What’s this all about, anyway?
I’m writing and self-publishing a book! Forever on our Mind is a love letter to Oregon, as told through personal (first-person) stories, jaw-on-the-floor wonder, historical anecdotes, and slice-of-life glimpses that (hopefully) offer a deeper understanding of the state.
Check out the Home page for a bit more on what I’m doing and what I hope to accomplish. (You can also read a few excerpts here.)
Why Oregon?
I kind of dig that it’s impossible to pigeonhole Oregon.
The state delivers for Democrats in every presidential election, but it’s a conservative stronghold once you cross the Cascades (or head south of Eugene); its rugged coastline, forested mountain ranges, and dry deserts inspire in equal measure, even as they seem to exist on separate planets; and despite outsiders associating the state with widespread rainfall, Bend only receives 11 inches of rain each year—barely enough to fill a bathtub.
The list goes on. I’m interested in exploring the juxtapositions, contradictions, differences, similarities, and nuances that make Oregon such a fascinating mosaic.
Who are you?
My name is Matt Wastradowski, and I’m (clearly) a proud Oregonian.
I was born and raised in Vancouver, Wash. (You know how celebrities get honorary degrees from prestigious institutions? I deserve honorary Oregonian status for growing up in the shadow of Portland.) Back then, the joke was that going to Portland was the most fun thing to do in Vancouver; that’s changed in recent years, but that attitude led me on countless trips across the Columbia River for Blazers and Timbers games, Voodoo Doughnut (hey, I was young), Portland Saturday Market, Powell’s City of Books, and numerous concerts.
Once I graduated from college and enjoyed the occasional free weekend, I got out of the Portland area as often as possible for beer tastings, hiking, camping, beach trips, and so forth. The more I traveled, the more I learned about the state’s landscapes—literal, socioeconomic, and political—and the more I appreciated the differences and similarities that brought us together.
Beyond my love for Oregon, I like to write whatever I can, whenever I can. I have more than a decade of experience in journalism, social media, communications, and marketing. Outside of the 9-to-5 grind, I’ve freelanced for several clients, including LivingSocial, RootsRated, Postali, and more.
Why “Forever on our Mind?”
The title comes from Governor Tom McCall’s moving farewell address to the state legislature in 1975:
“May your quest go well.
May we continue to find accord and high purpose.
May we forever prove (by our action) that people can join together for mutual benefit and greater good.
May we continue to work together.
May we face and endure every winter with spring . . . forever on our mind.”
(Seriously: How can you not be inspired by that unbridled optimism and sense of togetherness?)
(It might have also been inspired by a pre-game tifo before the Portland Timbers’ 2015 home opener.)
When will the book come out?
I’m aiming for the summer of 2017.
In the meantime, sign up for my email list to ensure you receive the latest news, information, and announcements. (You can also follow me on social media— Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram—for much of that same information.)
Forever On Our Mind 