A cultural phenomenon wherein a group of Midwesterners, after gathering for an event,
like say a meal at restaurant, spend nearly as much time in the establishment'
s parking lot as they did sharing the meal saying their goodbyes. News tidbits not discussed previously are shared, plans for future gatherings are
made, things are borrowed, given, and returned. After the conversation, the group moves to a round of hugs, and not infrequently, impromptu plans are
made on the spot to
meet at one of the guest's homes to continue the gathering, after which the cycle repeats.
"
Honey, I thought you said you'd be home by dark and now it's 11pm!?"
"Sorry,
Hun, me and the
boys got caught up in a Midwestern Goodbye and we all ended up at Jake's for beers in his living room."