I woke January 1, 2013 in Portage County, Wisconsin, very far removed from my home in Texas. The annual holiday trip north is to visit my in-laws. At full capacity, there are 16 of us sharing 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. Three generations, ages 5 to 68, gather together to welcome the new year.
Cultural distinctions abound between Wisconsin and Texas. Here is a short list of the many differences:
(1) There is slush on the back porch in Wisconsin. I don't mean ice, although there is plenty of that. Slush is an alcoholic concoction that is as unique as its maker. The recipes vary to include vodka, brandy, rum, every form of fruit juice, and Caribbean spices. The ingredients are mixed together in a large container (my in-laws use large empty ice cream buckets), then left on the porch to freeze. The alcohol content will not allow the mixture to become solid, so it remains...slush. I like slush.
(2) Ice cream comes in buckets in Wisconsin, but no Blue Bell.
(3) The liveliest place in Portage County on New Year's Eve is the bowling alley. I joined my family at Point Lanes to ring in the new year. We drank champagne from small plastic cups and used our best efforts to get a strike in order to win a free drink. Black lights made our white socks glow.
(4) Wisconsinites eat summer sausage in winter.
(5) Wisconsinites have no idea that it is good luck to eat black-eyed peas on New Years Day. Next year, I need to pack a can to take along.
(6) In Wisconsin, disposable products are reused, many times.
(7) Like Texans, football is a religion for Wisconsinites; they cheer for the Packers and Badgers. They have not caught on yet that high school football can be equally holy.
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