My Dearest Michigan,
My boyfriend James and I been down here in the “Sunshine State” for almost two months. Our separation from you might not have been as hard this past August if we hadn’t spent the summer in wonderful Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor represents all that is good in our great home state; local business, environmentally conscience efforts, and a deeply unique identity that flows through the veins of her progressive citizens. Living here in the Strip Mall of America amidst palm trees and chain restaurants has reminded us how much we miss the Mitten State. We could at least drive an hour anywhere and see the outdoors whether via park, farm, or just sparsely populated rural countryside. Here, there is just concrete and “for lease” signs. Unfortunately the signs connect Michigan and Florida in the most troubling ways. However, while everything is temporary and pastel down here, I know that the only thing that is temporary in Michigan is the economic downturn. The creative, the young, and the hopeful will change our state in ways our parents and politicians could never have dreamed--and I hope I can someday return to appreciate it. For now, we are down here for grad school and life experience--but we think of you often. We think of Michigan when we meet other people from our home state with same friendly, Mid-western smiles and stories. We actually thought of Traverse City and the Sleeping Bear Dunes today when an employee of a local bike shop happily recalled vacationing there. She said she couldn’t wait to go back and that the people of Michigan were always friendly. We both took great pride in those words.
I think most importantly, the two things we miss most in Michigan are good beer and great friends. Those things go hand-in-hand for us. If it wasn’t for our friend Mike Johnson, we wouldn’t be able to appreciate the awesome beers of Michigan and vice versa. Many a get-together or themed dinner party was sweetened by the subtle flavors of New Holland Brewery’s Poet or Mountain Town’s Coal Stoker Blackberry Stout. So many wonderful memories with our Central Michigan crew are flavored with the beers we shared together. Down here growlers are illegal! “This is Budweiser county,” a local brewery employee told us bitterly. We couldn’t believe it. Millions of Floridians subjected to carbonated failure is a travesty. If only they knew what they were missing!
Well, we know what we’re missing--its a tall glass of Steam Engine Stout from Mountain Town and the laughs of all our friends.
With much love and an empty mug,
Linsey and James
My boyfriend James and I been down here in the “Sunshine State” for almost two months. Our separation from you might not have been as hard this past August if we hadn’t spent the summer in wonderful Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor represents all that is good in our great home state; local business, environmentally conscience efforts, and a deeply unique identity that flows through the veins of her progressive citizens. Living here in the Strip Mall of America amidst palm trees and chain restaurants has reminded us how much we miss the Mitten State. We could at least drive an hour anywhere and see the outdoors whether via park, farm, or just sparsely populated rural countryside. Here, there is just concrete and “for lease” signs. Unfortunately the signs connect Michigan and Florida in the most troubling ways. However, while everything is temporary and pastel down here, I know that the only thing that is temporary in Michigan is the economic downturn. The creative, the young, and the hopeful will change our state in ways our parents and politicians could never have dreamed--and I hope I can someday return to appreciate it. For now, we are down here for grad school and life experience--but we think of you often. We think of Michigan when we meet other people from our home state with same friendly, Mid-western smiles and stories. We actually thought of Traverse City and the Sleeping Bear Dunes today when an employee of a local bike shop happily recalled vacationing there. She said she couldn’t wait to go back and that the people of Michigan were always friendly. We both took great pride in those words.
I think most importantly, the two things we miss most in Michigan are good beer and great friends. Those things go hand-in-hand for us. If it wasn’t for our friend Mike Johnson, we wouldn’t be able to appreciate the awesome beers of Michigan and vice versa. Many a get-together or themed dinner party was sweetened by the subtle flavors of New Holland Brewery’s Poet or Mountain Town’s Coal Stoker Blackberry Stout. So many wonderful memories with our Central Michigan crew are flavored with the beers we shared together. Down here growlers are illegal! “This is Budweiser county,” a local brewery employee told us bitterly. We couldn’t believe it. Millions of Floridians subjected to carbonated failure is a travesty. If only they knew what they were missing!
Well, we know what we’re missing--its a tall glass of Steam Engine Stout from Mountain Town and the laughs of all our friends.
With much love and an empty mug,
Linsey and James
(This was submitted to Michagone.com for posting)
I know what I am getting you for Christmas! :)
You can get us some beer and some coffee (Biggby or Zingermans preferrably). Just sayin....