Sooner
August 19, 2007 | Filed under: Blogology, Whoopdie Doo, World Tour
“America is so vast that almost everything said about it is likely to be true, and the opposite is probably equally true.” ~James T. Farrell
A friend of mine recently asked me about Nebraska and whether or not people actually lived there or if it was just some scheme perpetrated by the Government in hopes of creating some sort of utopia for the uber-conservative. All said with a straight face until I mentioned that one of my former bosses was a flaming Liberal from Omaha and completely normal with only one head and 10 complete fingers. Amazing.
I think that people from larger states tend to forget that there’s a whole slew of people between New York, Texas and California. In fact, I will admit to being a liberal, pretentious east coaster who would cannot comprehend that there are places in this country without a proper H&M or IKEA at least within spitting distance; thus my ambivalence towards Oklahoma. Of course I know it’s there, but no one actually lived there and no one goes there and is there anything there?
So imagine my normally tame and non-sporadic self up and cashed in a rapid reward award for a flight to Oklahoma City. I seriously felt like I was having an outer-body experience as I completed my transaction because how the hell was I to explain my sudden interest in the pan handle state and James Inhofe? But there was just something so convincing about Sarah’s innocuous comment of coming to Oklahoma for Wito’s birthday and then the one two punch of Shana Banana and Susan Wagner was just way too much. And so I acquiesced and went to Oklahoma City.
But really, how does one say I’m just taking a quick trip to Oklahoma to sleep in the guest room of a woman whose existence I’ve been aware of for approximately six months. Just to attend the first birthday party of a woman whose existence I’ve been aware of for approximately 18 months. Oh and I met these women on the Internet. Yes, that Internet, the one with the crazies and pedophiles and the agoraphobic serial killers. Of course saying that the particular people I’d be visiting are perfectly normal and good dressers with pretty hair, would do nothing to keep a parent from freaking the hell out. So, ummm…my parents don’t know I went to Oklahoma and that hell, I might go back because it’s like $15 each way.
I just did this dreamy sigh because there’s such a soft spot in my heart now for Oklahoma. Of course it has its faults, but those faults are negated by its good qualities such as Sonic and Super Target and my ability to have a nice quiet weekend with one of my favorite people in the world, where we did nothing but run errands and I napped and drank more than my share of wine. I was surprisingly welcomed with open arms and hugs and Whoorl’s mother saying “Of course I know Heather from the picture with the donut” and then forcing a cupcake on me. See? Oklahoma can be quite awesome.
My ambivalence has turned into an ooey gooey crush on Oklahoma. It’s fine. It’s normal and it’s lovely. Though it’s residents are a lot lovelier. It makes me want to venture out into the U.S. a little more. I’m thinking…Idaho.
bloggadocio says:
i have a crush on your sense of adventure. like, big time.
Sadly that’s about as adventurous as it gets.
whoorl says:
See! Oklahoma is GREAT!
-Spoken by the woman who lives in California.
I can’t wait to see you in my REAL neck of the woods this fall!
Dagny says:
Now if I had had your kind of experience in Oklahoma, maybe I would have a different opinion. And what is this that I’m seeing in Whoorl’s comment? You will be in California in the fall? Squeee! Add me to the list.
Yes ma’am. That depends on location and did you know that California is a rather LARGE state. Like so big that it requires two trips?
gorillabuns says:
please come back, now! y
gorillabuns says:
whoops!!!
“please come back, now! ya’ hear!”
whatever, it’s lost now.
bethany actually says:
Hey, I’m from Nebraska too! It’s a real place, honest.
chris says:
Yes, but Connecticut is better, C’mon admit it. If for no other reason than it is closer and requires no flying
True. Connecticut doesn’t require a timetable and I can literally come and go as I please, as long as I have half a tank of gas and 70 cents. Connecticut also has ice cream and a fire pit.
CGHill says:
Oklahoma: making friends, one at a time.
Hey, it’s better than “Native America,” even if it doesn’t fit on the plate.
And you’re welcome to come back any day.
Susan says:
You forgot to mention that you were our first non-family house guest in, oh, SIX YEARS. Because NO ONE comes to Oklahoma.
Which is sad, because we have wine and Sonic and, occasionally, Whoorl and Wito. Although we also have Jim Inofe, which is enough to make people wonder about us.
That is true. NO ONE - they even made a list - comes to visit Susan. Poor thing. So now I feel obligated to be a good friend and enjoy the deliciousness that is Sonic. Damn.
OMSH says:
Idaha = Kerfloppity goodness.
I’ll be venturing there asap too.
Abi says:
As do most former Texans, I miss Sonic. And they show Sonic commercials here in DC even though the nearest one is something like 4 hours away. Jerks.
Abi says:
PS I’m moving to Palo Alto in October. Internet-based Job = Telecommuting. Just realized it also means that I can drink during work. Hmmmm.
Marti says:
I’m an Oklahoma Liberal. However, I have to admit that hate Sonic.
Jennie says:
If it helps, I hear Idaho is beautiful!
It makes me smile to hear stories such as these…
Also, “a Sonic drink” is actually said down south (Texas, Oklahoma) as one word. Not “a drink from Sonic” or “something to drink at Sonic” but “asonicdrink” and when it’s suggested, everyone in a mile radius nods emphatically.
And Super Target is my best friend.
amanda says:
NO! no no no no no no no no no. Oklahoma is NOT lovely. No.
Sorry, I offend.
My sister goes to OU and I have been tracking the whereabouts and activities of this state for 5 years now. It is not pretty. I will not list them all here, but I swear that OK has a statistically significant proportion of Crazy People. i.e. people who blow up things, or themselves. Or worse.
Um. Anyway. I think I just delurked to say that. And also! Love your site! Am also living the just-post-college life and finding out that no one prepared me in advance for this kind of crazy hell.
Well thankfully I met the good people of/from Oklahoma and did not experience any craziness. Just a lot of tater tots and really, the people were so damn nice and lovely.
Debby says:
I’m from Oklahoma!! I moved away about four years ago and I still miss Sonic:) They play commercials for it here (cleveland) too but the closest one is three hours away…I mean really, come on.
And this, Jennie, made me laugh so hard:
“Also, “a Sonic drink” is actually said down south (Texas, Oklahoma) as one word. Not “a drink from Sonic” or “something to drink at Sonic” but “asonicdrink” and when it’s suggested, everyone in a mile radius nods emphatically.”
Hilarious. And it’s gotta be the ice that makes asonicdrink so good, right? They’re so good.
Jennie says:
Okay, Debbie, sit down for this:
I hear there is a new refrigerator that will offer “sonicice” (although not called that, for some odd reason). The fridge will let you choose the size of your ice pellet!
And the day Sonic started serving Diet Dr. Pepper was one of the lovliest days of my life. For real.
AUA says:
I’m a friend of Oklahoma. It’s the OK state.
Mike Thomas says:
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Danielle says:
It was great to meet you at Wito’s b-day. I was the women with the crawling kiddo who kept looking for the secret passage-way he thought might be hidden under the dining room rug. Anyway….as a California transplant now living in OKC – I’m glad you had fun!
And speaking of Inhofe….a dear friend of mine, and long time friend of my hubbie, is running against him! Andrew is currently in our state senate and represents our district. Running against Inhofe – especially as such a young politician and liberal in OKC, will be hard…so he can use any support he can get. I know pimping your personal business on people’s blogs is frowned upon…but I hope you will forgive me since this is such a great cause!!!
http://www.runandrewrun.com/biography.asp
http://andrewforoklahoma.com/
Gooseberried says:
No, no! Arizona! You can stay with me!
Vothie says:
I’m totally delurking, because, wow. I’m a liberal Nebraskan. I figured I was the only one in the midwest. It is nice to know I’m not alone.
Sonicdrinks are the best. I did my undergrad in Michigan, and the commercials pissed me off too. I wasn’t about to drive 3-4 hours, so I moved to Nebraska. Yup. Sonic, corn and cows. Oh yeah.
guinness girl says:
This is so adorable of you! I think PA should be next.
The Daily Rant says:
Do NOT listen to Goosebe - DO NOT go to Arizona!! NO NO NO. Idaho is nice in the northern part - pretty conservative state though.
I have been to every state in the nation WAY more than once and there are so many beautiful places to visit (and some to stay as far as hell away from as you can) and I think you should embrace your desire to travel!! It’s so much fun!!
Northern California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Oregon, Maine, West Virginia…oh, there is SO much beauty!!!
As for SuperTarget - it ROCKS! And the “tots” at Sonic are such a much better alternative to fries! I like your blog and I’ll definitely be back to read more. Have fun on the “World Tour!”
Carrisa says:
Awww… you came to Oklahoma! I live in Tulsa which is a couple hours east of OKC. I’m glad you had such a good time. It’s not as bad as people might thing, but it’s definitely no Chicago or even Dallas. But that’s why we also get away for weekend adventures.
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