Where are you from? This question never had much meaning for me until I began college. Then I became distinctly proud of being from Missouri. Not quite the same type of pride that a Texan has in blessing someone with their magnanimous presence, but a more subtle pride in being slightly different than the majority of my Oklahoma/Texas college peers.
When I graduated though and started residing in Oklahoma I had a new problem on my hands. Now I wasn't returning home every summer and living at my parents' house. In fact, I even quickly earned an earmarker of Oklahoma status - an Oklahoman license plate. Things were going southwest and quick! Yet I held on to my Missouri driver's license and rest assured that I would never ever truly call myself Oklahoman.
Last year I caught my break and moved about as far from Oklahoma as a person humanly can - Japan. I loved Japan and I thought I saw a glimmer of light at the end of my yellow tunnel. Yet, when tragedy struck I found myself returning to a place I felt comfortable in, loved, and wanted. That's right - Oklahoma.
And strangely, over the last year, I've started to like the place. Just this summer I've been to two beautiful parts of the state I had no idea existed - Robber's Cave and Tallequah. And even in day-to-day speech I sometimes catch myself telling people I am from Oklahoma City.
On Monday that transition will be complete. I will have bought my first home here where the land is grand, if not a bit yellow. I never saw myself settling down here, and in reality still don't. But for now at least I'm an Oklahoman. Perhaps that isn't such a bad thing. Sure I long for green trees, rolling hills, and even an occasional natural lake. But for now this is home.
Time to go ya'll. I'm fixin' to go on a walk.
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P.S. To my wonderful brother Marc: this article is in no way to change your mind about L.A. I would have painted a prettier picture if it was! :)
...on the way home.
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7 comments:
Hey Blake, you're OK!
Congrats on the first home!!!
Hey Blake, I don't think you can call yourself an Oklahoman until you learn how to spell "y'all" correctly.
It took a while for Oklahoma to grow on me, but now I actually like it better than my home state of Texas.
I feel the same way about Oklahoma. I make a conscientious effort to not become "Oklahoman" and have fought it every step of the way. But I've recently resigned myself to the fact that this is home...for now.
Congrats on the house! I'm happy it's not all the way out there in Guthrie. haha.
"Not quite the same type of pride that a Texan has in blessing someone with their magnanimous presence..."
;) You were so blessed by me, weren´t you?
Congratulations and best wishes! May the joys of home ownership far exceed the "headaches!"
What is it about Oklahoma? I started feeling the same way after a while. Now that I am back in Missouri I see the light again. I think Oklahoma is a GREAT place to live with GREAT people, but sometimes we become sheltered from the world around us. There is life outside of Oklahoma, places with green grass, tall trees and where dust and wind are not four letter curse words. When it gets down to it, places like Lawton and Poteau are still the armpits of America.
I resent the Lawton comment, eldest Blackwell, as I spent nineteen years of my life there. As a matter of fact, I am getting ready to return for my ten year high school reunion this weekend. I suspect I will probably be talking about the stentch of that "armpit" when I return, however, and may just forgive that slightly offensive comment at that time.
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