Heartland

I love the midwest. I really, really do. The more time I spend away the more I realize I love it. The more I'm here, the happier I am. Just in my first few weeks back I've been thinking about/experiencing things that I realized are pretty common or a big deal here. Whereas, it may happen in other places but not commonly and not in the same way. And these things are great reasons to visit and/or live here.

1. People hold doors: the young hold the door for those older than them and men hold doors for women. e.g. I went to Cracker Barrel to apply for a job. On my way out (double doors with a little wait room in between 2 sets of doors) I held the door for 2 women who were at least 65 years of age, or older. Smiles all around "thank you" and "you're welcome" exchanged. After they walk out a family walks in and the Dad holds the door for his family as they come in and he waits for me to walk out. Smiles all around "thanks you" and "you're welcome" exchanged. Why is this so common? People are polite. Why is it so well-received? There ain't no people insulted by a door held. Apparently people on the coasts think I view them as incapable of opening a door? Uh.. no. 3 year old children can do that. I have full confidence you can do it. I just WANTED (chose, desired, and volunteered) to do it for you. And if a man does it for a woman, same thing. Even if a man were holding it for me because he viewed me incapable, I'll just take that as a compliment that I look worthy of his effort to serve. ;)

2. It's a small, small world: Just because Walt Disney World/Land are located on the coasts and Disney is the inventor of that song/ride doesn't mean it reflects that area. He was born in Illinois and raised in Missouri where he probably felt that it was a small world. Then he put that amusement park in California to try and get that message across because it was such a foreign concept over there, or he knew eventually it would be lost on them completely.
My Mom babysat the cashier at the gas station down the street from my house when they were younger.
My Dad's cousin's son is the mechanic I went to in Springfield.
Ya see? It's not like this doesn't happen other places. And it's not like everyone is my immediate relative. But this happens a lot more than in California and I just like it.

3. Small talk and getting to know strangers is perfectly acceptable: My landlord and I ended up have a 30 minute talk when I went to his office to ask a question. I found out he's a Christian author, he and his wife both. He is an elder at a church nearby. He used to write comics for some paper in New York from home here in Missouri. How did I know this? We talked. Talked. I don't know why this concept is, as well, foreign to "coasters" (I don't wanna pin this all on LA or California) but it is. I would frequently get asked from people at Target, the gas station, professors, or classmates, "Where are you from?!". Well.. I didn't know I looked so foreign, white girl that I am, so I'd ask back "Why do you think I'm not from here...?" And they'd answer with a relieved/amused/wonderment look and say "You are just so nice!"
I'm really not trying to brag. I also wasn't trying to be nice to these people. But I guess that's the point. I wasn't trying, I was just being me. Friendly, inquisitive, polite. But that's not unique of me in Missouri. It's unique in LA though. All I could figure out that I do differently is use common courtesy, manners, smile, and actually converse with people about their days. It's as if other people forget cashiers or strangers are actually PEOPLE with lives and they might have more to say than "Sign here" and "Here's your change".

4. Matchmakers: Eh sometimes it's cute. Sometimes it's annoying. Either way, it's daring and thoughtful and I applaud them. That landlord I mentioned? He also found it necessary to tell me ALL about his son. His son graduated high school with a 4.11 GPA, got a full-ride to college then graduated Evangel in 4 years with 2 Majors, 3 Minors, spoke a baccalaureate to his class and finished with a song on his guitar. He also was captain of Cross Country. He immediately got a job post-college with Wal-mart corporate and makes more than his Dad makes. Somewhere in there, though, his Dad dropped "He's a real good lookin kid too!" I'm not sure if he is just half in love with the way his son looks or what, and he may just be praising every aspect of this kid he can. But this happens every so often with older people and myself or my friends and it's endearing. Thanks for lookin out for me and your kin.

5. Cracker Barrel: Not even available on any west coast states - so sad.