Mich·i·gan·der

ˌmiSHiˈɡandər/

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Michigan.

I was born and raised in Michigan. I have been here my whole life and I fall in love with this state, again and again, every year. I love when colors begin to outline the trees. I love the fresh crisp breeze that comes off the Great Lakes. I love being able to use my hand as a map when people ask me "Where are you from?". I could go on and on about all the things I love about Michigan.

I hear people say all the time how Michigan is a perfect state and I almost agree with them. I think Michigan is 98.2% perfect. "Why?" you may ask. What could possibly be wrong with the beautiful mitten? Snow, that is what is wrong.

I hate snow and I firmly believe that you can still be a Michigander and hate snow.

Now I know many will disagree and I've been told so many times how I'm not a true Michigander because I hate snow. I don't want to offend anyone who enjoys the snow and winter sports but I simply do not enjoy it.

Snow is cold, obviously.

Snow is not only cold, but it is wet. I'm a short girl, so most of my pants go past my feet, therefore, hitting the ground..so if the ground is wet my pants get wet.

Accompanied with snow comes ice. Ice leads to many different problems such as bad road conditions. When the roads are bad, we get confined to our homes. Or for those, such as myself, who no longer has the luxury of a garage have to scape the ice off our cars each morning before work. It gets old after a week or so.

I miss the sun. When winter comes and snow arrives the sun says goodbye at 5. That's way too early for it to go dark. It throws my internal clock off, by the time its 9 P.M, I feel like its 3 A.M. And then waking up with almost no sun light is extremely difficult to someone who struggles with mornings.

I also hate the snow because it limits my wardrobe. I love my sundresses, I think I have more dresses then I do pants and they just don't look as cute under a bunch of layers.

To everyone who loves the snow, I envy you. Although I don't enjoy the white frozen water, there will always be beauty in it. But my heart will always be with the colors that outline the trees, the fresh crips breeze and I will forever carry a map of Michigan with me. I'll always be a Michigander who hates the snow and that's just the cold hard truth! :)