Growing up in a small town and then moving to a bigger area made me realize not everyone understands certain things that you do. So this one is for all of the people who grew up in a small town and know what I'm talking about.
1. FFA means Future Farmers of America, it's not just a Call of Duty abbreviation.
2. Driving around town, and on backroads, is one of the main activities to do with your friends.
3. Movie theaters? Nope, none of those. Gotta save up your money and travel half an hour or more to get to one.
4. More times than not, you're involved in more than one sport. Otherwise, there would be no sports.
5. When people ask where you're from and you tell them, it's usually followed by a, "Where's that?" or "Never heard of it."
6. City driving stresses you out. What do all of these lanes mean?
7. Everyone knows everyone. You have no secrets. Chances are your mom knows about you getting in trouble at school before you even get home.
8. You're on a first-name basis with all of the local store owners. You've probably even worked for at least one of them in your life.
9. You're bound to be related to at least one person within your town limits, other than your own family. If not your own town limits, then the next town over works too.
10. Consolidations are a big thing. Whether it's for academics or just for sports.
11. When giving directions, you give landmarks rather than street addresses. It's just easier that way. Even if people sometimes get confused.
12. Tractors on the road are a normal thing.
13. You've had the same neighbors your whole life and even give each other cards for birthdays and Christmas.
14. The majority of your classmates have gone to school with you since kindergarten.
15. Railroad tracks and cornfields. You either have one or the other if not both.
16. You've either been four wheeling, mushrooming, hunting, fishing, or swimming in a pond. Maybe even all five.
17. Locking your doors during the day? Is there even such a thing?
18. You never had to know how to parallel park or worry about getting in trouble for J-walking.
19. You can go on walks by yourself without having to worry. Chances are that if you run into trouble, you know someone who lives within walking distance no matter what area of the town you're in.
20. New kids were always big news.
21. Derby's are one of the main events of the year. The other is town festivals.
22. Trucks. Trucks are everywhere you turn. You know the saying, "Out of sight, out of mind?" Not the case here. You constantly are hearing someone rev up their truck as they go through town.
23. Everyone either goes to the same hair dresser, doctor, or dentist.
24. There's nothing quite like gas station pizza or a local restaurant. Just can't beat it.
25. Growing up you either had to listen to Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, or the Dixie Chicks. But now whenever you hear a song by one of those artists it gives you a warm feeling, reminding you of childhood.
26. If someone gets pulled over the whole town knows within at least 24 hours.
27. It was always a big deal if you made the newspaper for sports, academics, or from a local event.
28. Some homecomings are held during the winter because you don't have a football team. So basketball will have to do.
29. The town pulls together in a time of need.
30. Some will stay, some will go. Whichever one you are there is a part of you that realizes good memories were made and that your "small town USA" is always going to be a part of you.
