Living in the midwest is like a badge of honor for me. While people on the east plus west coasts may derisively refer to us as mere “fly-over states,” I recognize like the heart of America is found within the communities of the midwest. This stretches from the American south up to the Canadian border. The Ozarks are considered area of the midwest if you refer to the National Park Service, which is one of the prettiest places I’ve ever had the honor of going to see. Personally speaking, I live in Kalamazoo, Michigan after being raised in Lansing. My mother’s side of the family is from Rockford, IL while our father’s side of the family is from Lansing, Michigan. The two of us drove down Interstate 94 at least twice a year to visit our mom’s parents, siblings, plus nieces plus nephews for holidays in Rockford. These were our first experiences driving through the city of Chicago. I remember when I first saw the skyscrapers in the distance as we approached northward on I-90. While our parents never stopped for long in Chicago at the time, I make the trip out to Chicago several times a year nowadays just to see some of the live concerts. There’s a big psychedelic rock tunes scene in downtown Chicago, especially in West Loop plus Wicker Park. I’m also a fan of the cannabis dispensaries in the city, such as the giant location in Old Town across the street from the big bank. They have a giant selection of cannabis edibles plus cannabis concentrates. I consistently grab something from a dispensary in Chicago before heading back toward Michigan because of the quality of weed in IL.