Note: This piece was begun winter 2011
Following 21 years in Washington State, here are some
observations:
Food: Man, I miss Dungeness crab and Thai food. But the
pizza? Oooh, the sublimely thin crust!
Eggplant parm grinders! (do my friends in the PNW
know what a grinder is)? Bagels that are sublimely chewy on the inside, hard on
the outside (that’s what she said). Italian restaurants. There are no fewer than 12 within a 3-mile
radius of me. Most of them outstanding.
Grocery shopping: This takes a little getting used to. Even
the most pedestrian Safeways and Albertson's are
nicer than the stores here. But at the deli counter, they slice the meat for
you, as thick or as thin as you wish. The choices! Also, I have never seen such
a selection of Parmesan cheese in my life. Mexican foods are classified as
“Spanish” (it also includes Jamaican, Cuban, Caribbean). There’s also a
“European” section (British, German, French), and a huge Kosher section.
Nickel returns: Doh! I hate nickel returns! It’s like
mandatory recycling!
Driving: Now driving on the freeways (west coast term there)
is not so much aggressive as it is assertive. Decisive. Intentional. The left lane is for passing. On the
arterials, I’d give a tank of gas for center turn lanes. If you’re turning left
on the Post Road, you get into the left lane. If you’re behind me and want to
go straight, you gotta wait. Also, I’ve got two words for city planners here:
synchronized lights. This modern marvel
was a given on many urban arterials in the Northwest.
 |
| Ray Kelly's, where the bikers go |
My neighborhood: I live in Bridgeport, which has a
reputation for crime, arsons, vacant factories, but it’s coming around the
curve. Really! It's a tough place to love, which is why I love it: gritty and proud. Reminds me of Tacoma. Despite all of this, my street is so
quiet. Black Rock is an awesome neighborhood. It’s quieter than my apartment in
Olympia, next to that skanky hobo park. My street is one-third Anglo ("white"); the
rest of us are Mexican, black (African American and Caribbean), and a few
Asians.
Restaurants (all of this within a 5-block radius): Chinese, Salvadoran, three pizza places (one
is brick oven), southwest, Turkish, Irish, and a taqueria inside of a Mexican
grocery (four of those, a Mexican bakery, plus an Indian grocery).
Bars: 10. A lot of
people out on the sidewalks at night; some are sober.
“Health salons”: 3 (to my Northwest friends, this is where
you get a massage from a hot young Asian babe). Note: All of these health salons were shut down in a crackdown fall 2012.
Barbershops: 4
Tattoo shops: 3
Dunkin’ Donuts (not a Starbucks for miles! Wooo-hooo!)
Pilates
Cineplex
A Mercedes-Porsche-Audi dealership, so the street behind me
is like a German auto show on parade. Also, Lexus and Smart Car dealerships
nearby.
 |
| Black Rock Lighthouse |
Observations: A lot
more bikers in CT than in Washington State. Theory: No state helmet law plus
drier climate. A lot more mustaches here. Theory: none.
Job: rocks. I’m
building a major gifts program from the ground up. My boss says “I hired you to
do the job for your skills. Just do it!” So different from my last job, which
had gotten a bit inert.
So it’s a good life here. Family, old friends are easily
accessible, and I get to maintain my independence.
