What was the use of my having come from Oakland it was not natural to have come from there yes write about it if I like or anything if I like but not there, there is no there there.

Summary

This quote from Gertrude Stein's book "Everybody's Autobiography" reflects a sense of displacement and disillusionment towards her hometown of Oakland. Stein suggests that there is no meaningful essence or substance associated with the place she came from. It could be interpreted as her expressing a lack of connection or belonging to Oakland, and perhaps a feeling that it lacks any significant, genuine identity.