Defining Hoosiers

"But she grew up tall and she grew up right with them Indiana boys on them Indiana nights."\nYes folks, that's me in those Tom Petty lyrics. \nWhile I may only be 5 feet 5-inches, I certainly know what it's like to wake up to the smell of cornstalks and pig farms. I know what it's like to be an Indiana girl, to live in a one-stoplight town and have nothing to do on a Saturday night.\nThe word Hoosier is one I've heard defined from "Whose ear?" to "Whose your daddy?" And while its explanation may be hazy, its meaning is clear. I know what it stands for in my southern half of the state, so listen up out-of-staters. This information is vital.\nHospitality. If there is one thing that can be said about the crossroads of America, it's that we know how to make more than good sweet iced tea; we know how to make you feel at home. Grab a tenderloin sandwich, take a seat on the couch and enjoy the CMT countdown.\nOver-explaining. While most people could say something in two words, we Hoosiers like to speak in paragraphs. We tell stories -- some true, most not. So when you hear the key phase, "Now this here is..." just start tuning out, because nothing good is to come.\nObese. Yeah, I know the whole state isn't big, but we are one of the biggest. While some may be disgusted by a bit of thunder with a thigh, I enjoy it. Where there is fat there just may be a fry daddy, and you haven't lived until you've deep-fried.\nSexual. There is something about working in a field that just works people up. Since the invention of country love songs, where lovers are "makin' love in the moonlight," Hoosiers haven't been able to kick off their cowboy boots and peel off their denim fast enough. There is a love to be "nekked" and drink whiskey. Mix those together and there is no shortage of babies in Indiana towns.\nInventive. If there is one thing mamma Penn taught me, it's when you run out of bowls, just use old Cool Whip containers. Drive an hour south and you will see horse troughs can be swimming pools and cell phone antennas are replaced with screws. It may seem odd, it may look stupid, but it works. We make the best with what we have because every Hoosier is a little bit MacGyver, too.\nEgotistic. There are about 500 small towns in southern Indiana, but instead of banding together, we stand alone. Why? Because each town thinks the same thing: "We are better than them." Each town's trucks are bigger, the wives are prettier and grandma's cooking is better than in the bordering town. At least they have spirit and a lot of Hoosier pride.\nRespectful. When I visited New York over spring break, I loved every minute, but I missed a part of Indiana that I took for granted: respect. Kids help old people cross the street and lift heavy objects. Men nod at women and take their hats off during the national anthem. And unlike New York, people just give you the nice old middle finger instead of honking their horns non-stop and screaming. It's the little things like that that make all the difference.\nSporty. This "S" takes little explanation. Indiana doesn't care about the World Cup or the Tour de France. Indiana lives and breathes basketball. Words can't explain the hysteria, but the movie "Hoosiers" will teach you everything you want to know about basketball and my beloved Indiana.