The time is come for moving back to Provo. Once again it is time for school. Time to start fresh, heading into the unknown. But I am so excited. I have a great roommate, and I have wonderful friends, the kind that make you want to be the best person you can be. I have a job and some of the best co-workers EVER. Pretty much, Provo is the best thing that has happened to me so far. True, the classes are the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but the knowledge and experience I gain each semester makes it so worth it.
While Provo is where I am supposed to be right now, I can’t forget how wonderful Alabama is and will always be. To me. Anyway, here is my top 10 for the wonderful state where I was raised:
10. Rain. I miss the rain and thunderstorms like no other when I am in Utah. For all you Alabamians, did you know rain has a smell? Yes, I never recognized it either until I was out in Utah. It’s so wonderful, and I love how it cools things off, at least for a few hours.
9. Coke. So much better than Pepsi. And everyone down here knows it. There seems to be some questioning of that…… well everywhere else.
8. Buggies. Yes, when I go grocery shopping, I use a buggy. Not a cart.
7. Swimming. Ok this is kind of exclusive to me, but it helps define Alabama to me because this was my life every day for 2 hours. And in the summer, all day long. Swim meets, swim practice, teaching swim lessons, coaching swim team, and my swim team friends. Those are some good times. Nothing builds a bond between people like suffering through a horrible practice together. We had countless inside jokes, and they continue to be some of my besties. Lane 8 foreva!
6. Fried pickles, fried okra, fried green tomatoes. Fried things. In general. It’s no wonder Alabama is the 2nd fattest state? (From what I remember, it is). Yes, I gain weight when I come home. But it’s worth it. Also, the fact that most things on my top 10 are food items might be an indication…. Haha.
5. Jeff/Slaughter road. The road of my life. On this road is, conveniently, my elementary, middle, and high school, as well as my church, and just a few miles off of it, the pool I practiced at. On this road I drove for the first time ever, I hit a raccoon, and I got swooped on by a hawk out of the corn, as my sister likes to remind me. Also, I like road names. I think they’re a lot of fun. I mean come on, Slaughter road? And little did you know, I already lived on Mt. Zion before I even went out to Utah.
4. Greenbrier. Best. Southern. Restaurant. Ever. Endless hushpuppies? Yes, please. Whitesauce? You know what, that deserves a category all on its own.
3. Whitesauce. YUM! The best topping for your BBQ. Really. It’s so delicious. Also, what exactly is BBQ? Many people don’t understand. It’s not something you put on a pizza, it’s not grilled chicken with some sauce. No. It’s slowly cooked and juicy, preferably pulled, deliciousness. Super salty, and tastes best on a bun with some pickles and some white sauce. No coleslaw please. Life doesn’t get much better than a pulled pork sandwich and a coke, on a beautiful day by the pool.
2. College Football. Yes, I live in a college town, and yes, they have football. But seriously? Not the same. Especially since I have to work every game. Coming from the south where college football is a way of life, it’s slightly disappointing. I was amazed at how small BYU’s football stadium is. And how many people don’t watch the game when it’s on. It’s the second priority, right after God, down in Bama. And I miss the fall days where you hear the game reverberating throughout the house. The smack talk between people in school, the bets made, and watching people shave their heads or wear the team they hate’s colors when they lose. There aint nothing like it.
1. Family and friends. They are what make this place home to me. I love how although my life changes a lot, and I feel like a totally different person, every time I come back, I have the same friends I had when I left. I’m talking about the Young Women leaders I had, the Sunday school teachers, my parents’ friends, and of course my parents - all the people who were big influences in my life. They talk to me, expecting nothing less than the best from me. Their high expectations help me to have high expectations of myself, and that is what helps me keep on chasing my dreams. There’s not much that makes me feel better than coming home and seeing their proud faces.
So, good bye to Alabama until Christmas. I truly do love my sweet home. But it’s time to do a little more growing at school. One step closer to who I am becoming.
