The Twilight Zone

I know that you've been dying to know. Yes, it's true, I'm in the land of Twilight. Around here they call it the "Twilight Zone." Not too shocking, eh? If you've read the books by Stephenie Meyer or seen the movie then you know that the story takes place in this neck of the woods in Forks, Port Angeles and the Quileute Reservation. What you may not know is that Forks is nothing like it is in the movie or even in the book. Nothing. However, they are managing to capitalize on the novelty of being the setting of the bestselling novels. There are tours that will take you to all the hypothetical places in the books and I hear that Forks high school is holding a very interesting event in a week or so. Apparently, you can go to Forks High, just like Bella and Edward for a week this summer while school is out. I haven't heard the details, but the locals seem to find it ridiculous. Here in Port Angeles, I was told that Forks was falling apart before Twilight and that everything that is there now (a tiny main street area and a Twilight store) is because of the hype. I'm not so sure I know what to think. I know that Stephenie Meyer picked Forks out on a map without ever visiting, I wonder if she's ever been here?

La Push beach (where Bella hears the story of "the Cold Ones" from Jacob)

Forks, the Twilight store is featured - it's called "Dazzled by Twilight." I didn't buy anything. Doug wanted me to buy the t-shirt that says, "My husband sparkles."

Finally, the view from our campsite in Port Angeles. Look! You can see the mountains peeking out of the clouds, they do that a lot here. Very pretty. You can go to the restaurant that Edward took Bella on their "first date." Apparently, you can get the mushroom ravioli that she ate. Get this, the name of the restaurant is Bella Italia. I can't remember, was that was what it was called in the book? Someone go look that up and get back to me.

Folks around here seem to think that this whole Twilight thing is a lot of silliness. They seem to like it, but I'll tell you, they think the rest of the nation is sort of ridiculous. Never-the-less, almost everybody has a Twilight poster and they don't seem to be cashing in desperately. Just quietly enjoying their unexpected fame... From what I've seen anyway... I could be totally wrong. As for Doug, he suggests that the teenage boys around here try acting like Edward to get chicks. Dazzling.