I Got the Dust Bowl Blues

Five and a half days from now and my experience of livin’ on Tulsa Time will be at a close.  I’ve been contemplating the pros and cons of this move, and so far I’m come up with a little list of things I’m for sure gonna miss:

The Friendly People
Everyone is your friend.  I don’t think I’ve ever been in public where a stranger hasn’t randomly struck up a conversation with me.  What’s in my shopping cart, how cute my shirt is, did I catch the game, how I like the weather, apples are on sale…

I still clearly remember the first one. Still in my California mind-set of nobody talks to you unless they want something from you, or they are weird, or both.

Stranger:  You ain’t from around here, are ya? 
Me: No, just moving here from California. 
Stranger:  (chuckles) Hot enough for ya? 
Me: Um, yeah. It’s pretty hot.
Stranger: Ah, it ain’t the heat, it’s the humidity.  
Me: (nod) I can see that.
Stranger: You know, there’s a saying around here-  if you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes and it’ll change.
Me: (nervous laugh) Ok, cool.
Me later that week and almost every day since then: Dang, that stranger-friend was right!

T-storms
Speaking of changing weather, the Midwest has some amazing T-storms.  I’m not talking about tornadoes here.  Those things are scary.  I’m talking about booming thunder and fascinating lightening shows that promote a sense of awe and wonder. Beautiful.  The next time I hear a weather person forecast a “storm,” it will be in Cali.  And I will laugh.

Snow Days
Yes, it snows in California, but only in the higher elevations and not like this!  The school districts build anticipated snow days into every calendar year.  Hot cocoa, jammies and Netflix.  All day. Sometimes all week.

The Thunder
Yassss!  Oklahoma has a professional sports team and they kick some butt, don’t they? The coolest thing?  Stadium-wide prayer before the games. #Thunderup!

QT
I never even considered “grabbing a sandwich” at a gas station until Oklahoma.  Quick Trip (and their ‘fast food’) is an icon in Oklahoma.  And why not?  They offer the cleanest, nicest, fanciest gas stations you will ever see.  (Yes, even the bathrooms.)  Seriously, mind blown.

Jenks School District
Top of the line education and… high school football. ‘Nuff said.

That Down Home Atmosphere
The last time I had some good, old fashioned, down home fun was when I was a kid, visiting Grandma in Illinois, in a little Podunk town named Hurst.  Oklahoma offers down home charm o’ plenty.  Small towns galore: Guthrie, Ada, Claremore, Bartlesville, Grove, Miami, Durant… and so many more.  But large or small, all localities offer the same hometown flavor.

Slower Pace of Life
Coming here from California, at first I couldn’t stand the slow paced life; slow walk, slow talk.  I was more “I’m late” rabbit and less Eeyore by way of west coast inundation.  It took less than a week for me to ask myself what I’d been doing with all the rush, the rudeness?  These people are on to something here.  Slow down, enjoy the day.

Tax Free Weekend
Every year, we saved tens of dollars shopping during tax free weekend!  While I’m known to hate crowds, I would brave them just for the chance to stick it to Uncle Sam.  Well, the government doesn’t take the hit; the stores do, but nonetheless it’s one more “tax free” event per year than I have ever seen elsewhere.

(sigh) I will miss the dusty old dust. So long, Oklahoma.  It’s been good to know you.
 
Song references: Livin’ On Tulsa Time, Don Williams.
So long, it’s been good to know you, Woody Guthrie.
Photo credits: movoto.com, nytimes, wane.com, Thunder, QT Corp.,  News On 6, ruralgoneurban.com,  okmag.com, onlyinyourstate.com, passionforsavings.com

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