ode to Oregon

its funny how a teeny tiny piece of plastic can change your life. Today i got my Arizona drivers license and Paul got his Arizona license plates, and it feels weird. We've lived here for two months and its definitely settled in, but I knew & know that at some point we'll go back to Oregon. But for now... we're Arizonans. Which is so weird. There's something extremely special about being from the Northwest and it's completely tied in with my identity. So in honor of my sweet special home state, heres a list of my favorite things about Oregon:

-how when you fly home and step of the plane theres that sweet sweet smell of rain and trees and something you can't really but your finger on, but you know you're home. 
-the rain. which never. ends.
-when the rain does end [even for five minutes], somehow everyone flocks outside to enjoy a brief glimpse of the sky
-voodoo donuts. i've actually never had one [shocking I know]. but how theres some cult following about pastries. Only in Oregon!
-you can hike anywhere
-its so green!!! I didn't know how much I loved that silly color until I moved to a brown world
-the way the pear trees at my dads house change colors in the fall
-the sunsets!
-how i know our state animal, state bird, state tree and state flower because i have that much pride about my state
-that our state animal is the beaver! so fitting for a logging state
-attempting to see the green flash at Seaside even though its always too cloudy
-the gray days in winter.
-wearing scarves and boots and jackets- all year round!
-the beer!! I am a beer girl at heart and Oregon has the best beer, and so many types!
-the christmas lights on the trees downtown
-how eighty degrees feels like 120 [trust me, it actually doesn't]
-by the time it's April everyone gets so excited for summer when it actually doesn't show up until mid-July
-camping in the forests
-camping anywhere. even when its 30 degrees and rainy
-curling up in front of the fire at my moms house
-knitting being socially acceptable
-the blues festival
-that people actually get spray tans and lie in tanning beds! Its so ridiculous!
-coffee shops. everywhere.
-the homemade chai at Interzone. If you live in Corvallis and haven't tried it, you're missing out.
-Crater Lake, Mt. McLoughlin, Klamath Falls.. the list goes on
-The view of the mountains from Paul's moms house
-cruising down the river on Brizo
-The beach, the river, mountains and the city all being within a days drive
-Multnomah Falls hiking [they also have the best ice cream]
-Powells!
-Food trucks that actually have good food
-Timbers, Blazers, Hops. Even if they aren't the best teams, the city loves them and stands behind them, because that's what people from Oregon do
-River place marina and all the memories I have there
-how every building at Oregon State is made of bricks! It makes it feel so homey and is beautiful 
-when it snows people freak 
-that everyone gets in swimsuits when it gets over 55 degrees! [makes me shiver now]
-how when people say 'the mountain is out today' everyone knows what it means
-the huckleberry milkshakes at Burgerville. RIGHT?
-how they turn the deer on the Made In Oregon sign into Rudolph during the holidays
-OMSI
-lastly, my absolute favorite thing about Oregon is how it feels, because it's home.