Over the years, my various careers have taken me to live in New York, Virginia, Nebraska, California, Arizona, and Montana, as well as my home state of Minnesota.

After living in all those places, I’ve come to a startling conclusion: people are pretty much people wherever you go.

I’ve met plenty of nice folks in every state I’ve lived in. I’ve also met my share of jerks. And, believe it or not, Minnesota has its fair share of them, too—including right here in Stevens County.

So much for the theory that we Minnesotans have cornered the market on niceness.

Most people are good, decent folks. But there always seem to be a few who make it their life’s mission to irritate the rest of us. Maybe they’re just having a bad day. Whatever the reason, I think we could all work a little harder at being nice.

I’ve noticed something interesting over the years. When I wear my Navy Vietnam veteran ball cap in Arizona, strangers regularly stop me just to thank me for my service.

That doesn’t happen nearly as often here in Minnesota.

Now, I’m not complaining. Maybe Minnesotans are just more reserved. We tend to think, “Well, thank you for your service,” and then keep walking because we don’t want to make a fuss. That could be it. I don’t know.

But a few weeks ago, a young man at Willie’s went out of his way to thank me for my service. That meant something to me. And the funny thing is, we veterans don’t wear those military baseball caps because we’re looking for a thank-you. We wear them so we can recognize one another.

So, is “Minnesota Nice” fact or fiction? I’d say it’s a little of both.

Minnesotans may not always be nicer than everyone else. But we certainly can be. And maybe that’s the point. We don’t have to be perfect. We just have to be a little nicer to the person standing next to us. Even if they are from Wisconsin and Packer fans.

Be nice. Be Minnesota nice.

Ted Storck

Morris