With just over 48 hrs in between flights I found myself on the corner of I just want to nap and wanting to squeeze out every last minute of visiting friends and family. Knowing full well I had to get up early to make my flight and even as the clock read 1:30AM, I couldn’t bring myself to leave my best friends house last night where a few of us were pouring over old photos and practically peeing ourselves in laughter (okay maybe it was really peeing ourselves for one of us, but I wont say who). I’m not quite sure why those pictures and memories never get old, but sitting in my friend’s childhood living room where we’d pose for many a first or last day of school and prom photo just put that warm feeling in my heart.
If you’ve never heard of Everett Mass, we are most known for our football, Richie’s Slush and now apparently even Eminem is now coming here to get in his bar fights.
I often joke and call my home the Dirty E, but it’s more of a term of endearment really. I love that as I scrambled to get a couple miles in on my run yesterday in our 2.5 square mile town and within two miles, I had stopped to chat with 5 people. Being gone so long I always think I wouldn’t know anyone, but clearly not the case. As I walked into dinner at my parents local I was greeted by an old classmate who I hadn’t seen in years. He was very sweet to compliment me and say I still looked 30. I enjoyed it for a hot minute, until he followed it up with “Did I tell you I was running for Mayor.” Always the politician that one.
I know my city is different from when I posed for those first day of school photos back in Junior High, but so am I. My high school is now used for movies and maybe its not quite as safe for me to walk home from my friends houses now.
But the one thing that hasn’t changed is that I never forget where I came from and how it’s shaped me to know where I’m going. Roll Tide!