By the time I’m writing this there will be twenty-two days until I leave to go back to UNH. Most people are incredibly excited to get back into the groove of classes, reunite with old friends and get ready to party up another year at the U. I’m however not really one of those people. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to see my college friends, be back at football, go to parties and get back into the mission to fulfill my dreams, but I’m really going to miss home. Here are some reasons why I’m one of the few not ready to go back to college.

1. I’m going to miss home food.

As much as I love being able to have cheesy bread whenever I desire, I’m going to miss mom and dad's home cooked meals. I’m going to miss mom's homemade stir fry, dads grilled cheeseburgers and other homemade meals, like chicken curry soup with cheese bread sandwiches. I love being able to eat leftovers and have different options right at my feet whenever I want them. I’m going to miss being able to walk to my kitchen without having to walk through the weather or down through campus. The thing I’m going to miss the most about home food is being able to walk to the kitchen looking like a bum and wearing no pants with no worries.

2. I’m going to miss my nieces.

For those of you who don’t have those tiny little ankle-biters in your life, you may not understand, but for those of you who do, aren’t you going to miss those little boogers hanging around and talking complete nonsense to you all day? I sure am. Even though my niece is a little space cadet and is in her own world most of the time, I’m going to miss her. I’ll miss her curiosity and wonder, and her questions that never end. I’ll miss being able to keep things fun and innocent. I’ll even miss the rated G movies and kids shows that never actually make sense and convince kids they’re helping find the missing shoe or backpack on the show. I’ll miss my niece's little smiles and giggles, and how just an ice cream will make her entire day.

3. I’ll miss my jobs.

Now even though I don’t exactly enjoy my jobs always, I’ll miss my customers and coworkers. I’ve met some of the nicest people at both of my jobs this summer. In each workplace, everyone has been more than welcoming and great at helping me figure out how to fit into the job. I’ve met different people with different views and lives and stories. They’ve made my summer tolerable while trying to bring in the cash. I’ll miss my customers and the smiles they provide and conversations they bring to help me pass the time in my five or eight-hour shifts. I’ll miss cleaning and be trying to make a sale, and I’ll miss seeing my regulars whose names I’ve started to remember.

4. I’ll miss not having to be on all the time.

At college I feel like I’m always on, you know? Sure you’ll have a lazy Sunday, but are you ever really alone and can relax? I feel like when I’m there I’m always surrounded by someone or some action, and there is always something I have to do or will need to do. There isn’t a day where I can just be to myself all day and kick back and watch a movie marathon worry free. I’m not saying I hate being around people and socializing all the time because I’m an extrovert, I love meeting people and talking, but every now and then I miss just being able to chill and not have a worry in the world.

5. This reason is one of the biggest reasons, I’m going to miss home and am not ready to go back to college.

My dogs Fred and Annabelle. My pets are some of the hugest love muffins in my life. I’ll miss my dogs immensely when I go back, and I don’t feel like I’m quite ready to leave them yet. I live with my dog Annabelle full time, while I go visit my dog Fred at my dad’s. Annabelle doesn’t exactly love me as much as I love her. So I’m sure she won’t miss me when I’m gone. Every night since I’ve been home, Annabelle sleeps with me in my bed. Whether she likes it or not, I plop that little dog up with me and sleep with her by my side. We watch movies together, take walks, and I snuggle and kiss her endlessly until she runs away. Whenever I go visit my dog, Fred, he gives me kisses and bugs me ferociously for food. He curls up into a ball on small beds he can’t fit on, and I just sit there and pet him until he falls asleep. I love my dog companions and I hate having to come back each time I can from college and seeing them be a little bit older each time. Dogs are truly my favorite animals, and I’m crushed I’m going to have to leave my little sweet loving friends behind soon.

6. I’m going to miss my friends.

This summer I’ve started reconnecting with old friends and making stronger friendships with new ones. When I’m not working or laying around, I love spending times with my friends. I love going with my friends to movies, parties, or even just hanging out and making food and vegging all night while watching a couple scary flicks. Beach days, going out to lunch and even going to the gym with friends are things I certainly will miss. I'm lucky I go to school with two of my best friends so I won’t be losing them when I go back, but still, it’s not quite the same vibe. I’ll miss my reconnected friends dearly and can only hope that they will find time to be able to come visit me or I’ll be able to see them when I visit home.

7. I’m going to miss my city.

I love where I go to school, it’s cute and a small town, still filled with a little action, but I’m going to miss my city so much. I love that I live 10 minutes away from downtown. I am always able to see a movie, or try a new restaurant or visit old ones. I’m going to miss how lively Saturdays are when the local farmers market is happening, and all the tons of cute dogs that are out walking around town. I’ll miss the quirky weird things that always happen in Vermont, even the random naked man that decides to walk around town for the day. I’ll miss the roads and how friendly everyone is on the road to each other and my two lane highways. I HATE the highways in New Hampshire, and I LOVE my little simple two lane highways for our small little population in Vermont. I’ll miss our lakes and small little beaches that suffice enough for us. I’ll miss the local ice cream man that comes around, and Beansie’s Bus, that’s home to the best burgers and hot dogs in town. I’ll miss our happy hippies and just every little thing about Vermont, naturally.

8. I’ll miss my neighborhood.

I guess this kind of relates to number 7, the same as missing my city. I love my little neighborhood. I live in a condominium surrounded by soon to be, and recently retired folks. You could call it the old people neighborhood. It’s always so friendly and so calm. People walk their dogs around the green field we have and down around the perfectly set out streets and paths we have near our home. I’m going to miss walking my trundling little dog Annabelle around the block and watching her sniff all the same spots from the day before. It’s always been a safe little neighborhood, and I’ll miss talking and smiling at the older people I see every day.

9. I’m going to miss my little routines.

Every day is a little different but in a sense all the same. I’ll miss it being acceptable to stay up until 3:30am in the morning, and waking up at noon. I’ll skip breakfast and slowly get ready for the day, or not. I’ll miss being able to not care if I need my makeup on or not, because I feel like I always do at school, my own prerogative. I’ll miss being able to go straight to lunch hour instead of having to go to breakfast because I know I won’t get a break in between afternoon classes. I hate breakfast haha, even though it is the most important meal of the day. I’ll miss feeding my dog her dinner and taking her out for her last pee before calling it in for the night. I’ll miss scheduling days where my mom and I will catch up on our shows, and the days where I’ll make a plan to do absolutely nothing all day.

10. If not the most important reason on why I’ll miss home, my family.

I know I mentioned my nieces, but I’m going to miss my parents too, and my brother and sister in law. I love spending time with my parents and endlessly asking questions that stump me. I’ll miss talking politics with someone I feel comfortable with, and I’ll miss being able to be taken care of again. I love being independent I do, but it’s nice to be reminded that there’s someone out there doing all they can to look out for you. I’ll miss having my mom want to make me a home cooked meal if I had a long day at work, and I’ll miss my dad wanting to see a movie with me or invite me over for a BBQ. I’ll miss spending time with people who love me and always will, unconditionally, and I’ll miss having someone around that I know truly cares. I’ll miss seeing my sister in law and hearing all the dramas of work. I’ll miss seeing my brother and watching him grow as a father and become someone I admire. I’m going to miss my family and all the little things we do together to tell each other we love one another, without always having to use the words “I love you.”

So there are 10 reasons why I’m not ready to go back to school yet and don’t exactly want to in twenty-two days as of when I’m writing this. There are so many reasons on why I’m not ready to go, and the list of reasons go on about why I don’t want to. I know once I get back to school I’m going to love it and embrace it either way, but for now, I’m not exactly stoked on it. All the little things that happen in a day to me, are the little things that mean the most. The magic is gone of going to college, and now it’s just another year rolling on by. I’ll miss my home, but at least I’m only a drive away.