you know you’re a michigander/michiganian
when you use your hands as a map
to show where
you live, are going, or something is located
yep
two hands
two peninsulas.
—
‘i have an existential map. it has ‘you are here’ written all over it.’
-steven wright
image credit: michigan field guide
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I didn't have my glasses on.... 
That’s really interesting, Beth. I had never heard of that before. It prompted me to look at a large map of Michigan.
Best wishes, Pete.
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it’s so funny and I’ve never really thought about it. if someone asks where we live, we automatically throw up our hands and show them. grow up that way. )
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I have just realised how close Ann Arbor is to Detroit, and that Kalamazoo in in Michigan. I only know that town from the old song, and had no idea where it was.
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right!
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Funny–but good maps!
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it’s always worked for us and people automatically just do it )
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So funny!
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I think I need an extra hand for a compass …
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)))
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Most definitely – every time someone asked me where our place is I point to a spot on my hand that is in the upper part of lower Michigan smack dab in the middle just a inch or two from the top of my middle finger. Grayling.
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That’s so spot on and exactly right Clay. We never give a thought to it. We just automatically throw up our hands and point.
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So very interesting. How very cool. And genius too.
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This system works perfectly and quite naturally with the shape of our state and the two peninsulas
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interesting!
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It’s so normal here that we never think anything of it and when anyone ask us where something is or where we live we just throw up our hands, but it is funny when we do it and people ask us about it. It is quite humorous.
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😊😊
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Love it! And Steven Wright – I’ve been trying to think of his name forever! Thanks!
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He’s great
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It was last summer that I learned Michigan also has a Sault Ste Marie that borders with our Sault Ste Marie in Ontario!
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Yes!
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I wonder if hand maps would work for Colorado?? I’m going to think on that as I could see intertwined parallel fingers representing the Rockies and front range cities, left palm being the western slope, right palm Denver Metro and eastern plains. Rather rectangular vs. square so a rather compressed state but… it could work!! :)
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I say you start a movement!
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gotta hand it to you! (literally) #PureMichigan
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Hahaha
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Beth! I never knew this! My dear childhood friend lives near Grand Rapids~ I can now really tell where she lives! 🥰♥️
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Better than any traditional map!)
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That is so funny. And cool at the same time :)
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I was born into this and never really thought about it, but it is funny)
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The things we take for granted. This is a good ‘un!
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😉
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Yup! Always have pointed out Michigan landmarks that way. I was born and raised in Muskegon, on the knuckle by the little finger. 😊
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I never realized MI was a hands-on state. Have you ever thought of moving or using a real map? :-)
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Very handy trick!
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like Pete, I had never heard of this, so I also looked at map of Michigan. The two hand approach seems like a great way to explain where you live and an easy way to give a perspective on where the major cities in Michigan are. Are there bridges connecting the two hands?
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This is a new way of guidance.
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Interesting Beth 🤗
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