Cheesehead
I’m a newly minted Cheesehead.
Wisconsinites call anyone
from the other side of Lake Erie
“an East Coaster.”
They fretted that we would
never make it through a
Madison winter.
I replied with one word: “Buffalo.”
Slowly they realized that, not only is
New York State snowy and cold and
a cheese heaven in itself,
but I have a Midwestern pedigree.
Mom grew up in Iowa.
I’m willing to eat all the ‘pig corn’ they put on my plate!
© Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For ABC Wednesday, brought to you by the letter “C,” and also on Poets United, my shelter from the storm.
Sharp Little Pencil 
booguloo
Time to bring out the slide shows and let them see what winter looks like in the Snowbelt.
Sharp Little Pencil
Actually, our first winter here (I did the major part of the move… in mid-January… with a cat in the car) was one big freakin’ dump of a blizzard! Not the constant lake-effect snows on the other side of the Erie, but this massive, stay at home and drink cocoa and watch movies all day kind of storms, which I just Looooooove!
vivienne Blake
This seems to be written in a foreign language to this Brit!
Sharp Little Pencil
And you’re in France, too… um, “Cheeseheads” are folks from Wisconsin for two reasons: The obvious is that we manufacture some of the finest cheese in the country; but the second, more important reason is the Green Bay Packers, who are a big football team out of Green Bay, WI. Hardcore fans tend to wear huge plastic wedges of swiss cheese as hats… think Camilla Parker-Bowles for the size of the wedges, or any of those horrendous hats at Will and Kate’s wedding!
David King
It took me a couple of reads, but it was more than worth it. Fine poem.
Sharp Little Pencil
Well, we Wisconsinites are soooooo very complicated, LOL. Thanks, David! Amy
Roger Green
some sociologist considers everything from Binghamton west the Midwest in terms of sensibility; might have some applicability.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Sharp Little Pencil
And yet I am called an “East Coaster” here. Like I ever lived anywhere near the Atlantic, except for NYC, where the only advantage is the Fulton Fish Market! Amy
Jae Rose
I somehow thought of Garrison Keillor ..tough, hardy cheese loving folks. I spent one winter in Cleveland, Ohio..I bow down to your ability to cope with that amount of weather..thanks for making me 🙂 Jae
Sharp Little Pencil
Hey, winter here is nothing a pair of silk thermals can’t cure… plus, all that silky stuff next to your skin is so luxurious! OK, Truth: The cold SUCKS but the people are wonderful and there are more cafes every day, all locally owned, plus a coop pharmacy. It’s our little Woodstock! A
Kim Nelson
So there!
Although I have a feeling you’d fit in anywhere, Amy.
Sharp Little Pencil
I bloom where I’m planted, most of the time! Thanks for your optimism! A
Joy
I thought it was a name they called the Green Bay Packers fans, so I lean some more. Boy I bet it was cold this winter there.
Sharp Little Pencil
Colder than charity, as my dad used to say. And yes, it’s because of the yellow foam swiss cheese hats!!! Good for you, Joy! Thanks for stopping, Amy
Daydreamertoo
LOL Very good.
You know, when I first moved across the Atlantic, I didn’t realise just how lucky (weatherwise) we were in the UK for winters being so mild. (Apart from last years)
But here, the first winter I went through, I could have sworn my lungs would freeze just from the ice cold wind that I was breathing in… LOL
I so ‘get’ this. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
You know the worst part? When you could swear the wax in your ears is freezing into a solid clump! EEEEWWWW!
I’ve heard UK winters are much milder, too. We are hoping to settle for good in Madison. Call me crazy, but I love when nature pummels us with snow, such abandon! A.
RJ Clarken
Cheesehead? lol
Sharp Little Pencil
You know, those big swiss wedges everyone wears at the Green Bay Packers games? That’s where it came from. I warned everyone that, even though we were moving here, I was not going to wear one. But Lex’s first sermon, he pulled one out from behind the pulpit and put it on, and the congregation exploded in laughter! I think we’ll be here a long, long, time – God willin’ and the “crick” don’t rise! A
Victoria Ceretto-Slotto
Big smile. I have Wisconsin heritage and know all about winter in Buffalo, too. Yikes.
Sharp Little Pencil
Victoria, sweet coincidence, huh? Also, I grew up outside Binghamton, on the P.A. border, out in the country, top of a hill. We got snowed in one year and my dad was low on heart medication. The fire department can up ON SNOWSHOES to deliver his meds, a full mile up a hill. And this was, of course, a volunteer crew. Hats off to all our firefighters and police officers who know how to meet needs, even at the cost of their own safety! Amy
Buddah Moskowitz
Nicely done – I love Wisconsin. Was there once and thought it was delightful.
Sharp Little Pencil
If you come back for a visit, we will provide your own room with a double futon bed and private bathroom. (I sleep on the couch when we have company, which is fine by me!) I mean it, bruddah, would love to see you! And Madison is the best city in Wisconsin, filled with coffee shops and fun stuff to do. Ameleh
Long Island Daily Photo
original “C” post-& very funny as well!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Lily! I’ll head over and see what you are up to. Peace, Amy
hawleywood40
I cannot write a poem to save my life, and haven’t been much of reader of poetry. But I read this, loved it, grinned, and stayed for several more. Found you through the Crazy Chicks Club, and glad I did!
Sharp Little Pencil
Hey, welcome to my wacky world! I’ll come over and see what you DO do besides poetry, you Crazy Chick! Amy
Bodhirose
I think I have experienced an inkling of what you have been through, Amy, having lived in Boston, MA for a few years. I had never even seen snow before–having come from Florida– and they had one of their worst blizzards in their history when I was there! Whoo–that’s some intense winter weather up there.
Hell, it snowed in May one year! What?! That just about killed me…
Sharp Little Pencil
Ha, it snowed two feet in Binghamton, NY (my hometown, just north of the PA border) in May. I had to get Riley out of the car (she was 5) and pull her to the house on a newly-purchased plastic sled I’d just gotten at the dime store! I hear you.
Meryl Jaffe
Sweet! LOL. Great post and lots of fun to read.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Meryl! Ah, cheese… all I can eat. And curds, too! Amy