So you grew up in a small town? Well, you are probably familiar with your neighbors, hunting, fishing, gossip and local businesses. You probably know that there is truth behind Miranda Lambert's lyric, "everybody dies famous in a small town." You probably know the following situations all too well.
1. You know everyone and everyone knows you.
"Oh! You're _______'s kid" is not an unfamiliar statement.
2. News travels fast.
If something happens to someone, it does not take long for the rest of the town to find out.
3. You have an unofficial mayor.
This person is usually the source of the news. They know everything going on in the town.
4. Your family has history in the town.
At least one of your parents grew up there and their parents grew up there and their parents grew up there too.
5. The only things to do there are to go to the ice cream shop or hang out at the fire company or stop at the gas station.
You have to drive to the next town or to the city for something else to do.
6. You see your high school secretary at the store and she knows you by name.
Your high school wasn't that big, so the school faculty recognize you when you see them in public.
7. No one knows where you're from.
When people ask you where you're from, you have to give them the closest city.
"I'm from Reading."
"So you're from the city?"
"No, I live in a small town 20 minutes from Reading."
8. You went to school with the kids of people that went to school with your parents.
Like I said, everyone knows everyone.
9. Your town has its own vocabulary.
When you go to college, you realize half of the words people in your area say make no sense to people that are not from your town.
The swing you tie between a tree is called a "ham-mock" not a "hem-mick" where I'm from.
10. The city terrifies you.
My sister had a teacher once who refused to go to the city with her club for their trip because none of them know how to act in the city.
11. The fire company is not an unusual place to have major events.
Chances are you have attended wedding receptions, birthday parties, baby showers, bridal showers and rehearsal dinners in a fire company.
12. The town stops for hunting season.
Schools closing, people taking off work and everyone sitting in a tree is not an unusual occasion for the first day of hunting season.
13. You still don't understand why you had to learn to parallel park.
Seriously, there is no where that you need to parallel park.
14. Down on the farm day is a treasured spirit day at school.
People drove their tractors to school and dressed up like farmers.
15. You have a great support system.
Most people in your town are a part of the village that came together to help raise you. You have a great team of people who will always be there to help you.
