The USA map as it looks to New Yorkers (NYC)

[mimi85]

45. Thank you grandparents and in-laws

for moving to California. His from Yonkers in the '50s; mine from North Dakota and Minnesota in the 30s

There is so much wrong here, but it's nice living an hour from the beach and an hour from the mountains. And 45 minutes to LA and 45 minutes to San Diego. Ha, I still smile (although I've heard it dozens of times) how my husband - then around 5 - threw his little brother's shirt out the window of the car saying he won't be needing it anymore, it's so warm. He remembers the bags that you filled with water and hung over the front of the car to (hopefully) keep it cool.

When he (my husband John) got here he had never seen a palm tree or a cactus or an avocado. Hated melted cheese. Wouldn't eat them until we got married. That's when I used to cook and I told him he'd starve if he didn't eat lasagna or guacamole. Didn't know how to cook much then and don't even bother now. He's been back to NYC only once and had the best time - I'd love to go now, but shitty health forbids it. Oh well, I've had a pretty good life up to now so can't complain too much. Did make it to Boston - so cool, except for what have to be the rudest drivers on earth!

I do remember in elementary school how rare it was then to be a native Californian. Grew up mostly in O.C., left in 1970 and never looked back. We had one well-to-do Latino family, one Asian-American kid and a black kid who tried dying his hair blonde to "fit-in." Sad, only saw him for a year or two in high school, then he was gone. How I ended up being as liberal as I am is still a mystery. One wonderful Jewish girl in elementary school who was bullied for absolutely nothing. I remember going to the principal's office to bitch about how the other kid's treated her. She still remembers it. I read an article (wish I could remember where), that says there is some proof that we actually have "liberal" or "conservative" genes. Not sure I buy that, but found it interesting.

Sorry for the mini diary. Too much coffee methinks. Carry on.