My MN Too.

Minnesota, the home of the Hamm's Bear. Land of sky blue waters. Diversified, reserved, founded mostly by emigrants from Europe. Full of hard working farmers, teachers, firemen, policemen and Indian chiefs. Innovators, business people & politicians fill the void. Tourist flock to this state to take in the sights, some possibly created by Paul Bunyon, some divinely created and some created by and for mankind. Some came here as tourist and stayed to become residents. We are all proud to be Minnesotans.

So, just who or what is a Minnesotan? He/she is the one telling a fishing story that is based on a true adventure but the details have long been lost. Not to say the adventure never happened. No, just the details are a little abstract to say the least. He or she is the one laughing at an incident that happened to her or him, that at the time, was far from funny. We are a lot who enjoys laughing at ourselves while cautioning the listener never ever do that. It hurts.

When you meet another person that’s carrying a small hairless dog from south of the border and you say “What a cute tiny critter.” That person replies “Yep, but I wanted a Great Dane. Didn't have the money at the time so decided to grow my own.” You give that person a quizzical look and say “Grow your own? What do you mean? How can you grow a Great Dane?” The person replies “I feed it steroids.” That's a Minnesotan! Second generation at least.

We are a peculiar lot. From a variety of cultural backgrounds. What, depends upon just where in the state you are originally from. Most of us admit to having a little redneck in our background. A “redneck” is a state of mind. Not an ethnic family trait. And it is not a full time trait. No one will hang old hubcaps on the living room wall of the family residence. But you will find many a weekend cabin decorated with such items as well as deer, bear, fox, old car parts and lets not forget the odd farm implement and skunk fur. Don't forget the skunk fur. The cabin on or near a lake is the place to let your hair down, so to speak. Unless your full time residence is a lake cabin. Then it is decorated about as normal as anyone’s. Similar to yours. Letting your hair down not optional.

If you can’t talk about the weather, you will be a lonely person forever doomed to talk to yourself. The weather is the universal ice breaker in MN. No matter the social setting. It can be midnight and you are at the local adult watering hole and you want to strike up a conversation with the hotty on the next stool. What do you say? Why “what do you think of the weather the last few day's, then?” of course! The universal ice breaker in MN. It works every place and at any time. Doesn't matter if the one to speak first is male or female. It is immediately understood you want to talk. Of coarse, if it is a very tall person, not so much. If the other person responds in kind, your free to go on to other topics. If you do not have other topics, the new relationship will sputter out. Sputtering out happens a lot. We can be a singular society.

If you decide to take up residence here, it certainly does not hurt to have Ole and Lena as your next door neighbor!