In no way meant to be a disparagement upon the fine name of any other State, let me give an example, from a recent experience of mine, pertaining to the notion of "Minnesota Nice." My son had recently visited from Arizona and we took the opportunity to refresh his fishing skills on some local trout streams and a day trip to Lake Pepin, a large widening of the Mississippi. The trout fishing was great but the river was more problematic mostly due to my failure to make sure my Alumacraft fishing boat was up to snuff in spite of it's not being used much in recent years. I did charge all the batteries and lifted the gas tank to confirm it had enough for the job...
From Wikipedia:
Minnesota nice is the stereotypical behavior of people born
and raised in Minnesota to be courteous, reserved, and mild-mannered. The
cultural characteristics of Minnesota nice include a polite friendliness, an
aversion to confrontation, a tendency toward understatement, a disinclination
to make a fuss or stand out, emotional restraint, and self-deprecation. Critics
have pointed out negative qualities, such as passive aggressiveness and
resistance to change at a personal, but not a social level. The roots of this
cultural trait, however, are Scandinavian.
Well, if you dare, come on along on our fateful fishing trip.....
Cruising up the river on a Sunday afternoon....
"Maiden Rock" just above as we were casting for the moon...
The smallmouth bass were biting as well as other less known varieties.
We continued miles upstream enjoying the day, the action and the sights...
Till , as the evening wore on, it was time to head on home. Not wanting Mrs. T. to worry about us on The Big River in the dark, I opened it up full throttle, racing downstream toward the landing at Lake City and ran out of gas about a mile from our destination. "Not to worry, " I informed my son. "We have the electric trolling motor", which didn't work either. Now down to paddling one oar in the middle of the river, I could see at my present rate of progress against a wind blowing us to the Wisconsin shore, we'd be lucky to make the Minnesota landing by midnight. Yikes.
It was then that Tony informed me that a woman on an pontoon type speedboat heading upstream had pointed us out by noting that "guy in the fishing boat was paddling with one oar." Dropping my oar in the boat, I started waving frantically....
Minnesota nice indeed!
I never heard that phrase before, but I believe it! What a great story, TB. :-)
ReplyDeleteGave me a good laugh. Once you get out the one oar an number of folks are going to ask if you need help. This is what I enjoy all over the Midwest. Still laughing, we do that well also. He will surely tell this tale a few times when back home.
ReplyDeleteThere are nice people all over, and there is also an unwritten rule about sailors helping other sailors, but I'd be willing to bet those traits are especially prominent in Minnesota.
ReplyDeleteMinnesota nice at it's finest! Glad you made it off the river/lake safely:)
ReplyDeleteGreat story. Glad you caught fish and got home safe and sound.
ReplyDeleteWonderful story. And it reaffirms my belief that there are indeed some fine folks out there! Glad you made it back to shore
ReplyDeleteThat was a great final finish for the day. People who do similar things have had the same kind of things happen to them so they don't hesitate to help you out.
ReplyDeleteOh, man. Thank goodness for Minnesota Nice!
ReplyDeleteThat's a story Mrs T will probably never let you forget!
ReplyDeleteNot just Minnesota nice, but a woman to bail you out as well! Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteThis sure makes me homesick for Minnesota, green, and water. I'm in CA long term, helping family. We haven't been to Lake City but once in about 5 years, but that is where my husband grew up, with a clear view of the Mighty Mississippi out of his living room window.
ReplyDeleteLoved this tale, especially the ending where a woman came to the rescue.
ReplyDeleteIf you're so nice, you could qualify to be Canadian. :)
ReplyDeleteI think all boat people are Minnesota Nice. It is just part of the culture. But it would be really special to have a whole state full of "nice."
ReplyDeleteLove your stories!!
ReplyDeleteOh, that was nice! I'm so glad she was smart to figure that out. Hooray!
ReplyDeleteAh, sounds like a grand Minnesota day. Love the description of its residents. I can claim most of those traits including the bad ones.
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how many times we have towed people on our lake. They're usually going six miles this way or six miles that way. Takes forever, but someday it might be us needing the tow.
Glad you had that "quality" time with your son. Adventure on.
Boy, were you fortunate ! Drifting all night would not have been fun.
ReplyDeleteSounds rather British, this Minnesota nice. I'm relieved to hear you made land by midnight. How scary!
ReplyDeleteI am missing Minnesota Nice a bit at my new home in the South, though people are nice here, too. I think Minnesotans in pontoon boats are especially inclined to rescue others. I've seen it over and over again.
ReplyDeleteLol. Glad you made it in the end.
ReplyDeleteNice-glad you made it okay and I like the photos! I remember we got blown around the LI sound in a storm and couldn't make it back to the boat launch in our 14 foot boat. We got knocked into the shoreline and someone hurried across their lawn from a mansion and told us to get off their property.I guess that would be the opposite of Minnesota nice.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good story. As it began to unfold I was sure you were going to drift down the river to Louisiana and be sold into slavery. All's well that ends in Minnesota.
ReplyDeleteI'll take you word for it. Based my favorite author, John Sandford (have read 20-something of his books) and he always writes about Minnesota, I thought all folks in Minn were cops or serial killers. Glad your rescuer wasn't a Sandford character. Kidding of course. I remember my last trip to Minneapolis St Paul. Never met a single serial killer but did see some cops on that trip. The scenery was spectacular.
ReplyDeleteYour fishing trip was along very familiar shores. Isn't it beautiful country?
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