Oh, Western Howard County… It’s like the largest, richest small town in America. Most people move away after high school, but there are some known signs that make it clear that you will be a HoCo kid forever. How many of these do you identify with growing up in Western Howard County?

1. When someone asks where you are from you just say HoCo.
2. And if they don’t know where that is… “Where are you from?” “Hoco. Howard County… It's pretty much in between Baltimore and DC”
3. Waking up early on a snow day and nervously waiting for “Harford County” on the scrolling news because you knew Howard would be next.
4. You would sit in awkward silence whenever you passed the huge Adult Video sign on Route 40.
5. A piece of your heart breaks whenever you pass the emptiness that was the Enchanted Forest.
6. You think everyone who went to River Hill is rich and everyone who went to Glenelg drives tractors to school.
7. You went to Double T with friends to celebrate a show ending, a team winning, or just because it was the cheapest and quickest place to eat.
8. RIP to the original go-to dessert spots… Soft Stuff and Mr. Teddys (admit you always want to try the Blu Goo).
9. The Howard County Fair was THE place of the summer. You possibly had your first “date” here… Which means you just hung out awkwardly with another group of kids. And bought a funnel cake.
10. Senior Week in Ocean City was the only thing keeping you going through senior year.
11. Everyone has a very strong opinion on what is the best frozen yogurt establishment… Tutti Frutti, Yogi Castle, Sweet Frog. The list and arguments are endless.
12. Outdoor Ed in middle school was the best/worst thing that happened to you. And the fact that the Blair Witch Project took place in the woods of Maryland makes it terrifying.
13. You either had or went to a party at Shadowland or Splashdown.
14. Driving down Route 40 now is like a foreign country… There is a Sonic now? A Goodwill? And a Walgreens RIGHT next to the CVS?
15. Going to the Columbia Mall and seeing that L.L Bean and fountain are both gone is like a stab in the childhood. Don’t pretend like you didn’t stand on the rocks of the fountain like it was the Lion King.
16. Begging your parents to take you to the Snowball Stand on 99 or Shavers during the summer. And somehow getting away with it.
17. Graduating at a huge concert venue seems so normal until you talk to someone who was forced to get their diploma in a tiny auditorium.
18. Expecting a 15 minute drive to get anywhere of value no matter where you are in the county.
19. We don’t have Wawa or Sheetz… We have Royal Farms. Or as us HoCo people call it, “Rofo”.