You Know You're in Piedmont When...

I spent 17 years of my adult life in the Mojave Desert area in California. When people hear we came to Piedmont three years ago from California, and ask how we handled making such a big change, since California is, well, California, and Oklahoma is, you know, not, I just smile and say we got through it somehow.

The truth is my children were raised in Gotebo, as my mother likes to say. In other words, the Mojave Desert of California lacks many of the traditional amenities that come with the lore of California, like, for instance, the ocean, balmy weather, movie stars (although Gene saw Julia Roberts close up once when she was filming Erin Brochovitch in Boron, since he was living right across the street. I haven't seen the movie, but I have seen Boron.)It does not lack in brutal heat, destructive winds and numbing cold, or in acres and acres of sage brush and tumble weeds. I can't complain though, because I came out of my desert exile with many good friends and a couple of wonderful kids (despite being raised in Gotebo) and a sweet husband.

But occasionally I shake my head and muse at how I got here. Here are the things that typically remind me that I'm in Piedmont now:

1. I bank at the Farmers and Merchants Bank
2. The Farmers and Merchants bank thanks its loyal customers with an annual BBQ in the nice barn that sits directly behind the bank.
2. On car duty in the morning in front of the school Debbie and I confirm together that the bright green in the gigantic field across the street is indeed wheat, and that they must be using the "no til" method since they obviously didn't plow before the wheat started growing...
3. One of our most beautiful, tall and slender blond Piedmont Elementary moms can occasionally be seen driving a two-lane width combine down Piedmont Road past the school.
4. Everyone waves when passing in a vehicle. Yes, seriously, everyone. Unless you're not from around here. No, not like a princess wave, or a giggly wiggly finger wave. Men generally "wave" with one or two fingers lifted from the steering wheel. I just hold up my left hand, off the wheel, palm flat, and maybe add a nod.
5. Small talk at work often centers around the size of the hail that dimpled your car and "totaled" your roof.
6. The most well know entertainment center in Piedmont is Chester's Party Barn.
7. I get lots of homemade jellies, cupcakes, breads, cookies and hugs from my wonderful, smart and good looking students.


All in all,Gene and Alli and I agree that it's great to be in Piedmont! We do miss Disneyland though, and Felicity. Not necessarily in that order.