Are you a Lake Person or a River Person?
Are you a Lake Person or a River Person?
By: Allison Bruning
Growing up in Ohio, my sense of direction was like mostnative buckeyes. My sense of directions were defined as North – Lake Erie,South – Ohio River, East – Indian and West – Pennsylvania. A lot of timespeople would ask where I was from. I would always reply, "Up by the lake."Anyone from Ohio could automatically assume I was from around Lake Erie. When Iwas sixteen, my mother and I moved from Ohio to Texas. My sense of directionswere horrible. I had to learn to express myself as north, south, east and west.
Fouryears ago, my hubby and I moved to Kentucky to be closer to my family in Ohio.A West Texas native, he quickly learned our culture was drastically differentthan his own. As soon as someone found out I was from Ohio they'd instantly askme, "Where are you from?" I'd tell them up by the lake and sometimes they'dreply, "Oh, I'm from the river." My poor hubby would always ask "Oh, whichriver?" We would just laugh. You see, for any Ohio born and raised person weautomatically assume the river is the Ohio River and the lake is Lake Erie. Nowthat I'm back in my own element I forget sometimes people don't understand Ohiosense of direction.
Ohio Directions Up by the Lake = North Down by the River = South Over by Pennsylvania = East Over by Indiana = West Althoughwe are from the same state, Lake and River people are completelydifferent. I grew up close to the lake.There I was accustomed to severe storms. Lake people are use to harsh winters,occasional droughts, tornadoes and the summer storms. Out on the plains when thethunder rolls it shakes the very earth you stand on and you feel its immensepower deep within your soul. Lake people are use to large fishing boats, theferries crossing to and from Canada and the rich diversity of the growingcities. Below the lake, small farm townsfueled by railroads and industry dot along the plains.
I'velived close to the Ohio River for almost four years now. There's nothing like sitting on the river'sedge and watching the coal barges pass you by. I love to watch Indiana driverswhile I'm driving on the Kentucky side just parallel to me. On the lake I couldnever see to the other side. The river bridges fascinate me. I love being ableto cross to a new state on a bridge. The only bridge I'd ever cross across agreat lake was Mackinaw Bridge in Michigan and that's five miles long! Riverpeople are farmers. They're use to the rural country life with the occasionalmetropolis of Cincinnati, Louisville, and others. Rover folk know the power ofan Ohio River flood. They've felt the disasters and learned to survive. Theylove to fish and boat in the river. I'mproud to say I was raised by the lake but now I'm by the river person. 
By: Allison Bruning
Growing up in Ohio, my sense of direction was like mostnative buckeyes. My sense of directions were defined as North – Lake Erie,South – Ohio River, East – Indian and West – Pennsylvania. A lot of timespeople would ask where I was from. I would always reply, "Up by the lake."Anyone from Ohio could automatically assume I was from around Lake Erie. When Iwas sixteen, my mother and I moved from Ohio to Texas. My sense of directionswere horrible. I had to learn to express myself as north, south, east and west.Fouryears ago, my hubby and I moved to Kentucky to be closer to my family in Ohio.A West Texas native, he quickly learned our culture was drastically differentthan his own. As soon as someone found out I was from Ohio they'd instantly askme, "Where are you from?" I'd tell them up by the lake and sometimes they'dreply, "Oh, I'm from the river." My poor hubby would always ask "Oh, whichriver?" We would just laugh. You see, for any Ohio born and raised person weautomatically assume the river is the Ohio River and the lake is Lake Erie. Nowthat I'm back in my own element I forget sometimes people don't understand Ohiosense of direction.
Ohio Directions Up by the Lake = North Down by the River = South Over by Pennsylvania = East Over by Indiana = West Althoughwe are from the same state, Lake and River people are completelydifferent. I grew up close to the lake.There I was accustomed to severe storms. Lake people are use to harsh winters,occasional droughts, tornadoes and the summer storms. Out on the plains when thethunder rolls it shakes the very earth you stand on and you feel its immensepower deep within your soul. Lake people are use to large fishing boats, theferries crossing to and from Canada and the rich diversity of the growingcities. Below the lake, small farm townsfueled by railroads and industry dot along the plains.
I'velived close to the Ohio River for almost four years now. There's nothing like sitting on the river'sedge and watching the coal barges pass you by. I love to watch Indiana driverswhile I'm driving on the Kentucky side just parallel to me. On the lake I couldnever see to the other side. The river bridges fascinate me. I love being ableto cross to a new state on a bridge. The only bridge I'd ever cross across agreat lake was Mackinaw Bridge in Michigan and that's five miles long! Riverpeople are farmers. They're use to the rural country life with the occasionalmetropolis of Cincinnati, Louisville, and others. Rover folk know the power ofan Ohio River flood. They've felt the disasters and learned to survive. Theylove to fish and boat in the river. I'mproud to say I was raised by the lake but now I'm by the river person.
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