Comedian Mary Jo Pehl doesn’t joke about her hometown suburb anymore.

After eight years in Texas, my husband and I recently moved back to my native Twin Cities. Friends would inquire as to our whereabouts. “Northeast,” I’d say, as in hip Minneapolis. “Northwest Northeast,” I’d helpfully clarify.

A longtime city girl—Minneapolis most of my adult life, New York for a spell, Austin as of late—I could hardly choke it out: “Fridley.” I felt compelled to follow up with, “It’snotwhatyouthinkitsreallygreatbesideswhoareyoutojudge?!”

Source: Minnesota Monthly