"Growing up in Illinois filled me with such a longing to escape that it's hard to imagine someone wanting to live here. [...] The passengers have the haunted, v

"Growing up in Illinois filled me with such a longing to escape that it's hard to imagine someone wanting to live here. [...] The passengers have the haunted, vacant look of people who have just taken an Illinois road trip. [...]" Hmm. I heard from another native about the snow pile in the mall parking lot being the tallest hill for many miles around, but he did not seem too fazed by that. "If you enjoyed this post, send me to Antarctica!" That seems a bit harsh. (OK, OK, the funding includes a return trip.) P.S. Was puzzled by 'our front passenger points at a row of low hills and says, with a big smile on her face, “Karsty!”. The car shakes with laughter.'; a search found me this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karst https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karst , which I suppose will have to do.