly, unabashedly, literally-give-you-their-coat-and-let-you-eat-their-last-piece-of-bread generous and tell-you-where-to-go-and-who-to-talk-to-and how-to-do-it-if-you-feel-like-doing-it-yourself-and-even-offer-to-come-and-do-it-for-you helpful.  They are the kind of nice that makes your life easier.  The kind of nice that lets you breathe a sigh of relief.  The kind of nice that makes me want to be the kind of nice that makes your life easier, too.
Remember Jesus in the polyester shorts?  The day we were unpacking our belongings from our pods into our unusable house, he suddenly appeared- unloading boxes, wheeling the dolly, jogging back to his house to retrieve his hand cart.  It was the hottest week of the entire summer, he is at least 65 years old, and he had just met us the day before, yet there he was, just doing it.  Of his own accord, and with a smile.  There was also the down-the-road neighbor who lent us his van.  Or our around-the-corner neighbor who took us on an impromptu hay-ride in the fall followed by a mini horseback-riding lesson for our kids.  People lending us things and giving us things and wondering when we're going to demolish insert-ridiculous-part-of-house-here so that they can come and help, because they know how hard it is with the kids underfoot.  "You've got the house, we'll bring the beer."

Have you ever lived somewhere that complete strangers will treat you like family?  The awesome family you have or the family you wish your family was like?  If you have, and you want that again, come to Michigan.  On the other hand, if you haven't and you can't believe that what I'm saying is true: come to Michigan.  You get the house.  We'll bring the beer.

9 comments :

  1. The Midwest is definitely that kind of place! I went to school in south central Michigan and grew up in Cincinnati. I've lived out East, and it certainly is not the same. We are definitely honest-to-goodness-warm-flannel-and-offering-you-ice cream-on-a-hot-day "nice" in the nicest sense of the term. :)

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  2. I like my NICE backed up with some action, you know? It's the perfect place for me :) Thanks for reading, Julie!

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  3. That Midwest work ethic you've heard about is for real, too. In Michigan we can't just sit back and watch someone work their tail off. Growing up in West Michigan, lazy was a four-letter word in more ways than one at my house.

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  4. Girl, you know it! This is a land of adventurous, hard-working people. That's just another reason why I love it :)

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  5. I'm 60 years young & my van had a flat tire this morning on the way to granddtr's BB game. I was on a side road in Mississippi. In the pouring rain. Nothing around but an AutoZone across the street. After a quick Hail Mary, I walked over to the AutoZone bc I didn't know what else to do! I was relating my sorry plight to the man behind the counter & the 20-something guy behind me in line spoke up & said, "I'll change it for you" and off he went, in the rain. It ended up taking him 45 minutes bc the jack broke in half etc. When he was done, he refused payment. He just said, "We do unto others around here, m'am."
    I post this comment just to say that, having been born in MN & lived all over this country, I know that 90% of its people are just good folks. Including people in Michigan :-)

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  6. What a wonderful story, Therese! Thank you so much for sharing it :)

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  7. We have a family at my school from Wisconsin, and yesterday we set out our HUGE flower box to start a garden for the kids. The dad from WI came out and looked at the box and set about telling me exactly how to fill it, then said, "You know what? I have the stuff at my house, I will come do it for the kids." So awesome!

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  8. There is something about the Midwest that makes folks seem so much more helpful and sweet. I may be biased. I grew up with Minnesota Nice.

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  9. I love my Florida, but you are making me long for a sweet little farm in Michigan...maybe right next door? :)

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