1-13-08           

Moving to Wisconsin had never entered my mind, nor did it make my list of the top 100 places to visit. But, my desire to be re-hired by Centurytel was stronger than my fear of frostbite and succumbing to the urge to wear cheese on my head, so off I went, up north.   

Surviving Wisconsin – it’s not as easy as it sounds, but can be done.

First, one must develop a tolerance for things cheesy; things freezy; and beer. All three are in abundant supply up here.

Second, if you’re from the south, get ready to be listened to when speaking; it’s not that what you’re saying holds any particular interest for them, you just talk funny. Not to worry, we get to laugh when they say, with a straight face, things like, “…these ones…” and “…them ones…” 

“These ones”, that’s funnier than “grits”. 

Speaking of food, I have to mention this – if you come up here expecting to have sweet tea available with your meal at your favorite restaurant, you may as well turn that U-Haul around right now. The only two places where I found sweet tea are Famous Dave’s and my kitchen. If it’s any consolation, this is the hardest thing to get used to, besides the weather, of course.  

My first Wisconsin winter was spent, huddled in a small apartment, heat turned up, reading books about warm places and still feeling like a character in a Jack London novel. It not only gets cold in Wisconsin, it stays cold.

Being a life-long Packer fan proved to be beneficial though; I learned that by wearing my Packer jacket, my core body temperature remained above 90 degrees and I was accepted as a native, if I kept my mouth shut. I tried to learn the language but could never say, “them ones”, without giggling.

Wisconsin would be great if it were not so far from the south. But, I have to admit that the folks in Wisconsin have been extremely friendly and neighborly, and I’m going to miss every one of them ones.