Oregon150

by Tyler Nelson
Oregon City, OR

Dearest Oregon,

I will start by wishing you the best on your 150th birthday. Hopefully you have received everything you put on your birthday list. I’m sorry I didn’t get you anything this year, but I’m running low on cash, mostly because I’ve gone snowboarding so much. On that note I believe a thanks is in order for all the great snowboarding.

Even with all the new snow, I’m glad it is now spring. I rather enjoy the sweet scent of your freshly sprouted buds. And spring means that summer is coming! I will be leaving you for about three weeks in the summer, as it is my family’s tradition to visit my grandparents in Arizona every June. I must say I will miss you during this time because it is considerably hotter there. Everything has to be done indoors of at an aquatic park. Your summers, beloved Oregon, are the best I have ever know. It’s hot, but not too hot. I wish you could stay in the blissful summer stage forever because your other season can be a tad dreary for my taste. Also summer is when strawberries are in season!

There are not enough words of praise in the English dictionary to describe how divine your strawberries are! It is a practice in my household to go out early in the season and hand pick the top berries we can find. We get baskets and baskets of those wondrous little fruits of yours. Your strawberries remind me that there is God out there that loves us, because otherwise how would mankind be graced with such a gift as strawberries?

Another thing that I adore so much of you is your great outdoors. So many of my fondest childhood memories take place beneath your towering fir trees around a campfire. Now that I’m older I still enjoy camping with my friends. This summer I am planning on bringing my friend Adam to the Red Woods with me. Last time we went to Lost Lake and paddled out to the middle for a view of your glorious Mt. Hood.

I am afraid I must end this letter sooner than I would wish as there is a strict word limit on this paper. Again I wish you the best and a very happy 150th. May your trees stay tall and your strawberries grow aplenty.

Faithfully,
Tyler Nelson