Growing up is hard to do. Half of the time we have no idea what is going on and cannot wait for that ‘golden ticket’ called adulthood, where we can do cool things like eat pizza past midnight. Yet, as kids, rarely do we realize how special it is to be a carefree child and that adulthood is a lot of work, taxes, and responsibilities.
It’s Monday, so you’re probably feeling especially ‘adult’ today. We should take a walk down nostalgia lane. While growing up in North Carolina is certainly different for each person, there is some universality to the experience. I’m sure you’ve had one of these sixteen thoughts while growing up here…
1. 4+ inches of snow predicted....I'll totally be out of school for at least three days!
Key word 'predicted.' Yeah, we're all guilty of anxiously waiting for that first snowflake to fall...and saying something like "well, it smells like snow."
2. Wait, why isn't my county in the closings? This is blasphemy...it's going to be treacherous out there!
And waking up each hour to check if it had actually snowed. Seeing above picture on the TV screen induced massive amounts of anxiety for our younger selves.
3. Another field trip to the zoo...
After about your first five trips, while still fun, the allure of the zoo kind of fades.
4. CAROWINDS!
I'm totally getting my picture taken on the NC-SC state line! Look, I'm in two states at one time!
5. I wonder who I'll see at the fair...
The opening night at the fair was basically a huge social event. Anyone who was anyone got their parents to drop them off (or take them) that first Friday night. Who cares if the lines are long, you have to be seen here!
6. Are you sure this is ok to swim in?
As little children, any body of water is an aqua utopia. Once you start getting a bit older, you start hearing stories about that one swimming hole that totally has leeches. EEK!
7. 2 hours out from the coast---I can totally smell salt water!
It didn't matter if it was a puddle of rainwater, any body of water spotted past Raleigh meant you were getting CLOSE to the beach.
8. Pizza!
No, not the food. The first golden rule you learn about skiing---pizza! AKA, turn your skis in the shape of a pizza slice to stop or slow down. I've pizza(d) many times at Beech when I was first learning to ski.
9. I'm running way from home to live at the beach
Each beach vacation, you really never wanted to leave. You plotted ways to stay forever and/or convince your parents to move there. Unless of course, you grew up along the coast..in which I'm still jealous of you.
10. Fruit just tastes better from the side of the road
Your family always had a beloved 'fruit stand stop' on the way to the beach. The watermelons were straight from Heaven!
11. I have no choice
When you grow up with the largest rivalry in the nation...you're born into which team you root for. You really don't have a choice. I'm pretty sure somewhere in my baby subconscious I knew I was a Tarheel. There are pictures of me as an infant wearing a UNC onesie...so, yeah.
12. Please don't make me eat these...
Here, they start you young on collard greens. Two words: acquired taste.
13. Do we really have to drive over two hours to go to the mall?
For serious Holiday shopping....you either had to go to Raleigh or Charlotte (unless you were raised there). As long as you got to see Santa you were usually ok with it.
14. I'm going to find the BEST pumpkin
Growing up pumpkin patches were the COOLEST. They were also the first official sign fall was here!
15. I'm going to literally die of boredom
There's nothing to do in this town, besides sit in parking lots, or go get ice cream, or drive around. I can't wait to get out and move to a big city where my life is always exciting and fun!
16. Wait, North Carolina is kind of cool
Once you grow up you start to realize how awesome North Carolina is. Maybe you move away and live in another state, or just mature and gain perspective. You realize North Carolina is pretty darn cool!
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