Can't Take the Small Town Out of the Girl

I was thinking about how to end this blog.  This song, "Who Says You Can't Go Home" by Jennifer Nettles and Bon Jovi sums it up perfectly.  I spent the past 18 years of my life trying to leave my small town.  I felt suffocated and wanted to go out and meet the rest of the world.  I wanted to explore, to find a new lifestyle, to be on my own!  But the past year has shown me that as far away as I can get from my small town, I have noticed that I take it with me whereever I go.

I have noticed that regardless of where I am, I will always be a small town girl.  Countless times, I have had to go back upstairs because I forgot to lock my door.  I have walked right into my friends rooms without remembering that the polite thing to do is knock (of course, this has only happened to my closest friends though!).  Instead of wishing I had some Oragel, I have found myself wishing I had a shot of whiskey to numb my tooth.  I have had many conversations with my friends here where I realized the things I do, the words I say, the beliefs I have aren't shared universally. 

I have realized that living in a small town has been integral to my person.  I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for where I grew up.  I love going to the mall and dressing up, but I also love getting dirty on the quads or heading out for shooting practice.  Lilly is a part of who I am.  And no one can take that away from me.

I hope those reading this blog have been able to see how special small towns are.  I hope that they have been able to fall in love with my small town as deeply as I have.  It may be different, it may be uncanny, but it is pure.  I enjoy being in State College, but I can't wait to go back to Lilly in the summer.