I moved to Dysmal Nitch just over a year ago buying an unusually discounted priced condo from an older man eager to move fast mumbling something about, ‘discs that fly in across the water’ – sure, whatever man – go get those meds refilled. As a widow woman starting life over the location is perfect. I have a 24/7 view of the ocean and a new life in the PNW and am within walking distance of the IGA.
I wrote letters back this December to Oklahoma, as I always send Christmas cards. I was so excited to share my new life with people, finally a positive chapter after a couple of years of dealing with a contested will, the death of my husband and arguing with my adult son over assets. It was time for some distance and to start over.
Coming to Dysmal Nitch was my first experience with seeing the ocean and I wrote, “I have a gorgeous view of the ocean from my deck” and I included a photograph from the boardwalk and used a watercolor painting as my Christmas card, “Greetings from Washington!”
On the phone I would just hear a bit of a snort. In the letters and cards I got back it was worse. “Sure you do. MMhhmm, okay Mary, you think just anyone can live beside the ocean? You think they would let you live beside the ocean?” I was baffled.
“Sure, like Washington State is along the ocean, haha – good one, it’s a nice lake though, I’ll give you that, so were you there to fish or camp?
“The ocean hu? Where are the palm trees, surfers or people in bikini’s? You expect us to believe that?“
I wasn’t sure how to respond. It’s not a lake. I swear to God that isn’t a lake.
“Okay…whatever, I mean, it’s kinda ocean like I guess. If you go down to Oregon or California, now they’ve got an ocean!“
Damn it, I’m on the same f’n coastline. I swear to God, one more son of a gun says the ocean I live beside is fake I’m losing my shit.
“So when you say ocean…what like the Great Salt Lake? Or …” No, the Pacific Ocean, and Great Salt Lake? THAT’S IN UTAH.
I’ve found out that exactly zero people I know from Oklahoma realize that the west coast isn’t just California, it continues north and borders Oregon, Washington, the country of Canada and then Alaska….shockingly it also continues south and borders Mexico and South America….
*sigh* — Mary January 11, 2025 – mood: lonely
