12 Unusual Experiences That Unite Every Nebraskan
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Delana Lefevers
Author
There’s nothing quite like living in Nebraska. If you live here long enough, you’ll have some experiences that are uniquely Nebraskan. These are some of the things that make life here so singularly awesome.
You mean not everyone says "Ope, sorry" when they're scooching past someone who's standing in their way? Not everyone started working in the fields at 14? Dorothy Lynch isn't a standard in everyone's fridge? Chili and cinnamon rolls isn't a standard meal in every school cafeteria in the country? Weird.
Just do a little genealogical research before you start dating another native Nebraskan...
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It's really not surprising to find that a new acquaintance knows your parents, your cousins, your brother, your next-door neighbor, your cat... even if you meet all the way on the other side of the state.
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It happened pretty recently, in fact: in mid-April 2018, there was snow on the ground in much of Nebraska. Just shy of a month later, temperatures were in the upper 80s. We're used to our crazy Nebraska weather, and it keeps life interesting.
We don't like to say we're "lost." We prefer to say we decided to go the scenic route. With so many unlabeled minimum maintenance roads, it's not hard to get a little turned around.
If you live in a small town, everyone probably already knows your business. But if you live in a really small town, your business will be printed in the paper next week. This is especially true if you have visitors from out of state or from another country.
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Remember that year you went as a fairy or a pirate or a doctor but no one could tell because you had to wear your long winter coat over your costume? Just be grateful that that was one of the years Halloween wasn't canceled due to extreme weather.
This is kind of funny when you're a kid and kind of heartbreaking when you're the adult who pays the utility bills.
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Every Nebraskan has a tornado story. Probably several, in fact. These violent storms unite us in a weird way when we come together to swap tales.
The one- or two-finger wave (everyone has their own style) is a standard greeting out on country roads. Has anyone ever asked you why we do it? The fact that some people don't "get" the wave is much stranger than the fact that we do it.
For the uninitiated, this usually means getting stuck behind a slow-moving farm implement on the road. If you're in town, it can also mean that you're waiting for the two cars that have stopped in the middle of the street, facing opposite directions, so the drivers can chat.
It's a weird thing to hear people assume that this isn't a beautiful place, because we know the truth.
How many of these have you experienced for yourself? Add your own to the list in the comments!
See some of the other things that make Nebraska so unique here: 8 Incredible Natural Wonders in Nebraska.
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