Oregon150

by Teresa Carroll
Milwaukie, OR

I was born at Emanuel Hospital in November of 1956 and have lived in the Portland area my entire life. The ironic thing is that the same doctor who delivered me and my three brothers in 1955, 1956, 1959 and 1962, also delivered my son in January 1977. I have traveled to other places while serving in the U.S. Army, but nothing compared to home and I know that the Portland area will be my final resting place when the time comes. It’s already the final resting place of both sets of Grandparents, my parents and numerous aunts, uncles and other family members.

Our family tent camped a lot while I was growing up both at the beach (Cape Lookout State Park and Ft. Stephens were favorites) and in the mountains at various campgrounds in the Mt. Hood National Forest. I remember many summer visits to the Tillamook Cheese Factory, the Pioneer Museum and the wreck of the Peter Iredale, just to name a few. I can’t think of any place I would rather be than here where I can travel an hour in either direction and enjoy two totally different places.

I love the rain and wouldn’t trade the Oregon weather for anything. The weather is great most of the time, except when we hit the extremes in heat or cold. When people that transplanted here complain about the weather, I suggest that if they don’t like it, to return where they came from because it’s perfect here. I was here for the Columbus Day storm, Mt. St. Helen’s eruption and the floods of 1996, just to name a few.

I am PROUD to say that I am a Native Oregonian. As a matter of fact, I have custom plates on my jeep that say “OR N8IV” so people know that I am proud to be a rare breed called Native Oregonian.