State Pride

Before I even moved to Wisconsin, I knew that there was something unique about how Wisconsinites love Wisconsin. I first noticed it in college when I met people who were from Wisconsin. Natives don't say that they are from Milwaukee, Madison, or Green Bay. They simply say, "I'm from Wisconsin!" Usually with an overwhelming amount of pride. Then, when I started telling people that I was moving to Madison, everyone would say, "Oh, yeah that's a great town! You'll love Wisconsin."

Even though I was aware of this Wisconsin pride before I moved to Wisconsin, you can understand why I was a little shocked when within the first two weeks of living here I saw two of the most permanent displays of state pride - Good ol' fashioned tattoos.

The first was when Kenz and I went to the hot yoga class. Our instructor was one of those tiny,blonde, yogi girls who is so flexible that you're pretty certain that her bones are made of rubber, and she had one of those calm yogi voices that makes things like "bring your hands to heart center" and "plug your feet into the earth" sound totally normal. But about twenty minutes into our 95° class, she took off her tank top to reveal a pink sports bra, killer abs, nd a tattoo on her lower ribcage of the outline of Wisconsin and a star where Madison is. I realized that this yogi wasn't just any yogi. She was a Wisconsin yogi.

The second was just days later when I was walking to the farmer's market. This encounter didn't involve any kind of flourished reveal like in the yoga class, but the girl who passed me on the sidewalk was wearing a vintage t-shirt that had clearly been self-altered with the careful use of blunt-ended Fiskars. But upon further examination of her get-up, I'm sure her intentions were to remove the sleeves to reveal the upper armband tattoo of the top band of the Wisconsin license plate. Complete with green foliage and red barn. I guess if you're going to go through the process of getting a permanent symbol of your immense state pride, you're going to go to great lengths to show it off.

But you know what I realized this weekend? I'm starting to become one of those people. I mean, the first stall I took the folks to at the farmer's market was World Champion Award Winning Cheese. And then we ate cheese curds. And then we ate a cheese plate.

Have I mentioned that the cheese here is delicious? Eating cheese is the easiest and most delicious way of demonstrating state pride.

That being said, I still made them stop for venti iced coffees prior to our farmer's market adventures. I can't have unbridled enthusiasm for my new state without being properly caffeinated.

Having the opportunity to show my parents my new stomping ground made me realize that there is certain validity to the obsession with Wisconsin. Not only is it the home of some of the most delicious beer and cheese I've ever tasted (which is certainly something to be proud of), but when everyone around you is in love with their state, it makes you want to love it too. And then show it off to the people you love, because then they'll love Wisconsin too.

I swear, it's inevitable. I think they put something in the cheese.