Not All Bad Drivers Live In Northwest

Here are 30 things Spokane area residents learn about America when they travel.

(Feel free to add to this list.)

1. People in other parts of the country mistakenly assume that their regions are at the center of the universe.

2. The Inland Northwest is not humid.

3. There are bad drivers everywhere.

4. The Mount Rainier license plate can take some explaining.

5. Minnesota residents do not regard themselves as living “Back East.”

6. There are those who find it amusing that people actually live in Idaho.

7. More than a few folks you encounter automatically assume you would live in Seattle if you could.

8. Some people think Glacier National Park must be in Alaska.

9. “Accent? What accent? Hey, Flannel Shirt Boy, you’re the one who sounds funny.”

10. Ohio seems to make kids car sick.

11. Most places have pretty much the same cross-section of generous spirits and energy-draining jerks.

12. A lot of people in other parts of the country assume the Northwest is pretty but have absolutely no desire to live out here.

13. People think you’re exaggerating about Bloomsday.

14. And they can’t really picture the Palouse.

15. Some listeners think it’s odd that you say “North Idaho” and not “northern Idaho.”

16. Everybody everywhere watches pretty much the same shows.

17. People all over enjoy complaining about their potholes.

18. Not everyone pays attention to the NCAA basketball tournament.

19. If you know where to go, it’s possible to get really good pie.

20. Different places have different lineups of birds.

21. Missouri gives some teenagers a rash.

22. Radio deejays everywhere talk about what they watched on TV (see No. 16).

23. Much of the country looks like North Division and East Sprague.

24. Wyoming looks like the West.

25. Not everybody comprehends “Lack of Diversity Guilt.”

26. Most states have an income tax.

27. In parts of the country where it is a school sport, people understand hockey.

28. Most newspapers don’t run the daily comics in color.

29. We’re lucky here when it comes to bugs.

30. You never know when you’ll meet someone who is familiar with the Inland Northwest and has fond recollections.

* Today’s Slice question: Who is Spokane’s sexiest soccer mom?