Thursday, May 26, 2011

Small Town Lovin'

For as long as I can remember, I have had this internal conflict as to whether or not I was really a small-town, country lover or a city girl. I grew up with a family that hated country music and found most of Sevier County to be quite ridiculous, despite our love for small towns and being outdoors. I found myself convinced that I would love to live in the city, considering how much I adored visiting. Once I moved to college, I was surrounded by folks from the city; some who loved living in the small town of Ephraim, others who despised it. It took me a little time being around both to come to my conclusion. Although I still hate country music and going to the rodeo isn't on my list of top 10 favorite things to do (or 50, or possibly even 100), I can't deny who I truly am. Yup, I'm a country girl!

As I've lived at home for the past several weeks and prepared myself to move to the city for the summer and school next year, I couldn't help but realize all the reasons why I ADORE the Sevier Valley. And so, I'm here to share those reasons with you! I can't venture from my ridiculous list obsession, so here is a list of reasons why I LOVE my home town.
  • Being surrounded by open fields
  • The smell of alfalfa, wet dirt, freshly cut grass, and sagebrush
  • Listening to tractors cutting the hay on a summer night
  • Going down the canal
  • Watching thunderstorms from the front porch
  • Being able to see the entire night sky from your back step
  • Living on a dirt road
  • Waving to everyone, even when you don't know them
  • Seeing cars left running in the Wal Mart parking lot
  • Cow parades :)
  • Going running next to the canal
  • Late night walks by yourself without worrying about anything
  • ALWAYS seeing someone you know at the grocery store
  • The cute old ladies at church who tell you how beautiful and grown up you are
  • Seeing yards that look like a constant yard sale and mechanic service station
  • Cows. Period. (They smell MUCH better than turkeys...)
  • Waking up to birds churping outside your window
  • Not having to drive anywhere to go star gazing
  • Fires and picnics up the canyon
  • Four-wheeling :) 
  • Riding in the back of the truck
  • Knowing everyone at your high school (and their parents, siblings, and where they live)
  • Constantly being surrounded by people who truly know you and who will ALWAYS care about you
  • Getting stuck behind the two old men who are stopped in the middle of the road, yelling into the other's window
  • Bike rides around town
  • Seeing all the baby animals in the spring-time!
  • Being able to wear a t-shirt and jeans every day and not caring about wearing the latest fashions
  • The view of the valley from Jo-Town hill
  • Holiday celebrations (especially the 4th and 24th of July)
  • Parades filled with trucks, four wheelers, llamas, and old cars
  • Having tractors, 4 wheelers, and rhinos be acceptable modes of transportation
  • Not having sidewalks or street lights
  • The sights and sounds of sprinklers in the fields
  • Having deer in your back yard
  • The county fair
  • The fact that bunny-bashing is an acceptable activity for a date
  • Having the rodeo and demolition derby be the biggest events of the year
  • Riding in the truck with the windows down and baseball cap on
  • The old men who ride around on their four wheelers doing everything they can for the town, because they just can't stand to sit around
  • Having Wal Mart be the ultimate hang out location (and BEST white-trash spotting location)
  • Yummy water!
  • Always feeling safe
  • Going to the carnival and seeing everyone you know there
  • The most entertaining single's ward!
  • Being able to walk outside in ridiculous clothes, because you know no one will see you
  • You know where all the cops hang out and which places you can/cannot speed
  • How everything is desolate on Sundays
  • Getting stuck behind sheep, tractors, or old folks out for their Sunday drive
  • Knowing which town someone is from by their last name
  • Hearing cars referred to as "outfits" and other hick phrases

Sure, there are some things about small towns that I'm not so fond of. I still love to visit the city and look forward to living there very soon! But I have a love for this place deep in my heart that has remained despite my years of denial. Small towns certainly aren't for everyone, but they're definitely for me! Sevier County, this one's for you :) 

2 comments:

  1. I couldn't agree more! I have never thought of myself as a country girl until I moved to the city for the summer. I miss every single thing on your list!

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  2. Do you really think bunny-bashing is a good thing to have for date activity, or do you just think it's funny? And you can dress in whatever you want no matter where you live. At least that's what I do...maybe I'm just a rebel :)

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