By Christy Rasmussen
“Where are you from?” This question gets asked approximately 453,987,936 times a day … maybe more. When you are from Forks, WA, you have two potential answers to this question. You can answer that you are from Forks (obviously) or you can be smart and give a more vague answer; on the Olympic Peninsula, northwestern Washington, or even just on the coast of Washington. Your answer depends on whether or not you want to give many details.
When I was growing up (pre-Twilight), Forks was just some tiny town that few had ever heard of. If people asked where I was from, I always gave them a generic answer. After answering, I hoped to myself that they would not ask for more details. Most of the time they would. I would sigh and answer, “Forks, WA”. I waited for the inevitable response, “Is that by Spoons?” Oh, how clever are you! I’ve never ever heard that before in all my years of living here. You should probably take your witty act on the road! I can only imagine how the citizens of Intercourse, Pa., feel.
Now that I am an adult (post-Twilight), I still answer the “Where are you from?” question exactly the same. I may even be more vague these days. Due to “Twilight”, I try to put off giving the actual name of the town as long as possible. The conversation goes like this;
“Where are you from?”
“Northwest Washington.”
“Where at?”
“By the coast.”
“What town?”
“It’s near Aberdeen.”
“What’s the name.”
“Ughhh … stop asking so many questions! I‘m avoiding the real answer.”
I don’t try to avoid telling them Forks, WA, because I’m ashamed of my town, but rather because again, I don’t want to hear their response … only it’s different now that “Twilight” has taken over America. Instead of hearing a witty comment referring to the name of the town, the conversation now goes like this;
“OMG! You’re from Forks?! That’s so exciting!!! How was it growing up there?! Did you know Edward (or Bella or Jacob)?! Have you ever seen a vampire? Is Forks just like in the movies?! Was the movie really filmed there?”
The questions go on and on. I’m hoping at some point, “Twilight” will be forgotten and people will stop trying to be comedians. Maybe then, I will be able to say that I’m from Forks, WA, without fearing the response. Until then, I am from a small town in Washington state, by the coast, near Aberdeen, on the Olympic Peninsula.
Christy Rasmussen
Mother of the Year
