The part where I slightly embarrass myself with my Connecticutness(Part MCXIV)

The blog of Michael K.

The part where I slightly embarrass myself with my Connecticutness(Part MCXIV)

Published Tuesday, May 17, 2005 by Michael K. | E-mail this post

Seeing that wiccachicky posted one of those ubiquitous "You know you're from -----" lists on her blog (only slightly more ubiquitous than those "Which [insert forest animal/Family Guy character/Old Testament prophet] are you?" quizzes that grow from the same sites like kudzu), I wanted to see what I should know, to know that I'm really from the Nutmeg State...

Yikes, even the first few have me going "check, check, check".

I'm taking the liberty of italicizing the ones that resonate with me somehow, and my additional comments in parentheses...not looking too far ahead, I'm betting on at least a .750 batting average.

But is that a good thing?

You Know You're From Connecticut When...

You have hiked up a big hill or small mountain at least once for a keg party. (who hasn't?)

You never went to a bar in high school.

You thought that the only highways were 91 and 84.

You thought everyone couldn't buy beer after 8 pm

You actually thought that Hartford was big (but Bridgeport was bigger)

You or someone you know has attended UCONN

You drive a JETTA

You still think that the Whalers are cool.

You have been to Misquamicut and to that little hot dog place.

There is a farm within miles of your house

You thought bars were really for people over 21

Your high school thanksgiving football game was the highlight of your school year.

You don't have an accent when you talk

You have known at least 2 preppy rich kids from Fairfield who listen to Phish.

You love Hilton Kaderli and your mom cried when he retired.

UConn basketball rules and no one can tell you different

You have deer in your backyard. (yep, most mornings)

You didn't drink or do drugs until 10th grade.

You still don't understand why people say that Connecticut is the richest state.....

Your best friend went to Central, Western, Eastern and finally Manchester Community College. (no, but close)

Your mom works at Travelers and your dad works at Pratt and Whitney.

You have been drunk at the Meadows and don't remember the concert.

You go to Riverside at least once a summer

Your parents actually care about the Governor, the Patriots coming to Hartford, the lights at Christmas in Hartford & Channel 3 news. (partial credit)

You have a UCONN flag outside of your house year round

You think New Jersey was a toxic waste dump

You hang out at Denny's

You've partied at bonfires

You have at least one friend with a pickup

You think everyone works tobacco in the summer

You think Old Lyme is a shore town

You've been to Cape Cod

You think the Connecticut River is endless

The town diner is the only place open after midnight.

You have at least 4 friends who drive Jeep Grand Cherokees

You root for all the New York sports teams

If anybody asks, you're from just outside of New York.

You've never looked at a public bus schedule

You have both girlfriends and guyfriends with the same name as you.

You go to the diner late night to post party. (well, in high school days)

You think New Haven is the worst ghetto you've ever seen (when living just north of Bridgeport? Elm City's a close second)

You can proudly tell an outsider about Nutmeg.

You weekend either on the Cape or Rhode Island at a summer home

You have said... " I'm in a good location... Between both Boston and New York."

You can carry on a conversation about Mike Liut, Torrie Robertson, and the Brass Bonanza.

You have to explain Cow Tipping to people from out of state.

When you go to a real city, you sincerely feel bad for every poor / homeless person you see.

You get pissed at anyone who doesn't know how to drive in the snow. (pissed doesn't even begin to describe it)

You can name all the members of the UCONN men's and women's basketball teams.

You still can't find your way in Hartford (except for that bar area near Union Station.)

You hold the door open for someone and they don't say "Thank You." (ALL the frickin time. I thought it was Ohio, not me.)

You own a golden or a lab (family gets me the point for this one)

You own real Oakley's

You only know Westbrook and Clinton because they have good outlets

You don't think you're a yuppie, but the rest of the country does

You only ski in Vermont or out West

Your mother is the head of the PTA

There is absolutely nothing to do in the winter

You live twenty minutes form either an Abercrombie & Fitch, J. Crew, or GAP.

You sail, or know someone who does.

You don't understand why everyone else has not been to Europe.

You can't get through the week with out a Coffee Coolata

Your family owns more cars than legal drivers (easily)

School attire is a North Face fleece jacket, a North Face Fleece or L.L. Bean back pack, a plaid shirt, khakis, and Doc Martins.

Summer footwear is either Reefs or Birks

You carry your keys on a carabineer, but you don't know how to rock climb.
(guilty in high school)
You feel for the homeless, but are not willing to give up the golf course land to develop a homeless shelter. (as if we ever acknowledged there were homeless around in the first place)

As a child you took horseback riding, golfing, tennis and swimming lessons.
(two out of four gets me the points...you guess which two)
You grew up wanting to be a lifeguard

You own every DMB CD

The state is so small you know where all the speed traps are

You can't understand why people don't understand what your talking about when you refer to a "package" store

You went to prep school even though your public schools are awesome

People actually wear sweaters around their necks

You've never taken public transportation (not in CT, I haven't)

You know of at least one person who's house was totally trashed after a huge party

Your mom drives a Volvo wagon

You have at least one friend whose house was built in the 1800's

You live in a huge colonial

You know at LEAST one person who has been pulled over and found to have weed in their car

The only overcrowding is of deer in your backyard

Your house would cost half as much in any other state

Your wardrobe contains at least three pairs of cords and five wool sweaters

Half of your friends are from another town because yours is so small

At least one of your friends has a sick house right on the water

Dewy-eyed and nostalgic now (I'm only half-joking), I go off to sleep wistful for my favorite place in this country, one of my very favorite places on the planet. Easier to love it when you're far from it.

About me

Michael K.
Observing the things in my personal cosmos: music of a catchy sort, soccer, hockey and other sports, theories of place, media and culture, academic life, history, nature, politics, the international, the parochial. You never know what you might get. For generosity of the spirit.
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