You know you’re from Wilmington if ...

BY EILEEN BRADY
THE NEWS JOURNAL OF WILMINGTON, OHIO ​

When I’ve moved to new places, I’ve found myself in the middle of a conversation where I suddenly have no idea what everyone else talking about. Those are the times I am reminded that I’m not really a local.
And although I’ve lived places long enough to almost feel like a native, the only town I’ll truly be a local in is Wilmington, which I’m reminded of every time I speak these two little words: “Odd Lots.” 
Say “Odd Lots” to someone who hasn’t lived in Wilmington for long and they’re guaranteed to at least raise an eyebrow. On the other hand, if you say those two words to someone else from Wilmington, they won’t even blink.
With Odd Lots in mind, I started to think of other ways that Wilmingtonians can be sure they’re from Wilmington. I also enlisted the help of a few lifelong Wilmington friends in order to come up with this list, which is in no way exhaustive. I’m sure you have your own mental lists, but please allow me to share mine:
You know you’re from Wilmington if …
—If you still refer to that discount store with the big orange letters as “Odd Lots,” even though it was renamed “Big Lots” many years ago.
—You don’t think “fighting Quakers” is an oxymoron.
—You know how to correctly pronounce “Rombach,” “Sabina” and “Raizk.”
—You don’t even question why the mascot of an inland Midwestern school is a hurricane.

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