What is a " Yooper "

So, I know it's coming - What is a " Yooper " Well, let me try my best to explain....

According to Wiki-Pedia ( you know, that place you go when you don't know the answer ) A Yooper, is someone of Scandinavian, Flemish, French Canadian, Finnish or German descent that resides, or is from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

" Yooper " is basically taking the initial's U.P. ( Upper Pennisula for you city folks ) and making a word of it. How that came about, who knows. Perhaps it was some drunk swede sitting at deer camp drinking his Leinenkugel eating some pickled venison, or perhaps that Webster's Scholar trying to come up with a word for next years edition to keep from getting fired because he's fresh out of ideas- Who knows ???

I know, I know ( you Yoopers can quit throwing yer swampers and pasties at me anytime ) We aren't just descendants of Europeans, And honestly, My lineage doesn't even trace back to those Europeans ( Irish actually ) because I'm a " Yooper " by default...

How is that you ask ?

I was adopted....Oh sure Troy, likely excuse.

Being a " Yooper " is more than lineage, It's more than ancestry, and it's way more that just residing in Michigan's Beautiful Upper Peninsula.

So, what does it all mean ?

Being a Yooper - is about Pride, Honor, Decency, Hard Work, Survival - and well, having a few screws loose.....

Who else, could brave the bitterly cold winters of the North Country ? Where the snow is so deep, and comes down so hard at times off of Lake Superior - that you have to back your 4 x 4 into the driveway, just to plow your way out to get to Shopko, only to have to plow your way back in on the way home ??

Where else, has Deer hunting become such a way of life, that most people consider the Opening Day of Firearm Deer Season " a National Holiday "

Where else, are you forced to use your Air Conditioning, and your Furnace ON THE SAME DAY ??

And where else, can you be forced to drive 2 hours in any one direction - just to get to the Nearest Wal-Mart ??

That's right - The U.P. Us Yoopers like it that way. Why do you ask, do we decide to live in such beautiful desolation ? In a place where Isolationism, and Hardship, and Depravity are the norm ?

One answer... Detroit - Flint - Grand Rapids

We don't understand Urban Sprawl. We don't understand crime, and robbery and murder, and arson and pollution, and decay and all the things that the big city have to offer.

You can have them.

Give me the open air, the unclogged roads, the darkened skies at night for perfect views of the heaven's above, the un-polluted fishing stream where it's still safe to catch and eat what the U.P. has provided me...

A famous movie quite I heard a while back.. " If you're looking for heaven, It's north of the Bridge "

What is a Yooper you ask ?? that's me :-) And I'm proud of it !!!