I am from the amazing state of Minnesota. I often get so many questions about Minnesota and if its so cold there does it snow year around. Whether or not you think Taco Johns is too spicy or not you either know these things or you don't. So, here is a list of 30 things that people from Minnesota can relate to.
1. You tried to claim that you met Prince before he died!
2. The Mall of America is the only place to shop, other malls just don't compare
This mall has an amusement park inside who else can compete with that! It is the size of 78 football fields --- 9.5 million square feet.
3. You've played "Duck, Duck, Gray Duck!"
This is it, kids... the thing that separates us from the rest of those goose-worshiping states. Even Wisconsin says "Goose," but we know better. Playing Duck, Duck, Gray Duck as a kid means that you will forever hear other children saying "Duck, duck, goose," and know deep down that they are wrong. A goose is huge and menacing... clearly one could tell the difference between that fowl and a little duck. But a gray duck? That's pretty much the same as any other duck. All bets are off — and therein lies the glory of patting everyone's head while they remain in the dark about who exactly is the gray duck.
4. You hate Wisconsin
Enough said.
5. Never getting a snow day
That term is not in a dictionary even with two feet of fresh snow on the ground schools and offices are still in session ready for business.
6. You've walked across the Mississippi River
Either you crossed at Itasca State Park or you chose the dangerous route and walked across the ice years ago when it would freeze further down the river (not recommended). You a true Minnesotan if you have completed this task.
7. Lefse was the best thing you ever ate
At every family party/holiday meal this was present and whoever made it was the MVP of the meal! If you don't put butter and cinnamon on it that is a crime.
8. "Grumpy Old Men" is actually realistic to someone in your family
…or maybe it's you.
9. Knowing that not everyone is Scandinavian that lives there
The video says it all (even though I am scandinavian not everyone is).
10. You know someone who knows Joe Mauer
And of course you know about his twin daughters..oh the irony
11. You know that Minnesota has 90,00 miles of shoreline
More than Hawaii, California, and Florida combined.
12. All the famous people who come from Minnesota
F. Scott Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Charles Schulz, Bob Dylan, Joel & Ethan Coen, Price. You’re welcome, earth.
13. Caribou Coffee
14. You say "uff dah" and "you betcha"
These are actually sayings you use and even though you get annoyed that people use them as the stereotype for Minnesotans you can only agree because you say them.
15. All the movies made in Minnesota you rave about
"Purple Rain", "The Mighty Ducks" 1-3, "Fargo", "Grumpy Old Men", "Grumpier Old Men", "Drop Dead Gorgeous", "Sweet Land", "A Prairie Home Companion", "J'ingle All the Way", "New in Town"," North Country", "Young Adult", "Juno"," Mallrats, "Miracle", "Contagion", and "Field of Dreams". Whether or not they created a realistic image of Minnesota, they were still filmed here.
16. Hot Dish
The definition of your diet sometimes. Trying to explain something as simple as a Tater Tot Hot Dish to any out of towners is like explaining calculus to a two year old. It's a Hot dish not a casserole.
17. You've tried lutefisk
…and probably hated it. It is a Scandinavian dish prepared by soaking dried cod in lye to tenderize it, then skinning, boning, and boiling the fish to a gelatinous consistency.
18. Cheese curds!
Something that cannot be explained unless you have tried them.
19. Minnesota state bird=Mosquito
Though it isn't really you probably have referred to it as the state bird. Another common saying is "Those mosquitos are big enough to carry you off."
20. You've been to The Minnesota State Fair
Where food on a stick is just how we eat and it was voted the top state fair this past year. It is amazing and you try to go as much as you can.
21.You know Fargo isn't actually in Minnesota
Even though Fargo isn't in Minnesota and the accents are overly exaggerated it was still filmed here and it was a pretty good movie.
22. You prefer fresh water swimming
Going to the ocean is just a bizarre concept. Going on on the boat or just jumping off the dock is the way you grew up.
23. Pretty much everyone is Lutheran
Not everyone is but there are Lutheran churches every few blocks to house the many Lutherans that do live in Minnesota.
24. You've gone swimming in a frozen lake
Because sometimes during the winter there isn't anything else to keep you busy so it sounds like a great idea.
25. You've said "It's actually the land of 15,000 lakes"
The licensee plate tells everyone it is the land of 10,000 lakes when in reality there are 15,000 lakes. This makes driving through the state a little difficult without running into lakes every few minutes.
26. You know someone who crossed the 35W bridge minutes before it collapsed
For me it was my cousin and my aunt a few hours before. For those of you who lost someone on the bridge my prayers go out to you.
27. Everyone is nice all the time
It might just be that the accent makes us sound nice or that we were just raised that way
28. It's Pop
Going to restaurants out or state makes it an awkward interaction for the waiter/waitress because they don't know what you mean by pop.
29. You've said "Oh for cute" and "Borrow me"
To an out of towner these sayings sound a little funny. Borrow me is always been used to ask if you could borrow something but people who don't live in Minnesota have a hard time understanding what we really mean.
30. "Skol Vikings!
Sometimes it's painful to be a Vikings fan. Okay, let's be honest, it's mostly always painful. But year after year, fans are awash in purple and gold, donning those helmets, and screaming "SKOL VIKINGS!" in the frigid winter months while cheering on our beleaguered NFL team. Someday, you guys, the Super Bowl will be ours.
