I was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, which I wouldn't think is very interesting until I wore a shirt with it emblazoned across the front and got shout-outs while walking around New York City this weekend! Tell me yours in the comments ...
Miami. Which makes for a conversational talking point, often met with knowing nods given I'm Latino, although it's a bit of a fluke that my family happened to live down there when I was born. But if I wore a Miami T-shirt I'd either look like a newly-returned tourist or (worse) a football fan.
I'm from Westland, Michagan, named after a 'Hudson's Mall' (but I was born in Wayne, Michigan) and don't you call it Wasteland...because even though I have lived in NYC for the past 44 years I'm proud of the city I came from. It had good schools then, with good Art's education elementary though high school ...now I don't know...but I know my time there wasn't wasted, nor was my home a wasteland.
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Usually get a look like I have just lost my mind. I, and all who were born or grew up there, are called Aramco Brats, a badge we wear rather proudly.
In fact, this and every other Memorial Day Weekend, we get together somewhere in a warm climate, and have a "Aramco Brat's Reunion".
Sadly, I will miss it this year, my brother and I went to a Reunion in Saudi Arabia this March ('home' for 2 weeks), the boss gave me the look of death when I asked off for the Brat Reunion! How evil of him!
Moscow, Idaho! Wish anti-gay folk would bother to poll/see any dozen LGBT individuals and understand the variety of family, geography, religion [or none], income, race/ethnicity, et al we all arrive from...
Chicago Illinois. When we were doing Broadway Bares United Strips of America we were at rehearsal and asked where we were born. I said "Chicago" and was asked "You mean Illinois?" I said "No Chicago. OK I'm going to say something for the first time ever in my life... I was born in Illinois." I had never ever considered it. When you're from Chicago you don't consider yourself as being from Illinois.
Chicago and moved to Scottsdale AZ before my 13th birthday in 1979. Those soulless subdivisions and strip malls nearly killed me. Saved by new wave music and MTV
Berkeley, California. Lived in the suburbs a few years, then moved back to Berkeley for 4th grade on up. I'm 58, so I was there in junior high school for the Vietnam War protests. We walked up the street one Saturday, after a church group meeting, towards Sather Gate to see what tear gas smelled like.
Miami. Which makes for a conversational talking point, often met with knowing nods given I'm Latino, although it's a bit of a fluke that my family happened to live down there when I was born. But if I wore a Miami T-shirt I'd either look like a newly-returned tourist or (worse) a football fan.
ReplyDeleteI'm from Westland, Michagan, named after a 'Hudson's Mall' (but I was born in Wayne, Michigan) and don't you call it Wasteland...because even though I have lived in NYC for the past 44 years I'm proud of the city I came from. It had good schools then, with good Art's education elementary though high school ...now I don't know...but I know my time there wasn't wasted, nor was my home a wasteland.
ReplyDeleteSanta Ana, CA, near Disneyland, I'm told. Most people say that explains a lot.
ReplyDeletePort Jefferson, NY
ReplyDeleteAugusta, Georgia, golf capitol of the world.
ReplyDeleteDhahran, Saudi Arabia. Usually get a look like I have just lost my mind. I, and all who were born or grew up there, are called Aramco Brats, a badge we wear rather proudly.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, this and every other Memorial Day Weekend, we get together somewhere in a warm climate, and have a "Aramco Brat's Reunion".
Sadly, I will miss it this year, my brother and I went to a Reunion in Saudi Arabia this March ('home' for 2 weeks), the boss gave me the look of death when I asked off for the Brat Reunion! How evil of him!
I used to have a Kalamazoo t-shirt and people didn't give me a shout out; they all said "I didn't believe it really existed". *sigh*.
ReplyDeleteMoscow, Idaho! Wish anti-gay folk would bother to poll/see any dozen LGBT individuals and understand the variety of family, geography, religion [or none], income, race/ethnicity, et al we all arrive from...
ReplyDeletebronx, ny ... nobody is surprised, but nobody guesses it either. hrm.
ReplyDeleteWashington, DC -- which does not sound like much to be proud of these days. I was a Navy brat, my Dad stationed nearby.
ReplyDeleteBob K
Chicago, Illinois. 1944
ReplyDeleteChicago Illinois. When we were doing Broadway Bares United Strips of America we were at rehearsal and asked where we were born. I said "Chicago" and was asked "You mean Illinois?" I said "No Chicago. OK I'm going to say something for the first time ever in my life... I was born in Illinois." I had never ever considered it. When you're from Chicago you don't consider yourself as being from Illinois.
ReplyDeleteChicago and moved to Scottsdale AZ before my 13th birthday in 1979. Those soulless subdivisions and strip malls nearly killed me. Saved by new wave music and MTV
ReplyDelete@Anonymous from Chicago: Are we leading parallel lives?
ReplyDeleteYes, which is why it is such a joy to follow your blog. Sing your life!
ReplyDeleteFort Worth, TX: the better part of DFW
ReplyDeleteBerkeley, California. Lived in the suburbs a few years, then moved back to Berkeley for 4th grade on up. I'm 58, so I was there in junior high school for the Vietnam War protests. We walked up the street one Saturday, after a church group meeting, towards Sather Gate to see what tear gas smelled like.
ReplyDelete