Official delegate of the "Fled California" Contingent

Just met another family that migrated eastward away from the Golden State to the Land of the Red Man.

Actually I was introduced to them.

Singled out, more like it.

At a recent PTO meeting I was pulled aside by a Kindergarden teacher and thrust upon the welcome wagon as the conductor of the "Moved here from California" stage line.

After the customary name/rank/serial number niceties were out of the way, we just stared at each other for a second, our LA-bred survival instincts and learned wariness of strangers taking behavioral hold of our actions.

Then I remembered that I was an Okie now (well, at least more of an Okie than these recent transplants were), and had an opportunity to make a welcoming first impression on these newcomers to my/our small town.

What followed was a pleasant conversation of smiles, laughter, anecdotes of familiar moving experiences, and the quick formation of a new friendship.

And even though they're from Lancaster (originally from Brea), I'm hoping they're find this small town as much to their liking, as I have.