Where you from?

Evan loves this question. It is his classic opener in any conversation. Even if he has met you 2-3 times, unless he remembers you, expect this question.

Evan is really good at listening to your response and finding connections. He is pretty well traveled both within and outside of the US and he remembers everywhere his friends have served missions. Mention a city, state, or country and he will ask if you know this one random person that at some point lived there. Rarely is there a small world connection, but the conversational principle is sound.

Answering this question is more complicated. When Evan moved to Utah to study at BYU, he was "from St. Paul, Minnesota" because he was born there. Just to clarify, we NEVER lived in St. Paul. But he's still from there.

A few months later our parents moved to Chicago. Then he was from Chicago. This began the season of Evan believing that you are from wherever your parent currently live.

Me: "Hello, my name is Brigham and I am from Minnesota. This is my brother."
Evan: "Hi. My name Evan. I from Chicago."
Other person: "huh? You're brothers from different places?"

When we moved to Washington DC, suddenly Evan was from Chicago and BYU. Both of them.

When our parents moved to Florida, then he was from Florida. Chicago. Provo. And St. Paul.

Then we moved to Boston.

Unsuspecting friendly stranger: "Hi. Where are you from?"
Evan: "Washington DC Chicago Provo Florida St. Paul"