Ode to Oregon

I was fortunate to have a lengthy visit to Oregon this month. While it was refreshing to say the least, it was also a very emotional trip for me -- probably because for the first time maybe ever in my life, I don't know when I'll be back.

I feel like I've missed out on so much (like human interaction) since moving to Georgia. Here is just a little of what I've missed and will miss about home...and by home I mean friends, family, Oregon, I-5, the northwest and all feelings of love and nostalgia associated within those things.

Beautiful Brides:






I've already missed several weddings this summer that I would have loved  to have been present for so I was thankful I didn't have to miss Hillary and Daniel's (it also meant I got a manicure, lots of cupcakes and got to see even more familiar faces).

Other People's Children and Babies:

This is Pearl:


She likes cake.


This is Wyatt.


He likes his mama:


One of the most heart wrenching things about being gone is missing the birth of your bff's babies. The only way I survived the torment was by comforting myself with the fact that maybe it's more enjoyable to meet babies for the first time when they are at the adorable three-month-old stage and not the fresh-out-of-the-womb alien stage. Not that any of my friends would ever have alien babies...but seriously, this is Kari's baby Wyatt. Isn't he a cutie?

My Babies:

This is Maddie. Or Maddie-May-May-Moo-Moo as I like to call her. She is our family dog. It's strange how much you can miss animals...

And speaking of animals and other things I miss about Oregon, where else do people just have goats hanging out in their back yards?

Especially cool fighting goats...

And lastly, of all the many things I've missed about home...
Coffee:

I never thought I would say this, but of all the coffee places I've missed the most from the Oregon, the winner might be Dutch Bros. (not Dutch Brothers mind you...that's definitely not chill enough -- it's Bros., maybe even pronounced bras...).

I never thought I could miss the convenience of coffee soo much, but you see, southerners don't do coffee. They don't ask each other to "go out to" coffee to hang out or have a business meeting over coffee; thus, there is a serious lack of locations to get a latte. There is however, an abundance of Cracker Barrels, Waffle Houses and locations to buy sweet tea. I won't complain much about the sweet tea though, I'm quickly becoming obsessed -- it's like humming bird food for people.

Regardless, the South has never heard of Dutch Bros. The South knows nothing of dudes indoors wearing sunglasses constantly rattling "right on, right on," or fifteen year-old blonde cleavage-baring girls patronizingly calling you "sweetie," or music blaring so loudly you have to repeat your order several times. They don't know about $2 lattes or the genius use of chocolate milk in coffee. And now with the absence of all D. Bros. related things in my life, I realized their deep value.

Maybe they're not as valuable as small children or soft Labradors but I'm still holding onto my free punch card until the time I'm finally "home" again and can enjoy a latte with friends and family.

I'm looking forward to that.