My name is Tim Anderson.
About a month ago my wife Jill and I were blessed to finally become home owners here in the U.P.
However, we found out that owning property in the U.P. does not officially make one a Yooper.
We moved up here two years ago to Pickford to start the Eastern Upper Peninsula Church of Christ and teach “Simply the Bible.”
After the first winter I asked, “Now that we have been through a U.P. winter, does that make us Yoopers?”
The person’s face went ashen and in a voice of warning he answered, “You have not seen a real winter up here yet!”
The response was both disappointing and scary. Disappointing, considering we thought we had earned the rank.
Scary, considering the levels of winter needed to become a true Yooper.
He went on to describe horrific snows and cold durations that were of Biblical proportions. The tall tree branches along the county roads began to make a lot of sense.
“You survive one of those winters,” the weather historian continued, “and you might be considered a true Yooper.”
The word “survive” prompted topped off tanks of gas in our vehicles and a well-stocked pantry.
His words proved prophetic. We moved this winter, our third winter here, and what a challenge.
I never thought I would ever utter the phrase, “when it warms up to seven below then we can…”
Even if this winter does prove to be “one of those winters,” normal or not, we still have 37 more winters to go. ‘
This is according to another definer of Yoopers who said, “I’m a Yooper because I have lived here for over 40 years.”
If this is the case then with God’s will, we will celebrate Yooper status in a nursing home.
That’s providing the residence is in the U.P.
More than one person claims we will never reach the coveted position of true Yoopers.
They say, “You must be born up here in order to be a true Yooper.”
So now we are no longer considered to be Hoosiers.
We are not trolls because we live on this side of the mighty Mac.
So, what are we then? “Newppers!”
Newppers are transplants to the U.P. who moved here because of the beauty of the area to live among the good, and resilient people who call themselves Yoopers.
This has been the Newpper’s Perspective.
Tim Anderson is the Minister at the E.U.P. Church of Christ