9 Things Every Michigander Secretly Loves But Would Never Admit
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Sophie Boudreau
Author
Living in Michigan is an undeniably unique experience. From our accents to our traditions to our natural gems, there’s a whole lot to like (and, admittedly, a few things to dislike) about the Great Lakes State. But there are a handful of experiences and events that some Michiganders might not be so quick to admit their admiration for. Here are nine things many Michigan residents secretly enjoy.
For those of us who are lifelong Detroit Lions fans, there’s a distinct pain in sitting down to watch our team play every Sunday. With countless disappointing outcomes and a grand total of zero Super Bowl appearances, we’re used to being let down. But as much as we might complain about the Lions, there’s a certain camaraderie in being able to commiserate about the experience of watching the Lions blow it time and time again — and it brings us together.
Don’t get us wrong: we know that Ohio is the certifiable worst state ever, what with the presence of those Buckeyes and all. But there’s a unique sense of pettiness and pride that comes about when driving through Ohio without shame or fear — and we Michiganders are actually secretly hoping that our Michigan license plates will be noticed so we can give our Ohioan neighbors a smug smile.
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… but only because it means we get to sip on Vernor’s! Nobody likes nausea, but we Michiganders know that an upset stomach equals a one-way pass to the land of Vernor’s, our favorite magical healing elixir. There’s just something fantastic about sipping on that fizzy beverage and knowing that it will soothe us quickly.
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As much as we moan about the negative aspects of life in a snow-covered state, there’s something undeniably magical about watching those frozen flakes fall from the sky for the first time each winter. While we might get tired of shoveling and bundling up, it’s tough to erase the childlike glee that accompanies the first snowfall here in Michigan.
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Unless you’ve got an outdoor wedding to attend, there’s something secretly intriguing about the unpredictability of our state’s weather. I mean, who doesn’t love a surprise summer day in the midst of January? We’re less enthusiastic about random snowfall in the middle of May, but who can deny that unpredictable weather at least keeps things interesting?
Most Michiganders know that there’s actually no such place as "South Detroit," unless you want to count the depths of the Detroit River. But despite the fact that we sometimes want to scoff at the misrepresentation of our largest city in the famous Journey song, we can never really resist shouting it out at weddings or ball games: "Born and raised in South Detroit!"
We’re oddly proud of our ability to point out hometowns on our palms, which are conveniently shaped just like the Great Lakes State! We Michiganders have often been made fun of by out-of-state friends for our tendency to use these built-in maps, but we don’t mind at all. In fact, we kinda love been called out for our quirkiness!
For Michiganders who live in areas of the state that come to life with tourists in the summer, it’s easy to complain about the crowds. While tourism is great for our economy, some Michiganders prefer the quietude of the off season here in the Mitten State. That said, most of us have a lot of fun checking out the unique characters who peruse our towns each summer — and tourism means there’s plenty of fantastic people-watching to be done.
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If there’s one thing Michiganders adore, it’s heading up north for the weekend. No matter what "up north" means to you, it likely conjures up images of family togetherness and natural splendor. But while we absolutely love our getaways, we also love our hometowns — and there’s nothing better than returning to our own beds after traveling up north, even if it means we’re well below the Mackinac Bridge.
Okay, Michiganders: we want to hear from you! What do you secretly (or not-so-secretly) love about life in the Great Lakes State? We’re always eager to interact with our readers, so share your comments below!
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