"The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back." ~Wendy Wunder

Thank you for making me into the person that had the courage to leave you. Now I'm lost in a city, finding myself.

From the day I entered high school, I knew that I wanted to leave you. You were never going to be enough for me, with your one movie theater and bowling alley. Quickly, I started to hate you.

I hated that I always saw people I knew when I was out.

I hated that I had to drive half an hour away to shop or do anything fun.

I hated that you had a bad reputation.

I hated that I was a big fish.

I hated going to school with the same 40 people for my entire life.

I hated how so many of your places were plagued by memories, good and bad.

I longed to be unknown in a city full of interesting people.

Now that I have left, I find myself missing you more and more.

I miss my small high school where everyone knew everyone.

I miss the abundance of parks that you had.

I miss seeing someone I knew whenever I left my house.

I miss being able to drive on old country roads for hours.

I miss being able to go to my spot in town and feel completely at peace.

I even miss the smell sometimes.

Hindsight is 20/20 or so the saying goes. I left you for a reason. I needed to be unknown. You were and always will be too small for the dreams that I had in my head, but even so-- you are my roots. I will always look back on my time with you as a fond time, with good memories. You are where I learned to be who I am. For that, I will be forever thankful.