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Ellen's Thoughts | Thursday, May 8, 2008 | 11:00 AM

My Hometown... And I Do Have One

I still can’t get over how much fun I had in Chicago. You can tell that everybody there has a huge amount of pride in their hometown. Hometowns are fantastic places. I recommend that you get one if you don’t already have one. One thing that most of us all have in common is that we come from somewhere. I’m from New Orleans. It’s my hometown. You can tell I’m from New Orleans when I say things like, “All y’all.” That means “all of you.” If I used it in a sentence it would be, “When are all y’all comin’ by for beignets and a sleepover?” We’re friendly in the south.

Whenever you meet someone new from the same hometown, you instantly have a connection. Suddenly, you’re best friends with a complete stranger, but you still won’t speak to your next-door neighbor after that whole key-party thing. The ‘70s ruined a lot of friendships. You always think people from the same place know each other. “You’re from Saskatchewan? Do you know Kathy Stevens? She’s from Saskatchewan too.” It can be anywhere. “Oh, you’re from earth? Do you know Bob?”

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I JUST want to jump in your head and hear all the amazing thoughts you got there ! i won't be bored ill laugh the whole time indeed =P!!
i love you so much !!
just wanted to share this with you.
my hometown is Dubai, UAE i think you know where that is , lol cuz most people when i say dubai they say what ! who! where !! then i say say in the middle east near Saudia and so and so .. and they nod their head showing me that they know where it is !! although THEY DONT !! and i get so pissed .
now a days i study in orange county and i really miss my hometown !!!

Posted by Abdulla alkaabi | June 25, 2009 10:32 AM

I love you Ellen!!

Posted by DON BEACH | June 8, 2009 4:10 PM

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Posted by sglvhofc vzphc | September 26, 2008 11:32 AM

There's so much Chicago pride, in fact, that it swells over onto those close by in Indiana. My dream is one day to have the city I call home, to actually become my home.

In Las Vegas, making best friends out of strangers from your home town is practically an every day event! The smallest minority of people here are probably those who grew up in Vegas.

It's okay, it's just another way to have more friends! We NEED connection with one another, these days.

Posted by Megan | May 13, 2008 11:43 PM

Well, Ellen, I need to disagree on this one...I don't have a hometown, because I was raised in the sticks...we lived 3 miles outside of "town," and most of the other kids in the school district much farther than that. The district covers like a dozen "townships" that aren't towns, and my senior class was still under 115 people. I'm usually impressed if someone knows my home COUNTY, let alone the town I grew up near! (Where, you ask? Wyalusing, PA, in Bradford County, in the Endless Mountains region of Northeastern PA--an hour from the Poconos/Scranton, an hour from Williamsport, 45 minutes from the NY state border...and not NEAR anything!) I miss it but there are no jobs there! =^)

Posted by SuperChick | May 9, 2008 12:31 PM

yes I like home towns too! They always seem to shrink when you go back to them though. I grew up in a one stop light town and I went back recently... and its changed.. but still small town just different and its a culture shock. I think the town changed as much as I have.

I try and create that small town here where I'm at... be friendly... say hi to stranges..etc. I have created a pleasant grocery shopping 'cause I'm always upbeat and friendly with the cashier.. and now everytime I go there.. they light up!!! Its nice... small towns. My town was a farming community.. corn, wheat. Sad thing is.. a steel company has moved just on the outskirts of my hometown and bought out some farm land 'cause the farmers can't make it anymore.. and I think its ugly.. they have a big fence up around the steel factory and they built a new road for the semi and its just freaky to look at... I'm soar about it.. but it does provide jobs for people in my home town.

New Orleans is intrigueing to me and someday I'd like to visit!.. take in the town!

Posted by tonya | May 9, 2008 10:10 AM

Funny thing! I actually am from Saskatchewan, Regina, SK. This too is my favorite line, whenever someone meets me whom is from the same town and asks, "do you know....? I always reply, "hey do you know bob from Regina?"

Posted by Wanda Motard-Weisbrod | May 9, 2008 8:46 AM

Ellen..PLEASE>>PLEASE>>>PLEASE>>>have country singer MANDY BARNETT on your show. Once you hear her you'll be a fan FOREVER..like I am..

Love your show "Helen" You're the BEST!!!!


Harold(Bo)Gibson

Posted by Harold ( Bo)Gibson | May 9, 2008 5:24 AM

~Where I was born~Where I was raised~Where I spent all my younger days~My town~

Posted by ~Quay~ | May 8, 2008 10:35 PM

hi ellen,

have you ever been to boston mass? we would love to have you visit and make us all laugh. you are just the funnist person and we need to laugh. DEE

Posted by dee ceruti | May 8, 2008 8:49 PM

I love my hometown of West Jordan. Its got all you need, what else can I say?

Posted by Mary | May 8, 2008 7:11 PM

So true Ellen, I absolutely agree. I am fellow New Orleanian living Houston. I always can spot a fellow New Orleans native, because when I ask where they went to school, they always answer their high school. Gotta love it! By they way, we went to the same high school. (Grace King)

Posted by Rebekah Gradwohl | May 8, 2008 5:14 PM

WoW! Ellen and my Dad, Hank Mahan, are both from New Orleans and he too can spot a fellow 'Big Easy' resident after a few words exchanged. It must be something born into your genes, not the ones you wear ;), or it's the food or partying of New Orleans. Today Hank and Us live in Panguitch, Utah, , a town of 1600 persons and mountain views that have to be seen because words can't describe them. The view from our front window you have to see cause it never gets old seeing such bueaty everyday. So come on up to the mountains of southern Utah and let's have some of our Dad's Gumbo. Your freinds always Scotty & Joe and the Mahan Clan.

Posted by Scotty Harville & Joe Sandberg | May 8, 2008 3:35 PM

OM Gosh!! Ellen - You crack my 'donkey' up!! (keepin it clean for mixed audience) I was looking at all your past video clips...( ok, I haven't looked at ALL of them, yet.) the Toll booth one had me rollin and crying- Too duckin funny!! You are so funny!! Thank you for sharing your humor. Keeps me feeling sane - knowing that those funny thoughts are not just in MY head. Finding humor in almost anything is hilarious and keeps me going.
Take care.
** Do you ever come to Seattle?
Later! :o)

Posted by Tracy | May 8, 2008 2:16 PM

I feel somewhat sentimental about my hometown because there’s always something there that is familiar. I lived in Westport, Connecticut for about 30-years, and moved to California 11-years ago to be able to live near my family.

Lately I have been emailing and phoning a woman that was one of my high school teachers that I befriended thirty-years ago and we are reviving our friendship, it’s wonderful. We are learning about each other’s lives, how we’ve changed, how we’ve grown and realized that we are true friends because at heart, we are still the same people that we were 30-years ago.

We have talk about out different experiences of joy, pain, sickness and health, and it seems to all add up to having a few common characteristics that are quintessential to our sense of humor. The single most important factor of this equation is a strong and spirited wit. Home towns are great!

Thanks, Ellen!

Posted by besillysometimes | May 8, 2008 12:43 PM

My hometown was Nebraska City Nebraska. A place I hated as a kid but appreciate as an adult. A place where my grandparents home that I always felt safe at is.. even though they are gone and the home is no longer in the family. I wish it was though, nobody else knows the memories in that house. The things said, laughs shared, bonds formed. Nobody knows that the house that is for sale for 90 some thousand was bought for just 2 thousand dollars by my grandparents. I appreciate the memories I have of my hometown. The walking halfway to kindergarten by myself because thats how safe the town is. The old brick streets... the victoian homes. Its funny how a place we dreaded and couldnt wait to get away from when we were kids... is the one place we wish to escape to as adults.

Posted by Rachel Hall | May 8, 2008 12:40 PM

Did you know that all squirrels are named Bob. The squirrel in my backyard (hometown Louisville, KY) told me so. Of course, we call the female squirrel Bobette. She seems to like that moniker best.

Posted by EDH | May 8, 2008 11:59 AM

Hi Ellen.
I'm a huge fan of your show although I have to catch it in video clips since I'm not home during the day to watch. My original home town is a place called Foxhome Minnesota. Strangely, a lot of Minnesota people have heard of it except instead of asking if I know a person they ask if I've been to the bar... Anyway, my husband and I found a new hometown to raise our family in Osakis Minnesota and what we love is our school. Our two older children (7 & 9) attend St. Agnes School. It's the greatest place in the world! I stopped by yesterday to bring my daughter's forgotten shoes and ran into (well not actually ran into) my son's teacher who was on her lunch break. She stopped to ask me if everything was fine with my son at home because he seemed a little stressed. Now, he is not boy who stands out for getting low grades or causing trouble. He's quiet and smart and she still noticed something was up. She spent the next 20 minutes discussing my little boy's well being when she should have been eating. That's what's so great about it. Parents are included as part of the teaching process and we are one big happy family. The school is catholic, but we welcome families of all faiths to share in an opportunity to learn in a caring, loving environment. The trouble is, I'm worried my youngest child (he's 2) won't get the opportunity to attend St. Agnes because it's in financial strain. Our five teachers, who are severely underpaid, give and give and give of their time and talents with very little compensation. We're trying to raise extra money... Ellen is there anyone you know out there who could help a little catholic school give its teachers what they deserve? I always make a point of thanking them and giving little gifts, but a true thank you would be to be able to offer them a raise.

Posted by Greta Petrich | May 8, 2008 11:34 AM

Well, I have come across plenty of Bobs, but I have never come across someone named Ellen before. Bob's come over as sweet, cute fellows and have a dimple on there chin. Now the name Ellen on the other hand..excuse me the kettle has just finished boiling..

Posted by Donald Duck | May 8, 2008 11:29 AM


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