There’s something about living in the town where you grew up.
I can’t deny that I have always had a bit of a yen to live elsewhere, but at the end of the day, I know we’re here for good.
And that’s okay, because there is a definite awesomeness to pulling out of a parking space at a store and having your sister-in-law pull in.
Something cool about leaving a note on your Dad’s car when you see it in a spot near the library where you and the kids decided to go on a whim.
Something cool about working in the schools you went to as a child.
I’ve written before about how I teach in the middle school where I went, and there are a million memories there.
This week, I had to do some things over at the school where I went to 4th-6th grade.
It was another trip down memory lane.
Erin and I used to play outside at recess and we called that spot in the field our “patch.”
I can’t believe it’s still there.
I ran right into the corner of the building right here and split my chin open.
My desk was in the back row in this classroom, in 4th grade, and I used to open the window when the teacher wasn’t looking (they have since replaced the original 1932 windows we had) and it used to drive her crazy.
Sean Hennessey pulled my hoop earring right through my ear in exactly this spot on the blacktop behind the school during recess.
Memory lane.
Just cool to be able to do these things.
I never tire of saying “Hey guys…that’s where me and Daddy met! Look! That’s the house Mommy grew up in!”
They certainly tire of hearing it.
There is much to be lauded about the area in which we live, but this…familiarity…it’s definitely a reason why we stay.
my bookbag got puked on on that blacktop one morning in 6th grade, still lives with me after 30 years. LOL
Comment by tanya — July 16, 2013 @ 7:04 am |
Ahahaha!
Comment by Amy — July 17, 2013 @ 8:07 pm |
I have to admit I think that is really cool. I don’t live in the same town I grew up in and sometimes I miss that…
Comment by Lissa — July 16, 2013 @ 7:19 am |
THanks, Lissa!
Comment by Amy — July 17, 2013 @ 8:06 pm |
It is very cool! And who knows, maybe your kids will be saying the same things to their kids one day!
Comment by anna — July 16, 2013 @ 9:26 am |
I hope so, because that would mean they lived near me! 🙂
Comment by Amy — July 17, 2013 @ 8:06 pm |
Hate to go all revisionist history here, but didn’t we only go to Alexander Hamilton for 6th grade? I know that 4th grade was definitely at Lafayette School (before it was the Learning Center) but can’t remember which school was 5th grade. Anyway, I can relate to those feelings of nostalgia each year when ee have our wrestling practices at Frelinghuysen.
Comment by Dan — July 17, 2013 @ 11:59 pm |
Dan, You are right. The high school had become overpopulated and we had to go to 6th grade at LLC. I am pretty sure that 5th was at AH because I remember band lessons for more than a year in that auditorium, but I know 6th was at LLC because THAT auditorium was where Joe Morelli tripped me during an awards assembly. I still always consider myself an Alexander Hamilton kid. 🙂
Comment by Amy — July 18, 2013 @ 6:25 am |