I was thinking about my ties to this region, and how that impacts my views on life. So, let’s see…
I’ve lived in:
- Lynnwood (the vast majority of my life)
- Edmonds
- Bothell
- Seattle (First Hill, Capital Hill, the International District and the U-District)
- Des Moines/Seatac
- Silverdale (Subbase Bangor)
- Astoria
- Idaho Falls
Also, I’ve spent significant amounts of time in:
- Port Townsend
- Yakima
- Spokane
Though I was born in Rhode Island (a Navy hospital, to be clear), my ties here run deep.
- My father and his mom were born in Seattle
- His dad was born in Concrete
- My birth mother was born in Yakima
- Her parents were born in Walla Walla
- Though my childhood was spent around the globe, Seattle/Edmonds were always “home”. It’s where my grandparents and cousins lived. It’s where we came “home” for Christmas. It’s where my parents always called “home”.
- My parents met at the University of Washington.
So, my roots and ties run deep here. Yet I’m a bit more complex.
- I was born in Newport, Rhode Island. And lived there twice.
- A few years were spent in the Los Angeles area.
- Started school in Chantilly, Virginia (hi Brookfield!).
- Lived a few years in the Philippines, San Miguel and Subic Bay Naval Stations.
With deep ties and a long, personal history here mixed with global experiences, I have a unique perspective on the region’s culture. There are elements that are reflex to me, yet there were also things that I struggled to adapt to. Umbrellas, for one. I loved umbrellas, but they were (are?) a cultural faux-pas of magnificent proportions.
Makes for a unique perspective on this region I love. I constantly am exploring how my history, and my ancestry, affect who I am, and who I’m evolving into.
How do you think your background affects your outlook, viewpoints and perspectives?
