Ohio
I was born and (mostly) raised in NE Ohio. During my early life my family wandered the US a little bit, travelling to Arizona for a 6 month period then back to Ohio. I seem to remember my grandfather telling me about living in New Jersey but I really don't know if that was a memory of his from before I was born or if I actually lived there. When I was younger I took quite a bit that my Grandpa told me as Gospel. He told the greatest stories and even now I find myself wanting to emulate the man I knew him to be.
I've lived on both sides of the state, and I've travelled it quite extensively. I know where to go for great food in Van Wert and I know the quickest way to get from Youngstown to Pittsburgh. I was in Ohio for the great tornado of 1985 and I have awe-inspiring memories of watching storms from the hill behind my grandparents' house in Celina. I love watching storms to this day, though I seldom have the time for it any more. Perhaps I'll have to make more time for storm-watching in the future.
I meet people from my home state quite often and we are the only people I know that can correctly pronounce the names of any and every town in Ohio. Only a native can tell you whether the "e" at the end of "Chillicothe" is long or even pronounced. Sure, any idiot can pull off a name like "Akron" or even "Geauga" but how many people do you know that can say Tuscarawas right the first time?
I've lived on both sides of the state, and I've travelled it quite extensively. I know where to go for great food in Van Wert and I know the quickest way to get from Youngstown to Pittsburgh. I was in Ohio for the great tornado of 1985 and I have awe-inspiring memories of watching storms from the hill behind my grandparents' house in Celina. I love watching storms to this day, though I seldom have the time for it any more. Perhaps I'll have to make more time for storm-watching in the future.
I meet people from my home state quite often and we are the only people I know that can correctly pronounce the names of any and every town in Ohio. Only a native can tell you whether the "e" at the end of "Chillicothe" is long or even pronounced. Sure, any idiot can pull off a name like "Akron" or even "Geauga" but how many people do you know that can say Tuscarawas right the first time?
Fun Facts
Ancient tribes of "Mound Builders" left more than 6,000 burial mounds and forts throughout the Ohio region. When European explorers first arrived, they found Delaware, Shawnee, Wyandot, and Miami Indian tribes living there.