Similar to cross fit enthusiasts or vegans, the easiest way to know that someone is from Ohio is because they will tell you. If they do not introduce themselves by (their name) followed by "I'm from Ohio," their giveaway was probably their Ohio themed graphic t-shirt or Ohio State bumper sticker. People who live in Ohio are not just Ohioans, but Ohio enthusiasts. People from Ohio just really freaking love Ohio.
As a resident of the Nation's greatest state, the one question people continually pose is “why do Ohioans love Ohio so much?” After commenting on the rude nature of their question (you cannot simply ask someone why they are the way they are or why they love what they love) I typically say something to the effect of, "because it's awesome!" And shout "O-H" to which someone, no matter the circumstances, answers with an “I-O!”
(A note to outsiders, there is an unwritten law in Ohio that states that when the letters “O-H” are said in unison, you must reply with “I-O,” otherwise you could be jailed, shunned or worse. This is all speculation because, of course, the law has never been broken.)
So, what makes Ohio so great? We may not have the Holy Water that allegedly pumps through the state of New York’s pipes making New York bagels taste special. We may not have Florida sunshine (or sunshine at all, for that matter,) nor do we consume copious amounts of kale or green tea like Californians. So what if our lake once caught on fire and a large interior portion of our state is made up of farm land? What Ohio has is heart and class.
In all my travels, I have yet to find a state with people as kind and genuine as Ohioans. In Ohio, we open doors for one another, smile to strangers and give the person who is short of change an extra dollar. We understand that the letter “a” is supposed to be elongated and that it is, without a doubt, “pop” NOT “soda.” We still show up to Browns games in blizzard conditions even though we're pretty certain that they won’t win. You can thank us for Rock’n’Roll and Buffalo Wild Wings and hope that you’re lucky enough to one day try a Polish Boy or eat at Skyline Chili. We are home to the ‘Christmas Story’ house, Cedar Point and the Lake Erie Islands. Our state pretty much gets to decide who gets to be president and, two words, LeBron James.
But Ohians don’t just love Ohio because we invented Corn Hole or because we live in the place where Kid Cudi grew up (shameless plug.) Ohioans love Ohio because our state is so commonly underestimated. In addition to world-class hospitals (royalty and celebrities are known to seek out medical attention at the Cleveland Clinic), our state also radiates cultural class.
In Cleveland alone you can walk Wade Oval in University Circle and visit our little version of Paris. Continue around the oval and you will find the Cleveland Botanical Gardens and historical Severance Hall, home to the Cleveland Orchestra (highly regarded as one of the top five orchestras in our country.)
For the sports enthusiast, we are host to 8 major league professional sports teams. We are home to two national Halls of Fame (NFL And the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, designed, by the way by none other than Chinese American architect I.M. Pei, who also is the architect of the famed Louvre Pyramid in Paris.) Other attractions include zoos (Columbus Zoo is world renown), ethnic festivals, farmers market, parks and even amish communities where you can shop and explore.
The real reason Ohioans love Ohio? Because it truly is everything it's talked up to be.
