Southeast in the Pacific Northwest: June 2013

There's nothing about this post that has to do with The South or The Pacific Northwest. All references are purely tangential. If you're a purist, stop reading now. I will make every effort to point out the connections, however weak. Still, consider yourself warned.

This blog post is about Nebraska. Lincoln, Nebraska. We're going to meet in the middle.

This Southern gal met two lovely Nebraskinians (Is there a correct word?) in the Pacific Northwest. They decided to wed in the town in which they met. Interestingly, Lincoln was named for our 13th president in hopes of blocking a measure to make the town the state capitol. Most residents were Confederate leaning, and the movers and shakers of the time thought that naming the town after the recently assassinated president would keep the measure from passing. So. Didn't. Work—and look at all these connections I'm making!

I recently was accused of being "A Fly Over." In other words, I was a person who knew nothing about

That's some kind of flat. Silo skyscrapers

all those states flown over when going from coast to coast. It's true. I am. But I also love to explore new places with good people. I love my friends, and I'm going to love where they come from. I mean, I like corn. I like College Football. Go Huskers! Go Big Red! In fact, this past bowl season, The Huskers and Bulldogs commiserated on our mutual losses. We rooted for each other and we cried together. (Until we play each other. Then there will be blood.) That's pretty Southern. Something that the PNW doesn't really get.

Yes, a tractor greeted us at the airport. But I did not see one single cornfield during my stay. True story. I'm a little disappointed to be honest. The airport was small and everyone was very friendly and polite—no hipsters in sight. Either in attitude or style. I rather like the eclectic style of the PNW, and I'm not sure what it was in Lincoln. It lacked some of the preppiness of the South. I think we determined it was more Abercrombie & Fitch or American Eagle. No Urban Outfitters or American Apparel.

I always do a little research before visiting a new location. Wikipedia was quite helpful, and I learned about the Lincoln naming business there as well as the fame of the state capitol, which is the second tallest in the country behind Louisiana. That would be on my list of things to do over the course of the weekend.

I had no idea how awesome it would be. "The Prick of the Prairie" is a marvel to see. The attention to detail, the art deco style, and the sheer "Americanness" of this structure astounded me. I took a gazillion pictures. I could have taken many more. Built over the course of the Roaring Twenties and completed during The Great Depression, this building has similar qualities to the Chrysler and Empire State Building, but specific to Southernness, it reminded me of some buildings in Asheville, NC.

Corn on the Knockers

Venetian American

Corn on the Ceiling

Sewing his wild kernels?

In general, I was really impressed by Lincoln's fantastic architecture. There was so much attention to detail in many of the buildings. Climbing up to the top of the capitol building, I saw the flat line of the horizon in every direction. I'm curious if Lincoln's urban planners and designers were more careful with their decisions because they were disrupting that unequivocal flatness. Just a thought.

While I didn't stray from the grid-like pattern of Lincoln's streets, I did get to visit Pioneer's Park a little west of the city. It was a gorgeous day, and lots of school kids were out exploring the park and anticipating summer and the last few days of school. North, south, east or west—we all love the carefree days of summer.

I love living in the Pacific Northwest, but two things about the south I mess dreadfully: lightning bugs and thunderstorms. Lincoln provided me with the latter. From Thursday until Saturday night, the Portland folks basked in sunshine and prairie balmy breezes. Mother nature waited until after the wedding and dancing were done, but she gave us a show. I love the anticipation of a summer thunderstorm. You can feel the electricity in the air. I wonder how many times the Seed Sower gets struck by lightning?

Here are just a few more photographs. Thanks Lincoln! Congrats Scott & Sara!