SSB, JG

[mrissa]

brithistorian was talking about Minnesota Efficient the other day, and we do indeed have that. I get more of it than he does, though, because sometimes I can save a whoooooole bunch of time by being recognizably what I am. In other places, it's a good deal more difficult to get people to change their filing from Femmey Young Female, Probable Pushover to some other, more appropriate category. But here? Stubborn Scando Bitch, Junior Grade, is readily available in most worldviews, and most people who have lived in MN for awhile can recognize the type pretty easily. "No melanin...ooh, that jaw doesn't look like it's going anywhere any time soon...uh-oh, those shoulders...I think we'll be doing as she says, Bob."

Even when they mutter, "Norwegians," under their breath as I leave the room, I don't mind. Because I am, and because it's good to get my way when I'm right and the only thing opposing me is "policy," and it's particularly good to get my way efficiently when I'm right. It's obviously convenient to be able to pull out Immovable Object when necessary, but it's even more convenient if you can wave a little sign reading "Immovable Object" (like Wile E. Coyote in midair) and have people recognize it and react accordingly.

It may be that there were similar cues I could have invoked when we lived in California, but I didn't know them. Here I know them.

Comments

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I find that "Magyars" mutters better. You know, just in case it ever comes up.

Of course, "Norse" makes a better mutter, too, but people don't tend to consult me on these things.

[nihilistic-kid.livejournal.com]

Women I've dated get that sometimes, about me.

"Is your boyfriend Italian?"

"Greek."

"Uh-oh."

[mkille.livejournal.com]

One of the few advantages about being a Southerner in New England was that I could outwait just about *anybody*, without even having to manifestly be a Stubborn Southerner. Foolish impatient Yankees.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

And here, the response would be, "Oh, really? That's nice." Where, "that's nice," means, "I know nothing about any Greek-American subculture that might exist, except for that one movie, to which I will now make annoying reference." We have a few Greek restaurants that appear to be staffed by actual Greek people, but as you probably know already, the Upper Midwest is not exactly packed with guys who look like you.

We had to convince my brother-in-law's (NY Italian) girlfriend that we actually do have Italians in Minnesota. Just not lots, compared to NY or even Omaha.