For all of you who have grown up in a small town, you know what it's like to live in such a place. You love it with all your heart, but sometimes, the place can get on your last God-given nerve. But you would never change a single thing about it.
Living in a small town, you can never go out. You know what I mean. If you go out into town, or even your country corner gas station, you better be wearing a full face of makeup or your nice shoes because you are going to see someone you know. No one in a small town gets that lucky, going out and not seeing someone they know. Chances are, that if you do go out and don't see anyone you know, someone is going to strike up a conversation with you that goes something life this : "Hey darlin!. Are you related to (insert a last name that everyone in your town knows). I thought you were related to them! You are a spitting image of your mama!" Then, the next thing you know, they're telling you about their life story.
I love small town life.
You also must be prepared for traffic delays.. What I mean by this is the you-got-stuck-behind-a-tractor-and-that's-why-you're-late-to-work kind of delays. It has happened to us all. At this point, your boss fully accepts your "I'm really sorry, I got stuck behind a tractor again" apology. Especially when you are trying to get somewhere in a hurry, you always end up getting stuck behind a tractor. The tractor goes about 15 miles per hour, if that, so your creepin' and crawlin' behind them for who knows how long. Sometimes, the driver of the tractor is gracious and pulls to the side and lets you pass, and other times, the driver just keeps on trucking. And you, well, you're going to be late for work. Again.
Another thing about small towns is that there is typically one high school. And all of your relatives, I mean ALL of 'em went to that high school. Your parents went there, your aunts and uncles went there, your cousins, your friends, your 2nd cousins, the people who call you cousins but you're not remotely related - everyone went to one high school. So chances are, when you meet your high school teachers at the beginning of every year and they here your last name, they typically say, "Oh! You must be so and so's daughter. Yes I taught your father when he was in high school!" Yeah, this happens all the time. There is also a ton of small town pride, especially when it comes to football. No matter how bad your football team might be, they will forever and always have that hometown crowd cheering for them. If your parents, aunts and uncles, still live in the county, the typically still go to every home football game at the high school. When the football season starts up, the small business and restaurants have signs hung up everywhere, showing there support for the local high school. There's nothing like hometown pride!
If you come from a small town in the south, chances are you have accumulated an accent. So when you actually leave your town and head out into the big city, most people say, "I love your accent! Where are you from?" Especially when you go to college, many people tell you they like your accent and ask where your from. Having a southern accent is a great conversation starter.
Coming from a small town, life is slow and sweet. It has its pros and cons, but there isn't a thing you would change about it. It's where you grew up, it is a part of who you are. When you're grown and moved away, you'll never forget the place where you called home.
