Tracking the Silver Fox

On my blogs, I often refer to several towns and cities in my area of Massachusetts. In case you're the type -- and I can think of maybe two or three of you that would be -- who likes to put things in perspective (literally), here's a map showing my current town, and those surrounding it which are occasionally or often mentioned here and on my old David'Z RantZ blog.

Some quick examples (in absolutely no particular order) of how these towns are "important" would include:

Oxford -- Grew up and went to school here. Learned to love the abridged, "children's" version of the novel Moby-Dick here, thanks to Oxford's public library. Features prominently in the earliest chapters of My Island.

Webster -- Where I live now.

Sutton -- I lived on a farm here for the first two years of my life, and actually have a handful of memories from here.

Auburn -- My Dad grew up there, my parents lived there for a while after they married, and Diana from Auburn features prominently in almost all of My Island.

Worcester -- Ahhh, the nearest "big city!" It's pronounced "Wooster," not "Woostah," and there's no freakin' H in the word. Lots of references to it, and not only in My Island. The home of one of my favorite jobs ever, a comic book shop and "pop culture emporium" known as That's Entertainment. Also figures prominently in my highly-recommended multi-parter about the most dangerous "research" project I ever did.

Charlton -- Lots of drinking done there during my late adolescence. Lots of back-road "parking" done there with various young ladies during my late adolescence. In other words... lots of great memories there from my late adolescence.

Southbridge -- The town I can never seem to "escape" from. I lived here for several years and never really liked it. I was engaged twice to women who lived here. My sister lives here. My mother lived here off and on for the last few years of her life. Southbridge was the home of my last full-time "Crappy Day Job," and it's where my current, not-crappy part-time job is. Constant references to it on this blog and David'Z RantZ. Figures prominently in most of the later chapters of My Island.

Just another quick note: Living in Massachusetts does not mean I live anywhere near Boston -- I'm about an hour's drive away -- and I do not sound like one of the Kennedys when I talk. I even pronounce the Rs at the end of my words! Who'da thunk it?

Now, I know some of you may be saying, "Geez, David, why didn't you just give us all a map right to your home? Aren't you worried that someone's going to track you down after reading this?"

Oh, please. Would you want to show up, unannounced and unwanted, on the doorstep of someone who'll greet you like this?

Didn't think so.

Thanks for your time.