If you've already read my first article here on Odyssey, you would know quite a bit about the last 21 years of my life, but one key detail is missing: where I grew up! As I mentioned before, I moved to my stepfather's hometown once he and my mom got married, but they made the decision about ten years ago to move back to where my mom and I had lived prior to that and the charm of the town has stuck ever since. The funny part about having this opportunity to write articles is that it has allowed me to connect with many of my old high school classmates. Most of us have either already graduated college or are working towards a higher education and (judging by social media) have been feeling a bit nostalgic lately. To the class of 2015/2016 and all of my hometown friends, let's take a trip down memory lane.
1. Eisenhower Park is for more than just looking at the ducks.
Eisenhower Park is a staple for those who live in the Westbury/East Meadow area. For the majority of us, one of the biggest and most infamous parks on Long Island is just minutes away. This is a popular place to go to spend time outdoors and catch up with friends or family. What those outside of the town may not realize is that Eisenhower Park is host to many great activities, with one of my favorites being the summer concerts at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre. KC and the Sunshine Band was the highlight of last summer for my parents having grown up in the 70s. I enjoyed it, too--when the six-foot woman in front of me decided to sit down long enough for me to see the stage.
2. Living in Westbury is the best of both worlds: not as hectic as city life, but never boring.
My aunt and cousins that are now living in Iowa visited recently and were so happy for the change of scenery. Based on what they told me about living in their small town, the nearest stores are at least an hour's drive away. There is not much aside from corn growing and empty, green fields. The biggest complaint that my mom has when we go into New York City to see my cardiologist is that it is too fast-paced for her. She says she could never live in an environment like that. To a certain degree, I agree with my mom, but I just couldn't imagine living in a state like Iowa. I don't like being in my house for days at a time and would much rather be driving around town than watching TV at home.
3. You are always just a few blocks away from a store.
For us "Westburyians" (if that wasn't already a word then it is now), there are two main roads that allow us to commute to anywhere that we will ever need to go to. Old Country Road and Carman Avenue have dozens of stores along those never-ending strips of concrete, so you are never without the necessities. To my family, that's a coffee from Dunkin' Donuts; however, for you, that might be a slice of pizza or bottled water. Beggars can't be choosers, especially when we are known to get some pretty bad hurricanes.
4. Summertime walks (or rides) with family are the best!
Whether it's walking to grab breakfast with my mom, a cup of coffee with my older cousin or riding bikes to Carvel with my younger cousin, we can all beat the deadly afternoon heat while getting in our cardio. Who needs a gym??
5. Your friends' houses are only just a five-minute drive away.
Two of my closest high school friends live so close to me that I can say I'll be there at 1:00 p.m. and not have to leave my house until 12:56. We know each other's families so well because of this that I now have a surrogate Armenian family to cook me delicious meals and a friend who brings me gifts every time she comes over my house. I wouldn't have it any other way!
6. W.T. Clarke was a middle school and a high school all in one!
This is really going to bring back those warm and fuzzy feelings for all of my old high school classmates reading this. The worst part of moving up in the ranks of school is that you end up losing the friends that you grew up with. Not for us though! If you went to W. Tresper Clarke like I did, you could make friends in middle school and never lose touch with them because high school was literally right around the corner on the other side of the same building! I'll admit that it wasn't always ideal to have to see those that I didn't particularly get along with for seven years straight, but for the few friends that I instantly connected with, we were practically inseparable!
7. You can pick a favorite spot and stick with it!
Look no further than Westbury for anything that your heart desires. My favorite pizza place is only two minutes from my house. The same with my hair salon. Where my mom gets her lottery tickets. Where my aunt, uncle and younger cousins live. Basically, everything that I love is in Westbury and I'm betting it is the same for everyone else who lives here!
8. No one really cares about the difference between Westbury and Salisbury.
I've only learned in years that there is some strange distinction that divides Westbury into two different sections. If you live on the one side closer to Carle Place, then that is Westbury and anything else would be Salisbury. But then somewhere in the middle is Westbury? I don't really know how to explain it. I believe that I technically live in Salisbury. I say I'm from Westbury though. Last time I checked, Salisbury was just a steak.
