We all have that little place that makes us who we are. We call it "home". My little home is the good 'ole 413. People outside of Western Mass probably don't understand how much this little place means. All they see is Six Flags and UMASS. But it's so much more than that and it's something only we can understand. And there's nothing like moving away from home and trying to explain all the wonders of home to someone else. They just don't get it.

The fresh hell that is Big E traffic

We know exactly which roads to avoid for three weeks and exactly how to get there through the back ways. We also know exactly where to park for the cheapest amount. But aside from the traffic, we're all counting down the days until we can stuff our face with a Maine Baked Potato, drink too much beer, and ride down the Big Yellow Slide.

We know how to correctly pronounce Amherst

THERE'S NO DAMN H. Am-urst. Thank you.

"Oh, you're from Southwick? Like the zoo?"

No. Just no. Please stop, you're hurting us.

Summer House

Hands down the best ice cream you will ever eat. And where else will serve you dino-nuggets as a full grown adult. Let's all take a minute to reminisce about when the trains used to have roofs and we would jump off of them no matter what our parents screamed at us.

Not even fazed when you get stuck behind a tobacco tractor while driving

Nope. They're everywhere in the summer, time to accept that you're going to be 20 minutes late for work. But hey, your boss will understand because, well, it's western Mass after all.

Graduating with the same kids you went to kindergarten with

Graduating class of less than 150 right here! From diapers to grad caps.

Six Flags

Whether you knew it as Riverside or Six Flags you could never quiet understand all the excitement when I moved of why Six Flags was so cool? But I guess the excitement fades when you went there everyday of your summer life until you were like, 19. Majority of us even worked there.

"It's like (insert time here) outside of Springfield."

Because people outside the 413 literally do not know any other land form besides the Basketball Hall of Fame. And there's about a million small towns no one's ever heard of.

"Parties" are random gatherings in fields with a fire

And "going out" meant driving around blaring music with your friends because there was nothing else to do. Oh, you think I'm kidding.

Bright Nights

Is it really Christmas if we don't drive around Springfield looking at all the pretty light decorations? You're missing out really.

Fribbles

Ok, I know Friendly's are all over MA. But we had them first. And there's nothing like driving home from vacation or college and seeing that lovely Friendly's sign on the side of the Mass Pike.

Dr. Suess

We know more than we care to admit. He was from Springfield after all.

The October 2011 storm that cancelled Halloween

We also didn't have power or hot water for like 2 weeks BUT THEY CANCELLED HALLOWEEN.

And last, but not least my personal favorite....

Going ANYWHERE with your parent and they stop and talk for 4 hours because they saw someone they know

It's a small area. Everyone knows everything about everyone. My favorite is when they go "I remember you as a baby" and you have NO idea who the hell they even are.