Manners Matter

Dear Mary Pat,

We visit Door County quite a bit, but it’s usually during the summer since our cottage isn’t winterized. My husband and I came up for a couple of days mid-week at the end of January and were a little startled by what we started calling the “staring phenomenon.” We went out to dinner two nights in a row and couldn’t help but notice that everyone in the bar/restaurant stared at us when we came in. I don’t think we were doing anything to draw attention to ourselves, but there must have been some reason for everyone to turn and look at us when we walked in. Do you have any explanation?

Signed,
Under the Spotlight
Wauwatosa, WI

Dear Under the Spotlight,

I know this must have seemed extremely rude, but you must understand something about winter life in a small area. Locals, especially midweek, only expect to see other locals this time of year. When the door to a bar or a restaurant opens, the patrons are all looking to see whether or not it is someone they know (which in 99 out of 100 instances it is). Once they figured out that you weren’t their cousin, friend, co-worker, dentist, mechanic, or worst enemy, I’m sure they promptly stopped staring. I hope that you won’t take this behavior personally. Locals like sharing the county with visitors – they just don’t always expect them this time of year.

Good luck,
Mary Pat