Dear Hometown,

I never realized how much you were apart of me. Most of what I associate myself with, I associate with you- my hometown.

I’m sorry for wishing to leave you for so many years. I always wanted to get out and move on from my small beach town. Now I'm in college and would give anything to live 10 minutes from the beach again, down the street from my best friend and eat at my favorite restaurant when I’m craving it the most.

Leaving you was one of the hardest goodbyes because, in you, you hold every single goodbye- all my favorite places, people and memories. Driving away from everything I’ve ever known, the only place I’ve ever lived, was crippling. However, leaving was one of the best things that has happened to me. Leaving made me appreciate you, my hometown, more than I could have ever expected.

I find myself longing for the beach after school, craving chicken tenders from the local pub and dreaming of late night drives around the place I know the best with the people I love the most. I know I will make great memories in my new town, but the ones I made in my hometown will always live on in my heart. I’m so excited for every little girl and boy who gets to grow up in a hometown where growing up is so fun and filled with life and love.

I want to say thank you. Thank you to my little hometown for making me the person I am and helping build my identity. I am me because of you and the people who live in you. Thank you for preparing me to move on to a new city, where everything is bigger and faster.

Most of all, thank you for always giving me a place to call home.

Love,

A Forever Resident at Heart

(Inspired by Ormond Beach, FL)