South Dakota-isms

Now everyone knows there's that ever-touted midwestern tendency to call soda "pop." But few know that there are a plethora of quirks that are so uniquely South Dakotan. My top 10:

1. Anybody who's anybody drives a candy apple red Pontiac Grand Am. Melissa and I counted these one day, and in less than 24 hours we spotted 60 red Grand Ams on the streets of Sioux Falls. Overkill? I think so. But there's just something so alluring about driving a car that is both Corvette-ish and within the price range of the average daddy's girl college student.
2. It's all about American-made cars. I've seen more than one "Ford Parking Only" signs among South Dakota country boys. And even on the streets of Sioux Falls, you see about half as many Toyotas, Hondas and Kias as you do in a CA parking lot. Once again, this is the heartland.
3. The Argus Leader is SO liberal. The first thing I noticed about my newspaper was how CONSERVATIVE it is. But I guess these folks haven't been indoctrinated with the S.F. Chronicle as I have. Unlike that paper, the Argus doesn't have ads for mattresses that feature two women under a sheet.
4. "The winters in South Dakota aren't that bad." Last time I checked, 20 below, blizzards, ice storms and wind chills ARE that bad. People try to feed me this line all the time. I just hold my ground. You can have your winters -- I'll be in Costa Rica this January if you need me.
5. It's not expensive, it's "spendy."
6. It's not dinner, it's "supper."
7. Your barbecue is not complete without brats. I'm not referring to an unruly child here -- a "brat" (BRAWT) is a bratwurst sausage. The Scandinavian roots of the area are undeniable.
8. It's not pianist (PYAN-ist), it's pianist (PYEEN-ist). That's just kinda awkward.
9. You own a gun AND know how to use it to clear out those pesky prarie dogs.
10. Your dying wish is to own a Harley Davidson. I don't care if you're rich or poor, have a degree or a GED -- if you're from South Dakota, you've probably always wanted a hog. Sturgis is coming up -- the world's largest rally of Harley owners in the world, a weeklong event. Here it's not just an amusing subculture. A bike is a way of life.

All said and done, for all it's little regional quirks, South Dakota is an awesome place to be. More on that coming soon.