1. When people ask where you're from, you put up your hand and point.
Perks of your state looking like a mitten.
2. Upset stomach? Grab a Vernors.
It has magical powers, trust me.
3. Deciding what to wear for the day becomes a nightmare.
All four seasons in one day? Another successful day in Michigan.
4. When it rains you know to look out for worms.
APPARENTLY, when it rains here in Michigan it smells like worms. I don't notice that. But I do know that I need to watch where I walk so I don't step on them.
5. It's called pop.
It's not called soda, not coke, and not soda pop. It's pop.
6. At some point growing up you had to wear your Halloween costume over your snow pants.
Your mom made you wear your snow pants or winter coat but you didn't care because you were still going trick or treating.
7. Snow is not pretty.
For a few months, it can maybe be acceptable. But when we still get snow in June, we have a problem.
8. Superman ice cream.
Just try it and you'll understand.
9. Michigan cherries.
The Cherry Republic, enough said.
10. Mackinaw Island.
It may be a long drive, but Mackinaw Island is somewhere we have all traveled to at least one. Or if we haven't, it's at the top of our list of places to go next.
11. All hotdogs in the state of Michigan have to be 100% real meat.
You're welcome.
12. You felt pure outrage when Wisconsin tried to call themselves the mitten.
Wisconsin was trying to tell a joke right? Stick to your cheese and leave our mitten alone.
13. When going on road trips as a kid, nothing was worse than Ohio.
Still, to this day, Ohio is only good for Cedar Point. #sorrynotsorry
14. Our lakes are freshwater.
No salt, no sharks, no worries.
15. The Pure Michigan Campaign
Every time you hear Tim Allen's voice you make sure to pay attention to the commercial because you're next vacation is being planned.
16. Being given the day off for opening day.
This is not a joke. In Michigan, we take opening day very seriously and are often given the day off to sit in the woods and hunt.
17. You know how to drive in the snow.
There is barely any snow on the ground, you don't need to go 10mph.
18. "Ope!"
Accidentally running into someone leads to this odd phrase.
19. You give directions in minutes, not miles.
"It's just 15 minutes away from here. It won't take long."
20. No matter which direction you're traveling for the weekend, you're always going "up".
It won't matter if you're going to Detroit or Sault Saint Marie, wherever you're going, you're going up.
21. You will drive 85 mph on the highway and pass on either the left or right.
If it lets us past you, we don't care which side we're passing you on.
22. Everything is called the highway.
"Oh, I'll just take the highway there then." What's a 'freeway'?
23. You received your boater's license before your driver's license.
Most of us during middle school took a strange classroom version of drivers training for boats then took a test to get a boater's license. No, this isn't a joke.
24. At some point, you've taken a drive just to look at the changing fall leaves.
"Get in everybody! We're going on a drive to look at the tree's changing color!"
25. Christmas lights are put up in November or simply before the snow comes.
And they'll stay until it all melts.
26. You know how to pronounce Euchre.
And also Mackinaw, Charlevoix, Ypsilanti, and Sault Saint Marie.
27. Michigan accent.
"yuh guys" for you guys, "Secretariah state" instead of Secretary of State, "lookit" instead of look at it, adding "at" even when it's not needed. "Meer" instead of mirror, "cloze" and not clothes, "melk" not milk, "refridgerader" not refrigerator.
We tend to change a "t" to a "d".
28. Party Store.
No, this is not where you buy streamers and balloons for your child's birthday. This is where you buy alcohol and snacks.
29. Michigan left.
Just breathe, you can do it.
30. It's normal to hear someone lives in a thumb.
I'm proud to say I grew up in the thumb.
31. Being excited for your 19th birthday.
Canada here we come!
32. Struggling to throw cans and bottles away when visiting another state.
In Michigan, we can recycle them. So how can I just throw away that 10 cents?
33. School was rarely canceled unless there were 2 feet of snow.
And sometimes even 2 feet wasn't enough.
34. Even if you don't pay attention to support, you still hate Ohio's teams.
No explanation is needed for this.
35. People are still wearing shorts when its 45 degrees.
Michigan's weather is bizarre, that makes our dress code pretty strange.
36. You cheer for the Lions regardless of their record.
Michiganders love our home teams. We will always continue to support even our Lions when they go 0-16.
37. You know there is a difference between a chili dog and a coney dog.
Yes, there is a difference. Learn it.
38. The Michigan vs. Michigan State rivalry is too real.
This is not a joke. People will stop talking over this rivalry.
39. Cornhole.
This is not an ear of corn with a hole in it. This is a yard game and it is fantastic.
40. "Do you have ranch?"
Pizza? Ranch. Chicken nuggets? Ranch. Salad? Ranch. Fries? Ranch. Vegetables? Ranch.
41. When someone asks "how you're doing", you actually tell them.
This will not be a quick "oh I'm good." It will be a full conversation of everything that has happened in their day.
42. "We should go to the lake."
This doesn't just mean going to the beach to lay in the sun. In Michigan, we have the 5 Great Lakes, and we go to these lakes for everything.
43. Saying "hello" to strangers as you pass them.
"Hi!" "Oh did you know that girl?" "No, I just wanted to say hi."
44. There's no place like home.
No matter what we say growing up about wanting to leave the state when we "grow up", or if we end up in another state in our futures, Michigan will always be home.
.Your trip begins at michigan.org
