I didn't spend all of my life growing up in the little town of Oktaha but I spent a lot of time there and learned a lot of things about small towns. Small towns have some of the greatest things and some of the worst things about them. I would never trade growing up in a small country town for anything and I am sure most people from Oktaha would agree. Here are things that hold true about our lovely town and may or may not apply to everyone but hold dear in my heart.
1. Veterans mean the world to us.
Every year we have a Veterans Day assembly to honor those who have served. I always remember being brought to tears and being humbled by the love our school showed to our veterans.
2. People literally drive their tractors to school.
I don't have much to say about this (judge for yourself) but it was never out of the norm to see a tractor out in the parking lot.
3. The parking lot is dirt.
We don't have a fancy paved parking lot. Sorry if your car is new, you can wash it later.
4.There is never a shortage of dogs.
Oktaha is like a dog magnet. There doesn't go a day when there isn't 5-10+ dogs just running around the street like it's no big deal.
5. Everyone knows everyone.
Literally, I graduated with about 50 people and could tell you all their names except maybe one. And I could probably also tell you their mom's name, dad's name, sibling's name, and maybe even their dog's name.
6. It's completely normal for a four-wheeler to be going down the highway.
This may be illegal but it gives you a great adrenaline rush.
7. You probably had the same teachers as your siblings or even your parents.
There are always teachers that have been teaching for a long time and they are also probably someone else's mom or grandparent.
8. You know what Coach Pittman had to drink that day.
Especially if you are a basketball player and are yelled at a lot (like I was), you know he never runs out of coffee.
9. Blackwell is your best friend but also your worst enemy.
This might be something I learned later in life but as many times as I thought I hated her and hated her class I never really saw how important she would be to me later in life.
10. On Fridays, we race.
There is no better way to spend a Friday night than sitting at Outlaw watching cars go in circles for hours.
11. If you haven't ridden a horse you don't belong.
You can walk 50 feet and probably find a horse and so if you haven't been on one you just need to fix that.
12. You own a pair of boots.
And you don't just wear them to look cute. You wear them with your shorts, your dresses, your skinny jeans, and even your pajamas.
13. The word family means something different.
Your family isn't just the people that share the same blood as you. They are the 50 other kids in your class, the staff, the kids on your team, and the kids in each of your classes.
14. You can expect a "holiday" when a team makes it to the state tournament.
Supporting our sports teams is something we take pride in and so being able to not be absent from school to go and travel to watch them or even just getting two days off is always a fun time.
15. Friday night lights mean something different.
Our lights come on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and even Fridays. Whatever day there is a basketball game you can expect the stands to be full with everyone from the community.
16. The best place to eat is the gas station.
Mostly because it is the only place to eat without leaving the town.
17. You hate it but you love it.
As much as we wanted out when we were in school, we also know we always have a place to call home when we need it.
