Dear Hometown,

You are the land of far too many dollar stores and currently orange cones.

With that being said, you are the best place to grow a family and the best place to be raised. Because of You, I had the freedom to run outside barefoot or without clothes with no fear of anyone watching. The place where tomato fights were the best entertainment.

You have given me the best childhood and I deeply regret desiring to be separated as soon as I had the chance.

I want you to know I miss you tremendously. The charm of Your quiet streets with little to no traffic, the horse carriages, the tourists that never fail at making themselves obvious as they continually reapply sunscreen wherever they go.

My favorite thing about You is Your people and the comfort in the familiarity You provide. It makes coming home so sweet. When I leave you for any period of time, I am always welcomed back with the best shrimp burgers and scenery. The local Publix is filled with smiles and those wondering where I have been or what my life is like at college. I don't find myself to be particularly interesting but the people make me feel as if I am.

When I think of You now, it's quite contrary to what I thought of You even just months ago. You used to make me easily ajitated with how little You had to offer.

But, I'm sincerely sorry I treated you with such disdain. You didn't deserve it. Within a short period of time, I have matured a lot and my appreciation for You has significantly increased. I am now aware of how big of a role You played in who I am today. I can't even begin to fathom who I would be without You.

Because of You, the ocean is the place I find serenity. I have always been mesmerized by her distance and what power she had over me. Beaufort is the very place where my parents met, the place I found my forever friends and love for nature and all things on the water. You've given me an outlet to release all my stress as all my problems crash onto the ocean floor.

You are the very place where talent lies. The place where Pat Conroy wrote his famous books such as "The Prince of Tides." You are where I sat on my dad's lap devouring fried chicken counting dolphins or tubing nearly every day of each summer. It's the very place I learned to fish and drive a boat. I often think of those days, as some of the best days of my life.

Beaufort is filled with mostly sunny skies year around and hearts as warm as the Carolina summers. It's filled with drivers with little to no urgency and many people living in their own world.

Beaufort, I absolutely love your bridges that conveniently open up to remind me how beautiful You are, the beguiling woods that lead me to beautiful beaches, Your peaceful oceans filled with sea creatures and covered in sunshine, I love Your long winding roads that lead from town to the island. You are home to great eats. Alvin Ord's sandwiches, LT's, Fuji's and Shrimp Shack are just to name a few.

But most importantly, I love you. I love the people You gave me and how much You impacted my life. I am so grateful to have You no matter where life takes me.

Here's to You, Hometown. You may lack entertainment but not in love. Regardless of how long I leave, You are always here when I find my way back home. I am very much looking forward to our next visit and spending more time with You when I return.

I miss You.

Until we meet again

Your Low Country Loving Girl