Ask any teenager or college student returning home for a weekend, and you'll hear the same thing every time: "There's nothing to do here."
Most of our free time is dedicated to cruising down main roads or back roads and trips to our limited amounts of food establishments. To pass the time even more so, we Snapchat it as if everyone else nearby isn't doing something similar.
Here are some snaps I know my small town can relate to:
1. Walmart shenanigans.
The "go-to" thing to do around Hiawatha is to probably walk about Walmart. You can sift through the clearance section, try on 20 types of nail polish, fill a basket with every type of sour candy or ice cream treat, play hide-and-go-seek in the clothing department, and if you're really having a good time, you'll get kicked out. Tip: they don't particularly like when you hide behind bags of dog food or inside the shelves of the hunting department. But like, it's fine if you cartwheel from one side of the bread isle to the other.
2. Sonic shakes past 8 p.m. — or before. It doesn't matter.
Someone is always craving ice cream or fast food, and Sonic is the place for that. Plus, you'll most likely find some friends there, sitting in the stalls and waiting for their ice cream too.
3. McDonald's for backup ice cream or fries.
Sonic might have amazing shakes, but their ice cream machine is out of order at least once a month it seems. Thank goodness for McDonald's just right down the road! (Plus, the fries are better here anyways. After awhile, you get a feel for your hometown's food quality.) Sonic or McDonald's are usually the most happening places to spot your friends.
4. Art around town.
Hiawatha has come up with some artsy murals around town, which are fun to drive by and look at, but then there's art like this that everyone overlooks.
Just kidding, it's just another thing small town backroads are prone to: kids with spray paint even though they're probably not old enough to buy it. So in other words, their parents' spray paint.
5. Races on 1st Street.
The truck drivers of Hiawatha usually initiate these altercations but races can spark up between any two cars sitting idle at a stoplight. They usually happen after darkness falls, and when you hope the cops are on the other side of town. First street is the best street for races.
6. Gus' or Mexican food for dinner?
The other restaurant halfway across town is our Mexican restaurant. It's really a blessing because when someone is craving tacos or cheese dip, we no longer have to drive 30 minutes to a neighboring town to get our fix! Personally, Gus' is my family's default. Their ranch dressing is a sin.
7. Cruise.
The town is dead, the streets are empty, and it's the perfect time of day to roll down the windows on your car and blare music that you know all the words to. All you need is a friend or two to enjoy it with.
8. Not that bad, I guess.
We may complain a lot, but small towns have their perks too. Hiawatha is fairly close to more exciting towns like St. Joseph, Kansas City, Manhattan, and Topeka, so if we're that bored, we can take a fun road trip. I will admit, though, that coming home to a "boring" town is peaceful and much needed at hectic times in life. Plus, the views are much different than you'll ever find in a bustling city.
