We left the apartment in the bug, the temperature about 70 degrees, the sun attempting to pop through the clouds, set for Panera to grab some dinner.  Not to eat in, of course, but to go through the drive-thru and take home, to have a virtual dinner and play games with some friends.  As we were driving through the intersection, I just noticed how many people were out – so many driving, families and friends bicycling, people walking together and I thought, wow, this looks like normal.  Nebraskans are doing what Nebraskans tend to do and that would be whatever they want to because frankly, nobody notices.

Nope, nobody really pays attention to people who are mowing their yards wearing shorts  in November as the snow is falling.  Nobody pays attention when people go outside to watch the wall clouds come over their homes in hopes of seeing the tornado.  Nobody even pays attention when half the state is under water due to flooding and we have no navigable waterways.  So why would anyone pay attention if we just decided to get back to normal?

After all, Nebraska has more cows than people.  Literally. Memorial stadium is the 3rd largest city in Nebraska on game days.  Our largest city is Omaha, for crying out loud, a place made fun of in songs.  We’re flyover country.  When traveling and someone asks me where I’m from, I say “Nebraska” and they inevitably roll their eyes and say “Oh”.  Chances are they don’t know where the state located,  so who cares if we get back to normal?

But despite the fact that we have spring floods and it gets way below zero in the winter and the wind is awful and we’re called Tornado Alley, Nebraska has developed a population of people who are tough and no nonsense.  People that during a pandemic will begin to leave their homes and go to parks and ride their bikes and pick up take-out from the local mom and pop place to keep them in business while wearing a mask or social distancing because it’s the kind thing to do.  People who are pragmatic and that don’t scare easily.  People who pray, love their families and appreciate pubic schools.  Yeah, pretty old fashioned stuff, but as the people who live here will tell you, they’re ok that nobody notices or wants to be a part of us because it keeps the place nice – Nebraska Nice – just for us.

When we moved here 20 years ago this summer, I never in my wildest dreams thought I would still be here.  Oh sure, I complain about the weather when it’s really cold and really hot, but who wouldn’t complain about a 120 degree differential?  But the truth is these are people who are tough yet kind, no-nonsense people who think for themselves, who will be careful but who will not be afraid.  I appreciate that “pioneer spirit” if you will.

We’re talking about school beginning in August in some form and football in the fall and while some people might think we’re crazy, most people won’t even notice.  Because we’re Nebraska and quite frankly, we like it that way.  It’s not for everyone.