Born and Raised in California
Woman in the Middle | August 11, 2015Jarrett Leong posted his list of the “11 signs you were born and raised in California” on Matador (http://matadornetwork.com/life/11-signs-born-raised-California/) Since I was born and raised in California, I couldn’t resist reading them. He is spot on with at least nine. Here they are, with my comments.
1. You’ve never called it “Cali.” Jarrett is right. The only people who call it “Cali” aren’t from California.
2. Burritos are a constant topic of conversation while abroad. When I was 16 my parents sent me on a trip to Europe with a teacher from my high school. We were combined with a group of kids from Connecticut. The Connecticut kids started dreaming of steaks about half way through the trip. Us California kids were desperate for a burrito. We love us our burritos!
3. Other English speakers don’t understand your English. This is where I have to differ from Jarrett. He says we say things like “How gnar was that shit?” or “James was hella butthurt so he just bailed.” Uh, no. The vast majority of Californians do not talk like that. Some do, but not most of us.
4. You’ve asked someone, “Why do you live there?” Unfortunately, even if we have not spoken it out loud, we have thought it. Californians, for the most part, can’t fathom living somewhere else.
5. Living somewhere rainy makes you seriously depressed. Not just rainy, but overcast in general. The folks that live near the ocean in So Cal have to deal with a lot of overcast days. I don’t know how they stand it. Even though I don’t love the sun, I still need sun. Without it, I would be very unhappy.
6. You’re the best f****** driver around. Jarrett said it best: ”We have more practice than anybody at it, weaving through lanes and circumventing traffic with our eyes closed. Our skills can shave 20 minutes off a drive in traffic that would reduce lesser drivers into sobbing lumps of existential despair.” I know people from out of sate who refuse to drive in California. But we do it every day. I figure it helps keep Alzheimer’s at bay!
7. You act all tough whenever there’s an earthquake. Yep. We are not going to let a little precursor to the big quake that will wipe out So Cal bother us. Grrrrr!
8. Snow kinda freaks you out. We don’t have the clothes for it. We don’t have the tires for it. We don’t have the driving skills for it. Our blood is so thin we think 50 degrees is an icy cold day.
9. You’ve got a special PCH playlist. That would be the Pacific Coast Highway to those of you from out of town. No, I do not have a special PCH playlist. But I have been known to turn the radio up really loud while cruising PCH.
10. You have an incorrigible avocado habit. Just because avocadoes were on sale this weekend for a dollar each and I bought some and made guacamole, doesn’t mean I have an avocado habit. Or does it????
11. In-N-Out, dude. Jarrett is right. We love our In-N-Out, Hum, maybe for dinner tonight?
Do any of you still live where you were born? What is a sign that you were born and raised there?
Many of us love where we were born and raised, I know I do and can’t imagine living anywhere else
Like you, I agree with some, but not all of these things. While many don’t apply to me, I can see how they apply to other Californians. For example, I have heard teens talk like that. I’ve also seen people rush to the table when they see a bag of free avocados from someone’s tree. On the other hand, I do NOT agree with him that Californians are good drivers. I constantly have to watch out for those drivers who don’t pay attention! So, I think he must be referring to a variety of age groups and cultures.