Not Forgetting

As I get older, I am struck by those things that I now recognize as being innately ME. Not things that are just bad habits, or things that are passing fads, but things that make me who I am - warts and all. So in light if that, I have to post this list - because it somewhat defines me - not as a whole..but it does shed a little light on why I do the things I do. I am sure that sharing this with David's family would give them a huge "Ahhhh".

You know you are from Oregon when…..

-Your children learn to walk in Birkenstocks.
-You throw and aluminum can in the trash and feel guilty.
-You complain about Californians as you sell your house to one for twice as much as you
originally paid.
-You only honk your horn if collision is imminent and never for anything else.
-You consider something a “hill” (not a mountain) if it doesn’t have snow on it or has not
recently erupted, regardless of its altitude.
-Most of your friends are from California.
-You find a wallet with $500 and give it back to the owner.
-You used to live somewhere else but won’t admit it publicily.
-You’ve ever ordered a half caff/decaf, nonfat mocha grande with sugar-free cranberry whip
(or you know what it is).
-You know a bride & groom that registered at REI.
-If someone ran your car off the highway, you might drown.
-You’d be miffed if the store was out of your favorite brand of water.
-Every day is casual Friday
-Hear the word “ferry” and think of boats and long waits.
-Know at least eight people who work for Intel or Nike, or used to work for Tektronix.
-You think skiing always means being covered from head to toe, in snow or water.
-Know that Boring is a town and not just a state of mind.
-Have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.
-You design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit under a raincoat.
-You return from a California vacation depressed because “all the grass was dead”
-Remember the date, severity, time of day, where you were and how long you were out of
power and phone service for every winter weather event in the last five years.
-Have ever called you insurance agent to ask if your homeowners policy covers falling trees,
flooding or mud slides.
-You never go camping without waterproof matches, ponchos and mattress pads that double as
floatation devices.
-You believe swimming is not a sport but a survival skill to prevent boating deaths.
-You own more than 10 articles of clothing that have the names of microbreweries/brewpubs
printed on them.
-You think downtown is “scary” because you were panhandled there once.
-You believe people who use umbrellas are wimps or Californians, or both.