Floral Park is a small town with enormous love. Over 15,000 people live in the same 1.3 square mile as me, and I wouldn't change it for the world. So, every time I leave it gets harder and harder, and anyone in Floral Park will understand why:

1. Village Pizza

God bless good New York pizza, and God bless Mr. Corteo for making it so good. From running there after school in elementary school to praying they are open late on Saturday nights, Village Pizzeria never fails to put a smile on my face. Especially when there is a freshly made buffalo chicken slice.

2. My Three Sons

What can I say except, thank you for making my Sunday mornings a little more bearable. A bacon, egg and cheese is just not the same anywhere else.

3. Seeing everyone and their mother every time you step into Associated

If you ever want to know the town gossip just spend some time in the aisles of Associated. You never will make it in and out without seeing a multitude of different families. It is like the gathering ground for all, especially after Sunday Masses.

4. Swing the Tea Pot

Best chicken caesar salad wrap you will ever have, period. Nothing has ever compared, and nothing ever will. Also, may I mention the french toast. Oh, how I miss your amazing food.

5. Everything is walking distance

Have to get your nails done, walking distance. How about you need to pick up a kid from school, walking distance. Oh, wait what if you need to get to the train, walking distance. No matter what part of town you are in, I promise, you can make it to the other side of town in 20 minutes or less.

6. Tulip Sweet Shop

Two words: Easter bunnies. Hershey chocolate from the convenient store just doesn't cut it anymore. Sometimes I just want a bag of candy and that just isn't possible without Tulip Sweet Shop. Did I mention their Easter bunnies are amazing?

7. Liz's Day

It is a full day of fun for everyone. Mom's get to enjoy shopping in the raffle baskets. Kids get to run around playing in the different jumpy castles and hay mounds, and everyone else gets to have a beer with some friends. It is a day we all come together for an amazing cause, and always regret missing.

8. Having your best friend right down the block

I miss the days where I could walk to my friend's house during a snow day, and watch movies together, or when we would have an amazing block party because all of us lived on the block anyway. There was no such thing as having our parents drive us anywhere. They just knew that if we weren't home, we were with each other at someone else's house.

9. Manor Deli: especially, the famous Manor Brew

Sometimes people just crave a good deli sandwich. No, I crave a good Manor Deli sandwich. There is a big difference people. The brew that changed my appreciation for iced tea and lemonade goes to the manor brew. It is just so perfectly matched that no matter how thirsty you are, you are coming out of that deli with a large cup of it in hand. Also, the brew is a perfect match to a My Three Sons BEC.

10. Most importantly, the love we have for each other

The love that bleeds out of every Floral Park resident is unimaginable. We have had our fair share of tragedies over the years, sadly, but what we can always count on is the backing of the town. If someone is sick you know there will be food at the front of that person's door the next day. If there is a fire, that family will have a go fund me page set up before the next morning. Also, the love behind the Hance Family Foundation, Aiden's Army, Jamie and Paige Malone Foundation, and the list goes on is powerful. I love our town and everyone residing in it.

Floral Park is more than just a town on my address. It is my home, and forever will be. No matter where I end up in the world Floral Park will always be "A Great Place to Live".