So where is Somerset County: in the southwestern part of PA, about an hour or so southeast of Pittsburgh. For many I say it is where the plane fell on 9/11. That usually makes people say Oh, or some such thing, but I doubt many know exactly where that site is. It is northern Appalachia, near the border of Maryland and West Virginia, and not too far from Ohio either.
Pennsylvania is a complex state culturally. I'm not sure I even understand the culture there anymore. I know the populace is basically Christian of many varieties: Catholic, Protestant (Lutheran, etc.), Fundmentalist, Bretheran of various sorts, Russian and Greek Orthodox, Nazarene, Jehovah Witnesses, Mennonite. (The Amish are mostly in the eastern part of the state, but I understand there are some living on farms down in the souther part of Somerset County).
I was born in the Memorial Hospital in Johnstown (in neighboring Cambria County), but we lived in Jerome, a town of about 1,000 people. Our father was the local country doctor and our mother, a first grade teacher. Whether or not anyone remembers them anymore, or my brother and me remains to be seen. But that, I hope, will help me make a connection with the people. I'm not sure what I'll be asked to do, but hope to do some door to door canvassing. I've been in touch with the local Obama "office," which is essentially a young woman named Lisa, who works out of the Democratic headquarters in the little city of Somerset.
I've drafted Redjeb to go with me. He's trying to be a good sport about it, but not sure what his role will be. I'll need the car, so for starters he'll help me drive the 5 1/2 hours from Manhattan.
