As we all know, Michigan is one of the most wonderful states in the country. We’re home to beautiful scenery, amazing attractions, and plenty of friendly people. But let’s admit it: Michiganders aren’t without their quirks. Here are ten reasons why the Great Lakes State might just be the black sheep of the USA.
- The hand thing. You know the one.
Flickr/Michigan Municipal League We show people where we live by pointing to a spot on our hands. To people who aren’t familiar with Michigan, it probably looks like we’re drawing attention to a particularly unique freckle.
- Michiganders are abnormally immune to the cold.
Flickr/Joe Ross Admit it: you or someone you love has worn shorts outside in the wintertime, and you haven’t thought twice about it. It’s just that Michigan blood.
- We’re convinced that our medical remedies are the best.
Flickr/Derek Bruff Every Michigander knows that Vernors is the only true solution for an upset stomach. Who needs “real” medicine when you can just have a fizzy drink?
- Our state has some very odd city names.
Flickr/Yooper Ann Kalamazoo, Sault Saint Marie, Charlevoix… the list continues. We love the heritage behind some of these names, but don’t you ever wish you were from a town whose name was slightly easier to pronounce?
- We just can’t catch a break when it comes to professional football.
Flickr/Pete Sheffield Most other states have enjoyed a Super Bowl appearance at least once. The Detroit Lions, on the other hand, have never had the pleasure to compete in football’s biggest event.
- Did we mention that we’re shaped like a mitten?
Flickr/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center No other state in the country has such a distinct shape, and that certainly sets us apart.
- We inexplicably add letters to the end of words that don’t really need them.
Flickr/Mike Kalasnik MeijerS, KrogerS… the list continues. Most other states simply pronounce the words as they are written, but we Michiganders just can’t resist adding that extra letter!
- Michiganders never believe the weather forecast.
Flickr/Tom Gill We could wake up in a snowstorm, have lunch in 70-degree sunshine, and head to bed with a tornado watch, and it wouldn’t cause us to blink an eye.
- We’ve got a large population of “trolls.”
Flickr/Always Shooting This one needs no explanation — if you’re from Michigan, you’ll know what it means.
- We’re surrounded on all sides by (stunning) lakes.
Flickr/churl No other state in the country is enveloped by all five of the amazing Great Lakes. If that fact alone makes us the black sheep of the United States, we’ll gladly accept the title.
Don’t forget: there’s nothing wrong with being a little weird. Michiganders are perfectly unique, and our state follows suit. Share your favorite “odd Michigan” experiences in the comment section below.
Flickr/Michigan Municipal League
We show people where we live by pointing to a spot on our hands. To people who aren’t familiar with Michigan, it probably looks like we’re drawing attention to a particularly unique freckle.
Flickr/Joe Ross
Admit it: you or someone you love has worn shorts outside in the wintertime, and you haven’t thought twice about it. It’s just that Michigan blood.
Flickr/Derek Bruff
Every Michigander knows that Vernors is the only true solution for an upset stomach. Who needs “real” medicine when you can just have a fizzy drink?
Flickr/Yooper Ann
Kalamazoo, Sault Saint Marie, Charlevoix… the list continues. We love the heritage behind some of these names, but don’t you ever wish you were from a town whose name was slightly easier to pronounce?
Flickr/Pete Sheffield
Most other states have enjoyed a Super Bowl appearance at least once. The Detroit Lions, on the other hand, have never had the pleasure to compete in football’s biggest event.
Flickr/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
No other state in the country has such a distinct shape, and that certainly sets us apart.
Flickr/Mike Kalasnik
MeijerS, KrogerS… the list continues. Most other states simply pronounce the words as they are written, but we Michiganders just can’t resist adding that extra letter!
Flickr/Tom Gill
We could wake up in a snowstorm, have lunch in 70-degree sunshine, and head to bed with a tornado watch, and it wouldn’t cause us to blink an eye.
Flickr/Always Shooting
This one needs no explanation — if you’re from Michigan, you’ll know what it means.
Flickr/churl
No other state in the country is enveloped by all five of the amazing Great Lakes. If that fact alone makes us the black sheep of the United States, we’ll gladly accept the title.
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