Late-night cruises on a pontoon boat, hot dog in hand, listening for the loons sailing across the glassy surface of the small inland lake I know like the back of my hand—this is the place where I feel I’ve truly discovered what my favorite things in life are. Oh, how I love being a Midwest Princess.
When most people think of a modern-day princess, their thoughts may turn to young girls who thrive in the glitz and glam of massive Southern sorority houses, taking over your feed like it’s a national holiday. But to me, a princess is someone who has all of the finest things in life at their fingertips—and I believe the best parts of life lie within the borders of Wisconsin. In the Midwest, there is so much more than what meets the eye from the outside looking in.
My fondest memories growing up often came from activities that could easily result in some type of injury, but as I was always told, “that’s what builds character.” Whether it was skidding across the lake like a tossed stone after being flung from a tube I didn’t even know could flip that way, or the general trial-and-error process of learning how to build and start a fire on my own, I always found myself feeling a bit stronger after the fact.
A pivotal moment in many Midwest kids’ lives is the experience of being shipped off to summer camp. That’s what made summer real—it’s what made summer feel like summer. Not a single year went by without me counting down the days until I could finally sprint down a tunnel of trees and claim my bunk.
The impact that camp had on me sticks with me to this day, both in the pivotal lessons and the small, silly skills I gained, as well as the friendships I hope never fade. But most importantly, I was outside. There is something so completely and utterly satisfying about Midwest summers, especially when paired with the magic of summer camp.
By the end of each summer, I was tickled pink to return to my small Wisconsin cabin and share all the new skills I’d gained and friendship bracelets I’d made, hoping to at least get a “very nice” in return from my parents. Midwest summers were—and still are—everything to me.
The geographical diversity of the northern region just adds to its beauty. When most people think of Wisconsin, they think of large dairy and corn farms. There’s truth to that image. However, the mountain hikes and the Great Lake swims, in my eyes, truly set it apart from anywhere else.
But the joys of being a Midwest princess don’t end when summer breezes and fire-cooked hot dogs give way to snowdrifts and hot chocolate. I like to think I’m not the biggest fan of the cold—but here I am, chasing snow all the way to the Upper Peninsula.
Winter brings so many opportunities for outdoor fun. These, for me, are on par with my love for lounging by the lake while my friends and family make a splash. My personal favorite winter activity is snowmobiling. There’s truly no feeling like tearing across a frozen inland lake—or trying not to fall off the back while my brother makes it his personal mission to send me flying.
One of the reasons I chose to use the term “princess” is because, in all honesty—I’m pretty bad at setting up and making the things I love to do happen. Fact: I love to ice fish. Do I enjoy holding the fish I catch or removing the hook from its mouth? Absolutely not.
The key is to find a Midwest knight to have a symbiotic relationship with, for me that’s the flock of Midwest dads who have created a kingdom of their own along the lakeside. I’d be lost without someone to walk me through the steps of setting up a tip-up or making sure there’s a full cooler to last at least a few hours. In return, they get hours of my nonsense chatter—and maybe a hit from my hand warmers, if they’re lucky.
Wisconsin is my personal paradise. But the heart of my Midwest kingdom is the people. Midwesterners are known for being the best neighbors and the kindest folks around. To know someone from the Midwest is to love someone from the Midwest. I just so happen to be lucky enough to call these people my friends and family—and I’ve been blessed to live here. The best times truly come from the best company.
Editor’s Note: The North Wind is committed to offering a free and open public forum of ideas, publishing a wide range of viewpoints to accurately represent the NMU student body. This is a staff column, written by an employee of the North Wind. As such, it expresses the personal opinions of the individual writer, and does not necessarily reflect the position of the North Wind Editorial Board.
