A re-run of my dad’s humor cards. They make me chuckle all over again – so I hope you enjoy them whether it’s the first time or second (first posted on 7/3/2022).
The backstory: My dad was a Presbyterian pastor for 40 years. He kept a well curated stack of humor cards – little stories he heard, found or saw and then typed onto 5×7 cards. Then he wrote in the margins when he used that particular item. His humor was often an easy way to settle in to something deeper – by laughing and thinking about the buried truth in these little nuggets, it paved the way to an open heart.
You might be from the Northwest if you…
Feel guilty throwing aluminum cans in the trash.
Use the expression “sun break” and know what it means.
Know more people who own boats than air conditioners.
Feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.
Stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the “walk” signal.
Consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it’s not a real mountain.
In winter, go to work in the dark and come home in the dark – while only working 8-hours days.
Obey all traffic laws except “Keep right except to pass.”
Never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.
Are not fazed by “Today’s forecast: showers followed by rain” and “Tomorrow’s forecast: rain followed by showers.”
Have not concept of humidity without precipitation.
Know that Boring is a town in Oregon and not just a state of mind.
Can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you can’t see through the cloud cover.
We’ve got to figure out a way to fix the “keep right to pass problem.” What if we start teaching it in school? It would smooth things out at the grocery stores too? 😉
“Northwest” is a mindset that transcends borders. What a fabulous list.
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I love these and agree, we need to teach the stay right unless passing! It drives me bonkers to get stuck behind someone who not only is driving slower in the passing lane, but who matches speed with the car beside them. For miles. 🤯🫤
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Love your last sentence “For miles.” Yep, that says it all, doesn’t it? Thanks, Tamara! 😉
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LOL, yup! It’s usually before and after a place called Farmington! Guess a lot of farmers drive slowly!
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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I’m laughing at your comment, Michelle. I totally agree that this is not US specific. I bet your recent trip could affirm that!!
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Too true. A lot of people poke along in the passing lane. I need to invent a levitation ray for my hood to get them gone 🤣
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When I was a student a couple of years ago, one of my classmates was the grand-daughter of a Baptist minister. She had stumbled upon his note cards and wanted to write a book that incorporated them chapter by chapter into her own life. She put the project aside, but I always thought it was a great idea.
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Isn’t that interesting? Huh, I think it’s a great idea too. Thanks, Crystal!
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I love all of these so much! 😀
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🙂
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Definitely a different mindset! 😆 Id love to visit Oregon, even Boring, one day!
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Oh, you know Boring, Oregon? You’re practically a native then! 🙂
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What’s a “sun break”? 😉
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I know what a sun break is!
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Do tell! 😎
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I moved to SoCal because “sun breaks”–the little Fall, Winter, and Spring bursts where the sun would peek out from behind the clouds for maybe four glorious but too-fleeting seconds!–didn’t get me the sun exposure I needed to keep steppin’ and smilin’ strong.
(That being said, the balance is rapidly shifting for me. I’m getting ready to sacrifice prolonged sun exposure for less exposure/increased nearness to my loving Oregon community!)
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Oh! Thx for explaining! I’m clearly not from the PNW. I thought maybe “sun break” was a nifty way of saying “day break” LOL. Now I know! 😜
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Wait a minute…great explanation of the sun break. But you are moving?? Wow, that’s news!! Congratulations!! By the way, I can’t vouch for where you are moving to and we aren’t California but the weather has changed in the PNW. It’s way less grey than it used to be, I think!
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It’ll be a while before I’m able to make the move, but it’s happening! This important collection of tiny, heart-touching moments my last trip just got me so clear I’ve been asking myself the wrong question the last bunch of years. I’ve been asking myself, “How do I develop Oregon-deep connection here in SoCal?” My heart, on this last trip was like, “LOL, no, the question is, ‘When will you realize that if it’s Oregon-style connection you want, you are asking the wrong question?'” And I really, really got the message. So, slow steps that direction, but each step I take is very, very happily taken, especially if it’s not quite so grey there anymore. 😉 ❤
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That’s funny, Vicki. I thought you were joking with us! 🙂
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How interesting? Isn’t it funny how we can get stuck in a loop when we are asking the wrong question? Reminds me of a Dr. Seuss quote – “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” Getting to the right question is complicated indeed!
So congratulations – on unraveling that and making slow steps to where you know you want to be! 🙂 ❤
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These were so much fun for me. I agree with all of them.
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Yep, you know, Elizabeth!! 🙂
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As a native Oregonian, I am deeply tickled by this (accurate!) list. 🙂
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It’s a good one, isn’t it? 🙂
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Quite a place, with a sense of humor about itself, I gather. Thanks, Wynne.
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I think for the most part you’re right – a pretty good sense of humor! 🙂
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I’m a total northeasterner, but 2 of these are equally relevant to where I live: people waiting at stop lights in all kinds of weather for the Walk signal, even when there’s nobody around, and going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark in the winter months. For me the early darkness has a kind of romantic feel to it. Of course, here it’s usually paired with snow on the ground!
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Ah yes, isn’t that interesting? And the romantic feel – I know what you are talking about but by March, I’m usually a little over it… 🙂 Thanks for chiming in, Jane!
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Showers followed by rain; rain followed by showers. That about says it all!
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Yep, it surely does, Julia. Either I’ve been here too long or things are changing but I swear that doesn’t happen very often these days! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Somehow not surprising, what with all of the planetary weirdness happening these days!
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Living many years in Minnesota I do remember these days – “In winter, go to work in the dark and come home in the dark – while only working 8-hours days.” we thought they would never end. But come spring it was all good!
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Yes – you know. That makes those days seem so short and long at the same time! Right?
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Also, if you know what “geoduck” is and how to pronounce it. Bonus points if you’ve actually had it.
(I have.)
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Oh, that’s a good one. I know how to pronounce it but I have never had it — and don’t think I ever will. Does it taste like chicken? 🙂
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It tastes like a giant clam, lol. It was good!
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Ha, ha, ha!
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There is nothing as spectacular as the Northwest and the people are the same. Hugs, C
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Love that your roots are here, Cheryl! Sending big hugs to you!
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These are great! (says the guy who’s never been to the northwest 😂)
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Well, that’s something you need to fix then! 🙂
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Haha true! 🙂
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