Sterling's Truths for Life #21

Explanation

Kansas is a lovely place. It is quiet. It is beautiful. It is home.

I have lived in Kansas my entire life. When people ask me where I’m from, all I can say is Kansas because I have lived in several places. I have lived where I am today for longer than anywhere else in Kansas, but I’m technically a transplant. Can I say I’m from this town when I came here for college? My kids are from this town, but I am from Kansas.

Now, while there is a town in Kansas named Wamego that is the self-proclaimed headquarters for all things related to the Wizard of Oz, I do not care for the “You’re not in Kansas” anymore joke. “Wow, I’ve never heard that one before.” It’s played out, folks. So, I will continue to pre-emptively say it when I travel away from Kansas just to keep others from saying it.

I have traveled to Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mexico City, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin (and seen more than the inside of an airport there, if we include airports, I’ve been to a few more states like Georgia, Michigan, and Minnesota). I have never left North America. I have seen many places I love and many places I would like to visit again, but on this side of heaven, I can’t imagine that anything will ever beat Kansas for me for where to live.