Tell us about your hometown.

[Not Heidi]

My wife is an East Tennessean, born in Maryville, Blount County and raised in Clinton,* Anderson County. She's as proud to be from Appalachia and Tennessee as anyone you'll meet.

I'm a Southern Californian, born in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, and raised in Huntington Beach, Orange County. My pride in California is odd to my sisters - 🤷‍♀️.**

Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains is Kathy's favorite place on earth. If she predeceases me, that's where I'll spread her ashes. Huntington State Beach and the Bolsa Chica Wetlands (also in Huntington Beach) are my favorite places on earth. Honorable mention to Angels Stadium; I hope my family can find a way to put my ashes the there - preferably at first base.

Kathy and I've been married 22 years. For our first 15 years, we lived in Charles County, Maryland. I fell deeply in love with Maryland and miss it so much that I cry sometimes. I miss it almost as much as I missed California.

We now live in Huntington Beach.

For the longest time I had a desk display of five tiny flags: California, Tennessee, Maryland, rainbow, and USA. I lost it when we moved home to California. (Easy enough to replace, though.)

Thank you for reading this appreciation of hometowns. What's your hometown? (You don't have to have been born there.) What's your favorite thing about it?

* Originally named Burrville, the name was changed when Burr killed Hamilton.

** But then, I -am- the second weirdest member of my family (father's side). 🤪