"...the drunken cousin to...?

I live in a city (at this point, I won't say where) that was described by a visiting journalist as the "drunken cousin" to the state's capitol city. I agree with this person's assessment, (having also lived in the city she was writing from) yet in the 2 hours since this story was posted on my local newspapers website, 80 citizens have posted comments (split about 50-50) as to whether this opinion is "spot on" or way off the mark.

One person even posted the comment, who whould you rather spend time with... the drunken cousin, or the family's religious zealot?

If your town/city was a member of the family, how would you describe him/her to others who have never visited the area?

The cool uncle that's the youngest of the family (i.e. closest to your age). You know, the one that's not married, usually has a hot girlfriend, a really nice car and lots of money.

Or, the weird uncle that's a professor, doesn't own a car, has a really bushy beard, and probably named his kid Granola or Moonbeam.

OR, the angst ridden cousin who does nothing but play guitar in a band and work at Guitar World. He thinks any music that more than 10 people like is "too commercial" and "without soul" and is probably jealous of someone he knows because they make enough with music to quit their job at Guitar World.

You can probably guess what town in the south I speak of.....

-Rob

My City is the wealthy uncle that owns alot of land, but still leaves all of his trash and rusted cars in the front yard. He has a nice entertainment center though.

My city is the loud drunken patriarch of the family. I think he's schizophrenic too.

My city is the drunken cousin's armpit.

My city is the father that left us at four years old... leaving a cold desperate pit in our soul creating years of frustration, tension and anxiety...

Just the way we like it ;)

My city is the respectable relative that drives a mini-van, works in a nice office, goes to church every sunday and has a kinky sex room in the basement.

My city is Grandpa, sitting on the front porch drinking and yelling at squirrels to get off his lawn between stories about how much better things used to be.

Mine is the ever expanding shiny happy person of a family member. Being a township rather than a real town, it already encompasses a LARGE area.. but it is also a state mandated growth area..

My city is the hot cousin your not really sure that your related to by blood who shows up at large family events every once in a while.

John Brown wrote: My city is the father that left us at four years old... leaving a cold desperate pit in our soul creating years of frustration, tension and anxiety...

John you have gifts that are entirely under used. Thats one of the better metaphoric descriptions of Lansing that I've heard. I guess makes me an ungrateful adult child who never calls or visits anymore.

The city I live in now is the hard-working high-achieving middle child that is completely overshadowed by it rich, famous, glamorous, beautiful, somewhat-slutty-Madonna-like sister to the the north (San Francisco) and its ultra successful technology entreprenuer brother to the south (San Jose).

My city is what ALL the other cities want to be when they drink heavily. Ft. Lauderdale. Party central for grown ups. We have Coyote Ugly and bizarre politicians. What's not to love?

I thought this thread was going to be about my drunken cousin.

...or his.

Wayne's world, but with a pocket of academics and artsy-fartsy hippy-dippies.

The land that time forgot

The cousin that you secretly hope would get run over by a bus, but still on some level believe that with the right amount of love, could be great again. (Not my city, but the nearest big one)

Joey

The cousin that's in jail for assault but is still nice to you.

Wow, interesting comments, so far. I checked the newspaper's website this morning....in a span of 16 hours 170 people left comments making this the most commented story in the recent week or two. Right up there with "Bishop's wife sues pastor of church".

BTW, "my (temporary) city is Memphis. Anyone else here want to reveal their city's name?

The brother that has too much money that he inherited, and is a pompous shiny happy person. And then summer rolls around, and he's a little less so until mid to late August.