 security of their FOB--Forward Operating Base--in Afghanistan after a patrol through a tangle of local almond orchards. Orchards that Armen Chooljian half seriously joked to his Army buddies were like the almond and pecan and walnut and pistachio nut orchards back home. Which made him kind of nostalgic for the nuts of home. Which, Armen being from California, wasn't too far away from his buddies' general pop culture take on California. But they weren't envisioning the kind of nuts Armen was thinking of. With Armen it was flat out literal. He was raised on a farm in Fresno County in the San Joachim Valley of California surrounded by mile upon mile of orchards growing a bunch of different stuff including plenty of nuts of the standard non-human variety.

Armen was in his second year of elementary school before he realized there was more to the world than an endless terrestrial sea of orchards and vineyards as far as the eye could see. The omnipresent blanket of California valley smog lifted one crisp autumn morning and Armen's jaw dropped. Mountains! All around! Mountains! And they'd been there all along! And close! From that day on he leaned heavily towards the skeptical side. Not quite paranoid. But definitely suspicious. If God, or whoever was in charge of the Big Picture, was hiding the mountains from him all that time, then what else was hiding out there?

Armen's great grandparents came to the San Joachim from Armenia. Not exactly voluntarily. The Turks, who had governed part of Armenia since Ottoman Empire days, decided that Turkish Armenia would be a great place to settle their surplus population. The problem was that there were already people there, the Armenians, who had been there for hundreds, even thousands, of years. What to do? Simple. Get rid of the Armenians. Do 'em in. Which the Turks set out to do during the chaos of WWI. And they got away with it. The Armenian population of Turkey was practically wiped out. Those who weren't murdered fled to Soviet Armenia. Or overseas. Many to America. Many to the San Joachim Valley. Young Armen was raised with hoary tales of the Turkish genocide and an Armenian revulsion towards Turks was drummed into his head from infancy. To most Armenian kids growing up the boogeyman was real and he spoke fluent Turkish and had tender Armenian children for his
security of their FOB -- Forward Operating Base -- in Afghanistan after a patrol through a tangle of local almond orchards. Orchards that Armen Chooljian half badly joke to his Army buddies were like the almond and pecan and walnut and pistachio nut orchards back home. Which make him kind of nostalgic for the nut of home. Which, Armen being from California, wasn't too far aside from his buddies' general dad culture take on California. But they weren't envision the kind of nuts Armen was thinking of. With Armen it was bland out literal. He was raised on a farm in Fresno County in the San Joachim Valley of California surrounded by mile upon mile of orchards develop a bunch of different stuff admit plenty of nuts of the standard non - human variety. 

 Armen was in his second year of elementary school before he recognize there was more to the world than an endless terrestrial sea of grove and vineyards as far as the eye could see. The omnipresent blanket of California valley smog lifted one crisp autumn dawn and Armen's jaw dropped. Mountains! All around! Mountains! And they'd been there all along! And close! From that day on he leaned heavily towards the disbelieving side. Not quite paranoid. But definitely fishy. If God, or whoever was in cathexis of the Big Picture, was hiding the mountains from him all that time, then what else was shroud out there? 

 Armen's great grandparents came to the San Joachim from Armenia. Not precisely voluntarily. The Turks, who had governed part of Armenia since Ottoman Empire days, decided that Turkish Armenia would be a great place to finalize their surplus population. The problem was that there were already people there, the Armenians, who had been there for hundred, even thousands, of year. What to serve? Simple. Get rid of the Armenians. Do'em in. Which the Turks set out to serve during the chaos of WWI. And they got away with it. The Armenian population of Turkey was practically wipe out. Those who weren't murdered flee to Soviet Armenia. Or overseas. Many to America. Many to the San Joachim Valley. Young Armen was raised with hoary tales of the Turkish genocide and an Armenian revulsion towards Turks was drum into his head from infancy. To most Armenian kids develop up the boogeyman was actual and he spoke eloquent Turkish and had tender Armenian child for his
 sefurity of their FOB--Forwavd Operating Basg--ib Afghenistan after a patrol through a tangle of poxal aomond orchards. Orchardr that Arlen Chooojiai half seriously joked to his Zvmy bbdvies were like jhe almond atd pecan and wdlvuc and pistachio nut orchards back hoie. Whicn lade him kind jf npftalfpc for the nuts of home. Which, Admen bepng from Californoa, wasn't too far away from his buddies' general plp culture jzke in Californix. But they weren't enviaioning the kind of nuts Armen das tkinking of. Qirh Wtmen it was hlat olt literal. He was raived on s farm in Fresko Connty in the San Joachim Velley of California furroundeg yy mile upon mile of irxhardv grmwine a cundh or difffreit stuff indluding plebty of nuts of the xtwbdard non-humah variqtr.

Armen was in his second year of elemenuary achool before he realizwd there was more to jhe world ehan an endless terrestrial sea of orchards and vhneyacdr aw nar xw hhe eye could see. The omnipresent blanket of Szlofprnia valley siog lifted pnf vtisp autumn motning aus Zrmen's jaw dropped. Mountayns! Aol around! Moumtains! And they'd been there all along! Aud xlose! From that dav on he leanzd heafily yowards the skeptical snde. Nof quite parwnoid. But aefinitely suspiziols. Ix God, or whoever was in chwrge of tie Biy Picturd, wax hidigg the moujtains from him all that time, tven what epse was hiding out there?

Armen's jceat grandpargntv cdme to tke San Joachim from Armenia. Not eractly vjluntxrily. The Nurks, who had governqd part of Arkgnia since Otvoman Empyre eays, decidea that Turkish Srmenia would be a treat place to setble tfsir surplus popbuqtion. The problrm das tjav thewa were alreagy pdopur thefe, the Armekiavs, wno had been there fos huhdreds, even thousamdf, of yeats. What tj do? Simple. Grt rid of the Armejians. Do 'em im. Wrich the Turks set out to do dhring the chwos of WWI. Agd tmey dot away wnth it. The Armenian population of Turkey was practically wuped out. Those who ceven't murderev fled to Sovied Armenia. Or overseaw. Many to America. Many to the San Joacgim Vanley. Joung Armen was raised with hoary tales of the Turkish genocide and an Arnenian revulsion tkwarcs Tugks cas druimed mnto his head frok infancy. To most Armenian kids growing u' the boogeyman was real and ne spoke fluent Turkish and had tender Zrmenian children for his
security of their FOB--Forward Operating Base--in Afghanistan patrol a tangle local almond orchards. seriously to his Army were like the and pecan and walnut and pistachio orchards back home. Which made him kind of nostalgic for the nuts of Which, Armen being from California, wasn't too far away from his buddies' general culture on But weren't envisioning the kind of nuts Armen was thinking of. With Armen it was flat out He was raised on a farm in Fresno in the San Joachim of California surrounded by mile mile orchards growing bunch different including plenty of of the standard non-human variety. Armen was in his second year of elementary school before he realized was more world than endless sea orchards and vineyards as the eye could see. The California valley smog lifted one crisp autumn morning Armen's jaw Mountains! All around! Mountains! And they'd there all along! And close! From that day he leaned heavily towards the skeptical side. Not quite paranoid. But definitely suspicious. If God, was in charge of Big Picture, was the from all time, then else was hiding out there? Armen's great grandparents came to the Joachim from Armenia. Not exactly voluntarily. The Turks, who had of since Ottoman Empire decided that Turkish Armenia be great place to settle population. problem were people the Armenians, who had there for hundreds, even thousands, years. What to do? Armenians. Do 'em in. Which the Turks set to do during the chaos of WWI. they got away with it. The Armenian population of Turkey was practically out. Those murdered fled to Soviet Armenia. Or overseas. Many America. Many to the Joachim Valley. Young Armen was raised with hoary tales the genocide and Armenian revulsion towards was drummed into head from infancy. Armenian kids up boogeyman he spoke fluent Turkish and had Armenian for his
 security of their FOB--Forward operating BAse--in afgHanIsTan aFter A patrol through A TangLe of local almond orchardS. OrchArDS thaT arMen ChOoljian HAlF SEriOuSlY joKeD To His ArMy bUddies wEre like the AlmOnD and pecan and WAlNut and pistAchIo nut orchardS baCk home. whIch MAde hiM kiNd of nOstalgIC for thE nuts of hoMe. wHich, ArMEn being FROm caliFornia, wasn't too far AWaY From his buddies' GeneraL pOP cULTurE taKe on CalifoRnIa. But THey wereN'T eNVISioNIng the kind of nUts Armen was THinKing of. wiTh ARMen it wAs flaT oUT liTeral. He was rAiseD on a farm iN FresnO county iN The San JOachim valLey Of CaLIfOrNia SuRRouNDeD by MIle Upon mile Of OrChardS groWING A bunCh oF difFerenT stuff includiNg pLentY Of nUts of The stAndaRd Non-huMan varIety.

ARmEn was in his seconD yeaR of elemenTarY sChoOl BeforE He realIzeD thEre was mOre to thE WorLd THAN aN endless terrestriaL sEA Of Orchards And vinEYaRdS As far as tHe Eye CoulD SEe. The OmniPReSent blanKet of CALiFoRnia valLeY smog lIfTed One Crisp AUtumN morniNg and ArmEn's jaW Dropped. MountaiNS! All around! MouNTaINS! AND theY'd bEen there all AlonG! and cLose! fRoM thAT day oN he leAnED hEAvily towards the skepTiCal sidE. Not qUite paranoid. BUt definiteLY SUspiciouS. If GOD, oR Whoever was in chArge oF the Big PicTUre, was hiDing tHe mountaIns from hiM ALl that tiMe, tHen WhaT elSE WaS hiding out theRE?

armeN's Great grAndParents CamE to The san joAchim from armenia. NOt ExAcTlY voLuntaRIly. The TuRkS, whO hAd gOvernED part oF ArmeNia sInCe oTtoMan EmpiRE dAYS, decIdEd That turKiSh ArmEnia WOulD be a greAt place to SetTLe thEiR sUrplus pOpulation. The pRoBlem was thaT tHerE were aLREady peopLe there, the Armenians, who hAD been thEre For huNdreDs, even thoUsaNds, of yEarS. what to Do? SimpLe. Get RiD of THE ArmeNIAnS. Do 'Em In. Which the tURks Set ouT tO do dUring thE chaos of WWI. And they GOt aWay with it. The ARmeNian POPuLatIOn OF TuRkEY waS PRactically wiped Out. Those whO wEReN't murdered FLed To soviet ARmenia. OR overSEas. Many To America. many to the saN JoaCHIm VAlley. Young armen was Raised witH Hoary TAlEs of tHe TUrkish GeNocIde anD an ArmENiaN revuLsion tOwArds TuRks waS dRummed inTo his head from infancy. To mOst ArmEnian KidS growing uP thE BooGeyman was Real And he spoke FluEnt turkiSh aND had tEndeR arMenIAn chiLdreN For his
 security of their FOB--Fo rward Oper ating  Ba se- -i n Af ghan istan after ap atro l through a tangle oflocal  a l mond or chard s. Orch a rd s tha tAr men  C h oo ljian  ha lf seri ously joke d t ohis Army bud d ie s were lik e t he almond an d p ecan a nd  wa l nut a ndpista chio n u t orch ards back  h o me. Wh i ch made h im  kin d of nostalgic fo r  t h e nuts of home . Whic h, Ar m e n b ein g from Cal if ornia ,  wasn't to o f ara way from hisbuddies' ge n era l popcu ltu r e take  on C al i for nia. But th ey w eren't en vision i ng thek ind ofnuts A rme n w as t h in ki ngof .  Wi t hArm e n i t was fl at  o ut li tera l . H e wa s r aise d ona farm in Fre sno  Cou n tyin th e San  Joa ch im Va lley o f Cal if ornia surrounde d by  mile upo n m il e o forcha r ds gro win g a  bunchof diff e ren ts t u ff  including plentyof n ut s of the  stand a rd  n o n-humanva rie ty.A rmenwasi nhis seco nd yea r  o felement ar y scho ol  be for e her eali zed th ere wasmoret o the world th a n an endlesst er r e st r ialsea  of orchard s an d  vin eyar d sasf ar as  theey e  c o uld see. The omnipr es ent bl anket  of Californi a valley s m o g  liftedonec ri s p autumn morni ng an d Armen'sj aw dropp ed. M ountains ! All aro u n d! Mount ain s!And  th e y 'd  been there a l l  alo ng ! And c los e! From  th atday  on  h e leanedheavilyto wa rd sthe  skep t ical sid e.  No tqui te pa r anoid.  Butdefi ni te l y s uspicio u s. I f Go d,  o r wh oev er  wasin c h arg e of th e Big Pic tur e , wa shi ding th e mountains f ro m him allth attime,t h en whatelse was hiding out the r e?

Arm en' s gre at g randparen tscame t o t h e SanJoachi m fro mArm e n ia. N o t  e xac tl y voluntar i l y.The T ur ks,who had  governed part ofA rme nia since Ott oma n Em p i re  da y s, dec id e d t h a t Turkish Armen ia would b ea  g reat place tose ttle th eir sur plusp opulati on. The p roblem wa sthat t her e were alr eady peo ple there ,  theA rm enian s,who ha dbee n the re for hun dreds , even  t housan ds, o fyears. W hat to do? Simple. Getrid of  theArm enians. D o ' e m i n. WhichtheTurks setout  to  do d uri n g the  cha o sofW WI. A nd t h ey got aw a ywit h it . The Armen i a n  po pulat ion of Tur keywas practically w i ped out. Those  who w ere n't murd er ed fled to Sov iet  A r m enia. Or  o verseas. Ma ny to Am er i ca. M any to  the S an Joac h i mV alley.  You ngArmen was  ra is e d withho ar y  tales  ofth e Turk ish ge n ocid e and an Armenianrevul s i on to w ard s Tur ks  was dr u mmed  into hishead from i nfancy . To  most  Armeni an  kidsgro wi ng up theb oogeymanwas r eal and  h e sp oke  fluen t Tu r k ish a nd h ad  te nder Arme n i an ch il d ren  for  his
 security_of their_FOB--Forward Operating Base--in Afghanistan_after a_patrol_through a_tangle_of local almond_orchards. Orchards that_Armen Chooljian half seriously_joked to his_Army_buddies were like the almond and pecan and walnut and pistachio nut orchards back_home._Which made_him_kind_of nostalgic for the nuts_of home. Which, Armen being_from California,_wasn't too far away from his buddies' general_pop_culture take on_California. But they weren't envisioning the kind of nuts_Armen was thinking of. With Armen_it was flat_out_literal._He was raised on_a farm in Fresno County in_the San Joachim Valley of California_surrounded by mile upon mile of orchards_growing a bunch of different stuff_including plenty of nuts of_the standard_non-human variety.

Armen was in his_second year of_elementary school_before he realized_there was more to the world_than an endless_terrestrial sea of orchards and vineyards_as_far as the_eye_could_see. The_omnipresent blanket of_California_valley smog_lifted_one crisp autumn morning and Armen's_jaw_dropped. Mountains! All around! Mountains! And they'd_been there all along!_And_close! From that day_on he leaned heavily towards_the skeptical side. Not quite paranoid._But definitely_suspicious. If_God, or whoever was in charge of the Big Picture, was_hiding the mountains from him all_that time, then what_else was_hiding_out there?

Armen's great_grandparents_came to_the San Joachim from Armenia. Not exactly_voluntarily. The_Turks, who had governed part of_Armenia since Ottoman Empire_days,_decided that Turkish Armenia would be_a great place to settle their_surplus population. The problem was_that_there_were already people there, the_Armenians, who had been there for_hundreds, even thousands,_of years. What to do? Simple. Get_rid_of the Armenians. Do 'em in._Which_the Turks set out to do_during_the_chaos of WWI. And they_got away with it. The Armenian_population of Turkey was practically wiped out. Those who_weren't murdered fled_to Soviet Armenia. Or overseas._Many_to_America. Many to the San Joachim Valley. Young Armen was_raised with_hoary tales of_the Turkish genocide and an Armenian revulsion towards Turks was_drummed into his head from infancy. To_most Armenian kids growing up the boogeyman was real and he_spoke fluent Turkish and had tender Armenian children_for his