I did not have the chance to go home for Thanksgiving, but my dad and I ate a thanksgiving lunch in my apartment at college. It was nice to see my dad, but as the last weeks of the semester approach, I have realized that I miss Waynesville as much as I miss my dad and my family.

If you live in Waynesville, you know that there are both upsides and downsides to the town. If you are in high school, however, you probably see no upside to living in Waynesville, and you might want to get as far away as possible. I kind of felt this way my senior year of high school, but not quite. I wanted to be away from Waynesville, but I did not want to stay away for the rest of my life. I can honestly say that I did not miss home until this year. Now that I have had time to grow as a person away from home, I miss the town I grew up in. Again, there are some things that I don't miss, such as the tourists and how small it can seem at times, but there are definitely certain aspects of home I long for.

The first thing I miss about Waynesville, and also a downside to living in Waynesville, is that everyone knows everybody. Growing up, I couldn't walk through a store with my dad without him stopping to talk to someone for what seemed like forever. Although it can be annoying, it is also nice to have those certain people that always remember what is going on in your life, and always want to keep up with what is going on.

The second thing I miss are the local stores and locations. I miss the local restaurants like Ammon's Diner. I miss going to Maggie Valley to buy plants, and I miss walking down main street. I miss local bookstores the most. It is always nice to go home and shop at Wall Street Books, because the owner always remembers who I am, and there is always something interesting to read and buy.

The third thing I miss about Waynesville is the football games and basketball games. I miss freezing in the cold while eating fried Oreos, I miss cheering along with the entire county, and I miss the big rivalry between Tuscola and Pisgah. I also miss my high school basketball games. I would give anything to play there again. When I get my teaching license I plan on teaching at Tuscola, and I can't wait to cheer on my high school again.

The fourth thing I miss about Waynesville is how beautiful it is. I know that it is extremely smoky in Waynesville right now because of the forest fires, but when it is clear outside, Waynesville is absolutely beautiful. Being in Waynesville makes me feel like the mountains are hugging me.

Lastly, what I miss about Waynesville the most is my family, old friends, and church family. Although I am only 30 minutes away from home in college, I never see my family. I also miss friends that I have not talked to in forever. I miss my church family, because that is such a large source of comfort and support.

Break is coming soon, but until then, I will have to wait to go home and see my beautiful hometown. I know Waynesville is changing, and every time I go home it will look more and more different, but for now, I miss it, and I can't wait to go back to see the town, my old friends, and my family.