I happened to share the sidewalk with a couple of business travelers this evening, who were staying in the downtown Marriott and strolling to Brightleaf Square for dinner. They asked me a number of questions, to which I replied:

-Yes, there’s a lot of construction going on, as old tobacco warehouses are converted to new purposes. This town (or at least some of it) does value historic preservation.

-Seafood, 2 mexican, great bar food, pan-asian, italian, brazilian steakhouse, and a nice place to take your mom.

-No, I feel safe walking around here. Do it all the time.

I asked where they were from. Answer: Michigan.

So of course I got to rub it in about Appalachian beating Michigan. I may not be much a sports fan, but as the soon-to-be-stepmom of a Mountaineer, I felt like it was my duty not to let such an opportunity pass me by.

When I moved here 6.5 years ago, I recall hearing the joke “How do you know someone isn’t from the South?” “When you hear them say ‘No, I don’t follow college sports.’” I will always be a California Yankee, but at least I can get the contact high now and then.

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