We all know what it's like to live in good 'ol Niles, Michigan. It surely is a unique place. If anyone else has anything else to add, just post it, and it shall be done.
You should also invite everyone you know from Niles if they aren't already a part of this group. You should also post pictures of Niles to share with everyone, or post pictures of yourself and friends having a gay 'ol time in Niles.
1. You are excited when there is actually a party during the weekend.
2. You have to make yourself like the taste of Busch Light.
3. You got excited when Wal*Mart turned into Super Wal*Mart.
4. You are still wondering what they are going to do with Eastgate.
5. You have been drinking since you were 16 years old.
6. A majority of people are either a Michigan fan, or a Notre Dame fan.
7. You wear a hoodie every day during the winter.
8. You have gone to school wearing a pair of pajama pants.
9. You went to the high school football games not to watch the game, but just to leave the house, and there was nothing better to do.
10. You were excited about pep rallys, only because it got you out of class.
11. You ended up drinking even after you told yourself you never would.
12. You had to be at school at 7:29 am, and didn't think that was an odd time at all.
13. The drive to either Central or Western is filled with anticipation and exitement, but the drive back home all you can think about is lying down in your bed.
14. The transition from The Ready to Wonerland Cinema was a BIG deal.
15. You take full advantage of the three days that the Apple Festival is in town.
16. You go to Wal*Mart when you are bored.
17. You wonder where you will end up seeing Waldo today.
18. You think about the coincidence of George Bush visiting Niles, and the McDonald's burning down in the same day.
19. You had a detention with Pat VanDalsen.
20. You've ever said, "BANG BANG, WHOO WHOO!"
21. Taco Bell is a MUST on the weekends.
22. Everytime you go to Wal*Mart, you see someone that you know.
23. The word "gritter" is a common word, and nobody from here knows what it means.
24. You sometimes call Mishawaka, "South Bend."
25. You are proud that we have the infamous Niles Haunted Scream Park.
26. You use to get your school supplies at G.L. Perry's, and get your school clothes at J.C. Penny.
27. You've been to a birthday party at Galaxy.
28. You miss the blue light specials at Kmart.
29. You go to Riverfest only to get something to eat.
30. You've gotten your car stuck in the snow.
31. You still mistakingly call Rural King, "Kmart" even after being corrected many times.
32. You bowled at Shula's before it was Joey Armadillo's.
33. You use to get a burger and a shake at the A&W.
34. You remember renting videos from Nightwinds.
35. During the holiday season, you look forward to seeing Santa in the river.
36. You woke up every morning during the winter, turned the t.v. to WNDU, and waited for Niles Community Schools to come up in the school closings.
37. You still miss Hot 'N Now.
38. You absolutely despise Dowagiac, Lakeshore, and Benton Harbor.
39. You've narrowly missed Keif "Frogger" while driving down 31.
40. All of the bus drivers are crazy. Especially Marilyn or the sub with one eye.
41. When you relate better to living in "Michiana" better than living in Michigan.
42. You don't remember a time without Terry and Maureen McFadden on WNDU.
43. Sometimes, you accidentally call Hardings "Peel's."
44. Having a million antique malls and auto body shops seems normal for a town this size.
45. Everyone agrees that the B&L Inn had the best onion rings ever.
46. When you were a minor, you have gotten jipped by the person buying you alcohol.
47. When at a party you hear someone yell, REEEDBUUUD!
48. In the summer 50 degrees is freezing, but in the winter 50 degrees is a heat wave.
49. Either way you look, someone is riding around in an electric wheelchair.
50. You have been friends with at least one Payne, Jankoviak, or Beckman. You may even be related to one or all three.
51. You've been kicked out of Jay's Lounge.
52. When you were in school, you went on a field trip to Fernwood.
53. You were a "Super Fan" in high school.
54. You can't go far without seeing the man in the tiny yellow, three-wheeled car with the fake arm hanging out the back.
55. You've ever seen the old lady walking around who has duct tape on her face.
56. A romantic date is dinner and a movie in South Bend or Mishawaka, or anywhere in Indiana.
57. In April it is 50 degrees, and you are wearing a t-shirt and shorts. In October it is 50 degrees, and you are wearing a hoodie and jeans.
58. You've ever had Grizzly Wintergreen.
59. You have the menu memorized at Bell Plaza.
60. You sometimes call Oak Manor, "Choke Manor" because of their excess burning of leaves in the fall.
61. You see the Doll Lady and her crazy make-up job at various locations throughout town.
62. You can tell how much it rained by looking at the St. Joseph River.
63. Your first kiss was in front of Galaxy Roller Rink.
64. You know what I mean when I say "Turtle Hill".
65. You and your friends have ever played a game of Euchre, but don't know how to explain the rules to others.
66. You know that pitchers of beer are always cheapest on Wednesdays.
67. You call Lakeland Hospital, Pawating.
68. You ever sat in the parking lot of Ring Lardner to watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July.
69. You remember playing on the "Kite Swing" at the park on the corner of 17th and Ferry.
70. You've ever split a $5 pizza from Saylor's with one of your friends.
71. You know that The Tavern, formally Mark's Bar, has the best burgers known to man.
72. You remember playing video games at Kelly's Sportsland.
73. You've ever TPed someone's house.
74. You often switch from "Heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
75. You can point out where you live by just simply holding up your hand in the form of a mitten.
76. Island park floods over every summer.
77. School never got canceled unless there was 3 feet of snow outside.
78. Every surrounding school district cancelled school after a bad winter storm except for Niles.
79. You remember that Central School was where the post office is now.
80. You go back and wonder how no business can stay open downtown, but somehow there's a beautiful skate park and riverwalk/park.
81. You would meet up and smoke in "The Alley" behind the high school.
82. You know it's sad when you run into people you know at Crocker's, and you are both buying beer.
83. You or someone you knew worked at Dairy Queen.
CELEBRITIES FROM NILES:
- Jake Cinninger, musician, Umphrey's McGee
- Horace Elgin Dodge, automobile industry pioneer
- John Francis Dodge, automobile industry pioneer
- Thomas Fitzgerald, U.S. Senator and probate judge
- Tommy James, musician, Tommy James and the Shondells
- Ring Lardner, Sr., satirist, short story writer and sports columnist
- Tommy Shaw, musician, Styx
- Aaron Montgomery Ward, founder, Montgomery Ward
- Guy Murray, college runner at Detroit, Detroit head cross country/track coach
- Dave Schmidt, Major League Baseball pitcher
- Jason Newsted, musician, Metallica
- Harold "Jim" Payne, musician, Tommy James and the Shondells