You’re Gonna Miss This: Saying Goodbye to Your Home Town

“You get a strange feeling when you’re about to leave a place… like you’ll not only miss the people you love but you’ll miss the person you are now at this time and this place because you’ll never be this way ever again.” — Azar Nafisi
Leaving your home is bitter sweet. There’s a freedom in it, a sense of adventure. There also comes with a keen sense of loss. You cross that county line and your world is suddenly a lot bigger, a little more scary. Suddenly you don’t have the safety net of familiarity. There are things you’re going to miss.
Knowing exactly where the cop sits and what time his wife expects him home for dinner. It just makes things easier. We all know that speed limits are really suggestions anyway, at least in Pennsylvania.
Pulling into the bar and being able to tell who’s there just by looking at the cars in the parking lot. Because really, if you want to avoid that annoying kid from high school, this comes in handy.
That kick ass dinner you and your dad used to have breakfast at. Good food to get your motor running, you’ll catch yourself craving it, I promise. (KickStart, this is you guys!)
Those people you’re not quite friends with but you sometimes end up having really great conversations with. You know the ones you would never call on a friday night to hang out, but when you run into them at the bar or the bank you end up walking away wondering why you’re not actually friends with them.
Running into your ex and seeing the look on his face when he sees how well you’re doing. Is it a little petty? Yup. Is it satisfying? You bet your ass it is.
Driving down a road and knowing everyone that lives on it. It’s really kind of fun to beep at every house and hear your phone go off with ten “Did you just drive by?” messages.
The little general store that never has what you want but for some reason you keep going back. (Choconut Market, I’m looking at you).
The weird nostalgia that comes with watching your high school football games after you’ve graduated. Cheering on the home team is never the same after you’ve walked across that stage, but sitting in the stands after you graduate comes with a sweet wistfulness.
Asking your younger family members “What’s their last name?” to see if you know their friends older siblings. It’s honestly my favorite game. It makes it easier to warn them ahead of time too.
Saying “Remember the time..” and having at least five people actually know what you’re talking about. Reminiscing is no fun if you’re the only one that remembers.
Driving past memories. That feeling you get when you drive past some place and it just takes you right back.
Like it or not you have a history with this place. It helped shape you, helped you grow. A part of you is always going to live there, and a part of you is always going to miss it just a little bit.
