up north for christmas

I’m going up north for Christmas. I’m from up north. When my friend Julia came to visit Wisconsin, I planned to take her up north - and told her so when she arrived. She (not being from round these parts) said “Where’s up north? Why don’t you just say where we are going?” So I did, to everyone she met. “Where are you taking her?” they’d ask. I’d say, up to the Nicolet national forest to camp, and to Eagle River, etc etc, and they would invariably say “Oh! you’re going up north!” Yes, I’d reply and look sideways at Julia. Finally, after the fourth interaction, Julia said, fine, we’re going up north.

So, up north I go, to hang with my beloved neices and nephews and their parents (my siblings and their wives) and grandparents (my mom and dad). I have four whole days with all of them, I’m sure we’re going to have a splendid time. I love being from up north, and I love going back. I love saying that I’m going “up north” and I love it that people ask if I’m going “up north”. Perhaps someday I’ll move back up north. But then again, perhaps I’ll settle in Chicago and go up north a few times a year. Or maybe I’ll settle somewhere else and only go up north every so often. It’s all good, as long as I can be from there, and go there every once in a while.

We don’t have snow yet, and I understand there isn’t any up north either. This, surprisingly, doesn’t bother me. I’ve spent enough Christmases in hot climates that snow does not equal Christmas to me any more. Mostly it means spending time with people who are close to me - and I hope you all have that too.

Posted by Marie on December 22nd, 2006 under Family

One Response to “up north for christmas”

  1. Stacey Says:
    December 29th, 2006 at

    Since I moved away, I call home “The Northwoods” instead of just “up north”. Since everyone here refers to ANYTHING that isn’t California as “back east”, “up north” would just confuse them.

    I love using “The Northwoods” cuz it sounds…well, in the words of this guy I know who lives further SOUTH in the CENTRAL valley, THE NORTHWOODS sounds “simply magical!” I like the thought that I’m from a “simply magical” place :-) It’s sorta like our own private Narnia.

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