I've always had a hard time answering the question "Where are you from?" To clarify, I don't have any trouble when talking to other parents in my child's preschool class where the correct answer is my current hometown. When I am on vacation, I am torn between being honest and admitting to being from "a galaxy far, far away," saying I am from where I grew up, Chicago, or describing where I now live in New England. At what point do you become "from" the state that's different from where you grew up? Is it when you've lived in that state for longer than you lived in your original home state?
When I first moved to MA, I used to dress nicely while running errands because I knew no one and in some weird subconscious way I think I wanted to make a good impression. You never know who's going to turn around in a grocery store and invite you to a family BBQ. Alright, that might be a little creepy, and for the record it never happened. After a while, particularly once I became a mom, I no longer cared if my hair needed to be brushed when I went to the grocery store. I just went as I was. Then I began to notice a surprising correlation between the amount of spit-up on my shirt and the likelihood that that I would encounter someone I knew.
Because I was meeting a friend today, I was actually dressed somewhat nicely when I went to drop my son off at camp. It was the first day of the session. I didn't think I knew anyone who was sending their kids to this camp. I was therefore surprised to find that I knew half the parents from a number of different groups and activities. So again, when I am officially from MA?
I've dealt with this exact same question as I'm from "away" as well. Now my dad, he's from downeast but has lived most of his adult life in So Cal but still says he's "from" these parts. And honestly, whilst Maine has not always been home, for all intents and purposes it IS home...and it will be from here on out.
I've always dreampt (sp) of living here and my youngest was born here and doggone it, I'm from here! *lol*
Well, until someone notices I have a some sort of accent (I do?) that is not from these parts and then the jig is up! But I'm workin' on that.
The hubby, being a Brit, well that's a dead give-away, but he's actually more accepted than a California girl! Imagine that!
Posted by: Auds | August 13, 2008 at 10:41 AM
That is a very interesting point. I've been a transplant for my whole life. Where did I grow-up? Which part of growing are we talking about for I am STILL growing up and I live here; So I grew up here and there and everywhere. Another point is do you really want to be from one place? Do you really want to be from Ma? My husband grew up on Cape Cod and he hates to tell people he did, according to him they don't call them "Massholes" for nothing I guess.
So a galaxy far-far away sounds good to me, right on the money!
Posted by: Claire | August 13, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Thanks for your comments! Claire, I hadn't heard "Massholes" before but I'm laughing about it as I'm typing!
Posted by: Alex Elliot | August 13, 2008 at 05:45 PM
Oh my gosh, when my hubby finally got his permanent residency card and we made the final move back to the U.S. we came through Boston and the border office says to hubby; "Now mind yourself of all the *cough* Massholes on the road till ya get up New Hampshire way!"
I laughed so hard until I saw what he was talking about. But to be fair, I've really ever noticed it when driving around Boston...which I don't like to do because IT. SCARES. ME!
Posted by: Auds | August 13, 2008 at 05:51 PM
I swear I've never heard this before, but it cracks me up! Hmmm...I wonder if I haven't heard it before because people mutter it beneath their breath when they are driving; hopefully they're not referring to me!
Posted by: Alex Elliot | August 13, 2008 at 06:23 PM
Oh my! I hope you weren't too offended by my comment. I'm a "Flakey California girl", at this moment in time, if it's any condolence.
I love Ma. My in-laws still reside there and many of my cousins, my Aunt and Uncle whom I adore, nicest family ever, actually.
I happen to love the Ma accent; 'Mahk, pahk the cah'. It doesn't get any better. I love my masshole husband.
And I love you!
Posted by: Claire | August 13, 2008 at 07:10 PM
I have a (very blond) male friend who once told some girls in a NH bar that he was from a small island off the coast of Massachusetts. Yeah, b/c no one has ever heard of Nantucket before.
Posted by: Fairly Odd Mother | August 13, 2008 at 08:44 PM
Seriously, Claire I have now told a bunch of my friends about it and I just wrote a blog post on it over on my personal blog! We all think it's hilarious.
Posted by: Alex Elliot | August 13, 2008 at 09:46 PM
You've never heard the term Masshole? Wow, amazing. There's even a wiki for it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masshole
Posted by: Margaret | August 13, 2008 at 09:58 PM
I've lived in Massachusetts most of my life but wasn't born here. My father was career army and until my parents split when I was 9, (and my mom came home to where she grew up), we lived all over the place. As a result, I don't have a Massachusetts accent although I have what I would consider a Yankee speech pattern -- fast, clipped, sharp. And of course I use the jargon -- jimmies, frappe, etc.
So I consider myself from Massachusetts but no one ever believes me. Until my son opens his mouth that is. He's got the accent "wicked bad."
Posted by: Susan Getgood | August 14, 2008 at 08:09 AM