Home Sweet Home

There truly is no place like home. Nine hours, 564 miles, are what separate me from State College, Pennsylvania to Wilmington, N.C. I've been to the big city lights of New York and the picturesque old southern cobblestone streets of Charleston S.C. I've seen the monuments of Washington and the historic areas of Williamsburg Virginia. Yet, nothing can ever replace the euphoric  sensation of the sand on my feet and the salty seawater on my face that can only be felt on Wrightsville Beach. Many times I get asked " What makes your town so special"? "Why do you love Wilmington, North Carolina so much?" Too be honest, I didn't always feel this sense of belonging and enjoyment for my town.But now that I'm hundreds of miles away from home, I truly understand what made my hometown my home. I understand how living in the South shaped the person I am today.

It was a special place. A place where I could walk through the grass barefoot and ignore the ants and random worms. I would walk around the half acre of land in my backyard over and over again, feeling the soft sensation of the freshly trimmed grass or the cool mud after a rainstorm.  In that backyard, I nursed abandoned kittens back to health and watched them grow and expand their litters. It was the same place where my dog decided that a certain scent  he caught was extra appealing, and sprinted outside the gate and down the street and disappeared, only to come back an hour later with his tail wagging, because he realized that that place was his home as well. It was a place that was once decked out from top to bottom with Christmas decorations every year,  color corresponding to the furniture in each specific room.Even though things got busy as I got older, we still rushed to put up the decorations, the little clay houses adorned with carolers and storefront lights,and the tree, even if it was two days before Christmas.  I can smell the scents of Thanksgiving and Christmas, the smell of the candles and the annual prime rib. I can hear the classic tunes that would play from my great uncle's car every time he pulled into the driveway when he came back in town to visit.

It was a special town. So much time was spent in the downtown area every weekend just walking down near the riverfront admiring the Henrietta and the way the sun slid down behind the long bridge. Many visits were made to Kilwin's where I would always order the red chocolate covered apple, and immediately regret when I decided to change things up and order the granny smith version. Impromptu drive's towards the coast were a common occurrence just because I loved to experience the atmosphere of the people and the lights of the bars and restaurants from an outsider's perspective. I remember having such iconic memories such as being an Azalea Belle, and experiencing Airlie Gardens during Christmas as the once cherry blossomed filled trees were covered with Christmas lights. Every year was spent going to the Azalea Festival and celebrating the start of spring while taking in the various vendors. Fireworks occurred for every big festival and activity that took place in town.  It's amazing how one town that seems so small compared to the big cities, could seem so large and packed while waiting on the highway during 5 o'clock traffic or during a major event that took place downtown.

It has a special type of people. The friendliest most homey individuals are the one's that you meet while chatting in the line of a grocery store or sitting in the booth of a restaurant. The people who welcome you home, back into the congregation of church when you've been gone for 3 months. The people who have seen you grow up and mature and accomplish certain milestones in life. Southern hospitality that radiate's from the most unexpected places. Friends who have experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and have been by your side through drill meets, late night practices and early morning rises. The people who refer to you as sugar or youngin. The people who know  the perfect concoction for a great cup of sweet tea. The hipsters, old southern ladies, and country folk, that make Wilmington more than a town but a home.

The South made me who I am today. It molded me into a person who is compassionate, love's hearing a thick southern drawl and the smell of the outdoors after a thunderstorm. I've experienced the busyness of large cities and have always appreciated the slowdown of the country backroads. I've listened to the upbeat top 40 hits, but always prefer the rhyme of a nice country song. Being away from Wilmington has made me appreciate the neverending warm temperatures and the tourists on the beach because there are time's I just want to be able to sit on the lifeguard stand once again and admire the water or take long drives in the heat of the day to run errands with my mom, That town is the town I go back to on breaks and feel instance peace because I know it is home.Penn State is my temporary home but Wilmington will always be the place that I know I can always return to. It's hard to really articulate why the South is so special because it's something that must be experienced. it's not a region, it's a lifestyle. People may leave for a while but they'll always come back. It truly is a special place.

My Own Kind of Paradise

Wishing I was knee deep in the water somewhere

Got the blue sky breeze and it don't seem fair

Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair

Sunrise there's a fire in the sky

Never been so happy

Never felt so high

And I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise

The country music genre always takes the opportunity to capture the nostalgia that summer brings.The tides of the waves, barefoot in the sand or green grass and the ever present late-night truck drives, are picturesque of the South during the summer months. The summer months have always provided me with the best memories growing up.

The summer meant vacations and weekends(and weekdays) on the beach, which really meant going at exactly the best time as to not have to deal with hundreds of tourists. It meant that I'd have 2 1/2 months of uninterrupted time that did not revolve around AP classes,SAT/ACT prep, or any other school responsibilities. It meant time with friends, and late evening walks to the park to play tennis, or going to see movies at the outdoor shopping center. It meant late night sleepovers watching movies and lighting sparklers or making bonfires. It meant playing basketball at 1 a.m. and accidentally hitting someone's house and hoping you didn't wake anyone up. 

Summer meant walking in the illuminated lights of  downtown at dusk while listening to the cover bands play Lynard Skynard. It meant sitting outside on the deck of the local seafood restaurants with the back of my legs stuck to the plastic chairs during the heat of the day.It meant guzzling sweet tea or lemonade after helping my mama and grandma in the backyard. It meant late night trips to cookout with my friends past curfew.  

The summer meant family cookouts listening to the oldies and eating hamburgers.It meant going away parties and welcome home celebrations. It meant vacations to Bush Gardens in Virginia or Myrtle Beach.It meant overnight summer camps learning government policies,an immersive week playing classical music, or practicing drama productions. The summer meant 4th of July fireworks near the old battleship on the riverfront. It meant endless drives with my mama to the beach, driving around just because. 

Summertime meant countless trips to the local mall and spending hours simply window shopping and people watching.Summer meant flower blossoms and tall grass. It meant lot's of turbulent  weather but also lot's of sunshine. 

Summer meant crickets chirping and the noises of the frogs after a storm. It meant cloudless blue skies and burning concrete driveways. It meant early evening patio lounging with the umbrella up. It meant drive thru car washes to remove the pollen. It meant Coldstone ice cream melting off the cone before you even got a taste.

Soon,it meant mid-August school clothes shopping.It meant a new bookbag, converse sneakers and printed notebooks.It meant one more for old times sake. It meant saying goodbye to  friends as they started a new chapter. It meant storing away the summer memories and preparing for the new year to come. 

Summer was the season for new beginnings and adventures. It was a time for spontaneous activities and impulsive behavior. Between the months of June and late August, anything was conquerable.

This upcoming summer is my last summer to really take part in my youth before internships and entry-level work start to become the norm. This summer I vow to go back to my Southern roots and stick my feet in the ocean and listen to the squawking of the seagulls. I vow to play basketball at 1 a.m. with my friends and drive to the mountains to conquer that hike that once seemed unimaginable. I vow to not let the time pass me bye, to grab every second and every minute and make it count for something. I vow to go on those late night drives to the Bo's supermarket and have those bonfires on the beach. I vow to kayak and paddleboard as much as my heart desires. I vow to spend as much  time with friends and family. I vow to accept every challenge and light every sparkler. Though I'll only have 5 weeks of summer before I have to pack up and leave to work at camp, I vow to not forget the precious time of summer. I vow to hold on to the new memories and remember the old. I vow to stress less,live more,complain less,accomplish more.I vow to relive the summer of my glory days.

The Eye of the Hurricane

Some of my best memories living in the South, particularly in Wilmington, was the crazy weather that came to our area. Category 1 and 2 hurricanes, tropical storms, and random ice storms, were some of the weather conditions I grew up with. Sunny days and warm ocean breezes were nice, but the nontraditional impacts of weather is truly what make's our area so unique.

Tropical storms and hurricanes were the most fascinating.We would spend the day before the predicted storm time, covering up the cars with tarp and wrapping our outdoor furniture in industrial strength rope. The storm lamp would be checked for batteries, and a trip to the supermarket would be taken to pick up any necessities that we might have needed for the next few days.As the storm arrived, I would crawl into bed and watch the leaves of the trees blow in the storm winds. The weather radio would be on and we'd listen to the forecast.I had my first experience with a hurricane back in 2004 with Frances, and ever since then I was hooked. It was a natural weather occurrence for those of us who grew up near the water and so I was never frightened. It was an awe moment and one that was truly beautiful. The skies would be a medium grey and the air would look somewhat eerie. All of the electronics would be unplugged because the wind would cause trees to fall on the power lines, so I had to find alternative ways to occupy my time.When I was younger, my mother would read me stories by the lantern in the living room.As I got older I would use the time to practice my music, much to the chagrin of my parents, or I'd write. Though the storm was raging outside the walls of my home, inside it was peaceful and calm.

Another memory of the various weather patterns in my town,was about 3 years ago during the tenth grade. It was  unusually cold weather and an ice/snow storm swept through the region. We were originally only supposed to be out of school for 2 days, but 2 days turned into 7. My mother and grandmother stayed at home because their work had been cancelled as well. This was one of the first times that I had seen snow in about 7 years so I took full advantage of the half inch that landed in my backyard. My dog and I spent the day running through the storm, even though he didn't know quite what to do with himself, as it was the first time he'd seen snow since he was a puppy. Though the roads were extremely icy and the weathermen warned the townspeople to stay inside because of the threat of falling trees and branches, cars were attempting to drive on the roads. My mother, grandmother,and I, huddled into my mother's heated car and drove slowly to the gas station down our street to get coffee and hot chocolate. The only downside to the freak weather was that our school board decided to add 30 minutes to each school day until the end of the year to make up for our missed school days. But having that week to disconnect and experience nature and the snow for a while, was completely worth the elongated school day.

The South is described as one of the most beautiful regions in the country, With the historic downtown districts and horse-drawn carriage rides, I could see why anyone would want to visit. But though the beaches and the sunny weather and of course, the architecture, are what many see as the most alluring parts of the South, nothing is as unique as the different forms of weather we've seen in the past few years. The weather is what brings solace and allows you to look at your town in a whole different light.

Want a Side of Kale With That?

Pecan Pie.Strawberry shortcake.Fried chicken and cornbread.If you've ever lived in the South or have visited this region of the country, then these food staples will sound very familiar. "Comfort food" as it's most known as below the Mason Dixon line, is the main delicacy of the area. Restaurants such as Cracker Barrel and Bojangles are frequently visited my tourists and townies alike, just to get their fill of southern comfort food.

The stigma that many people hold who aren't from these parts, is that Southerners are extremely unhealthy and suffer from a lot of health problems.But what i've come to realize growing up, is that it really just depends on the individual.

Wilmington, N.C. and most Coastal Carolina cities for that matter, are very health conscience. Yeah we enjoy our corn bread and fat-laden collard  greens, but the next morning we're outside or in the gym, burning of some of those calories. Many people flock to our area just to get the chance to run on the beach in one of the many marathons and triathlons that have sprung up in recent years. Paddleboarding races and wakeboarding competitions have always been pretty popular.  There's not much to do in terms of inside activities, but if you like staying active in the water, or on land, Wilmington is always a great choice.

 My upbringing was one that was on the healthier side as well. My mother and grandmother always made sure that I had a plate full of vegetables and then watched me to assure that every one of those pieces of broccoli and carrots were gone from my plate.We lived near the water, so we ate lot's of baked and steamed seafood as well. Ask any kid in my town what they grew up participating in during school, and they'd probably name going to the beach riding bikes or swimming, surfing, most likely participated in some form of sport in middle school and high school.That was the average kid's upbringing. I fondly remember the summers taking tennis classes, or swimming lessons. Though I didn't do a sport in high school, I would go to my friend's neighborhood and play basketball or soccer. I would like to say that I did those things in order to remain healthy but it was probably more due to sheer boredom sometimes

But there were times in High School where I had to ensure that I was in the best physical shape. During JROTC practice it wasn't uncommon for us to do 100 pushups in one afternoon or be told to start sprinting around the track, even holding our 20 pound rifles over our head for 20 minutes at a time just because. Maybe it was because our instructor wanted to punish us for talking during class that day, or it could have been because he truly cared about us being the top competitors. I'm still trying to figure it out.

Growing up in the South does equate to eating some very unhealthy traditional cooking(I miss you homemade mac and cheese), but we truly do care about our health. Except when were outside, no one still wear sunscreen.

The Greatest Time of Year

Wilmington N.C. is filled with historic mansions, debutantes, riverfront festivals, and the somewhat famous,once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Azalea Belles.Towards the end of my senior year I was lucky enough to be chosen for this honor.

As the winter frost thins and the chirping of the birds increases, southern girls around the city eagerly await to see the envelope from the Cape Fear Garden Club with a letter inscribed with the words " You have been selected." With this acceptance, comes a one month process where 120 girls are transformed from everyday high school seniors to elegant Azalea Belles.

The Azalea Belle history dates back to almost 50 years ago in the year 1969. Mrs.Harley Vance,Cape Fear Garden club president during the time, introduced the belles as a way to represent our yearly Azalea Festival.The festival occurs one weekend in April right at the time that our azaleas bloom. And what better way to represent such an event than to have the belles, in their antebellum gowns welcome both townees and visitors to the various events.What was started out as seven girls in hoop skirts, has increased to more than 120 girls who have come to symbolize the festival season as much as the flowers they represent.

The experience that I had as an Azalea Belle was very much awe-inspiring. We started out in the beginning, in a large sanctuary at a church. We were handed our schedules that ranged from garden parties to the annual Azalea Festival parade. Then we were given a lesson in the do's and dont's of Azalea Belles or essentially, an etiquette class. The next step in the process was one of the most anticipated events; gown fittings.

Three designers are in charge of designing the antebellum-era gowns for all the girls.The best piece of advice we received was "make sure you are one of the first to choose your dress." Everyone wants the best dress because those give you access to the special events like the celebrity banquet that took place. Everything after that was a whirlwind. Many a Saturday and even Fridays, in which we got to skip our classes, were spent at various teas and gatherings, group pictures, and the ever important garden tours.Many owners of historic downtown had prepped their gardens all year long for a chance to showcase them during the festival.The Belles job at these gardens were to smile, take pictures, and represent the beauty of the festival. My friend and I would race from our second block class to downtown Wilmington or Greenfield Lake, where many of the events would occur. We had the opportunity to be interviewed and shown on TV for our parents and family to see.It was very much a star moment.

Going through my Facebook feed, I see posts of girls at my High School who are currently Seniors, going through the same process posing in their dresses and smiling at the camera. I reminisce at one of the best opportunities that I had in high school, and I desperately wish I could rewind those few weeks in March and April where I truly got to feel like a Southern Belle.

Sweet Tea(Need I Say More)

In North Carolina sweet tea is the drink that parches your thirst in the warm summer days, the first drink that you choose to order in any restaurant, and the drink that you choose to replace your oatmeal in the morning for breakfast. For every meal, for every hour, you'll hear the words "would you like some sweet tea?" And nothing sounds sweeter than that.

Sweet tea takes me back to the blistering warm days when family and friends would gather at my house, and my mother and grandmother would stand near the kitchen counter and stir the large gallon of tea. Taste testing is always necessary, because if it lacks the optimal sweetness, than 9 out of 10 times it'll end up sitting vacant on the dining room table, ignored by all the passerby's.The remainder 1 out of 10 times are for the select days when you've come back from running around outside and need the closest thing to hydrate your dry throat.It's better than Gatorade and is drunk like water.

It's the drink of choice at every homecoming and gathering at the local churches. Lemonade is at the table as well, but you only resort to that when the gallon of tea has run dry and another batch has to be stirred. When the waitress comes around to refill your drink you ask for "just one more please", but realize by the end of your meal that the same cup has been refilled 5 times.

You might feel like making a batch after watching Sweet Magnolias for the 20th time,but please remember that the recipe calls for 3/4 sugar to 1/4 tea.This is no exaggeration.Oh, and nothing is worse than Sweet n' Low or Splenda sugar substitute. It's basically like making chocolate cake with dirt, or without sugar.

The South has been the birthplace of some very sweet things.Coke, Cheerwine ( made in NC!), Dr.Pepper,Pepsi, and do not forget our tendency for desserts.Yet somehow, sweet tea has remained number 1 on our top ten list. It's so high on the list that growing up, rarely a day went by when my mother didn't have to curb her addiction by driving through the Bojangles drive-thru and ordering a large cup of that good ole' sweet tea. After many attempts to combat her addiction she finally realized that her happiness should remain the top priority.There you have it ladies and gentleman, the drug of choice in the southern United States is in fact, sweet tea.

Mom I'm Bored....Again

Growing up in coastal North Carolina, there was never any shortage of beaches.Topsail beach, Carolina beach, Wrightsville Beach, Kure beach and all the major islands, were a mere 10-25 minutes away from my house.In the spring to summer months that's where most of the local kids hung out on the weekdays as well as the weekends. If you were bored you went to the beach and spent the next 4 hours wake boarding,kayaking, or paddle boarding. If the currents were too intense, the different pools in town were the next best option. But once it started getting chilly outside and you couldn't enter the water without a wet-suit, the options to stay busy were slim.

See, Wilmington N.C. is a relatively large sized town with around 120,000 people and continually growing(that's one reason why it takes 40 minutes to cross town). You would think that there would be a plethora of hang out spots to satisfy both the locals and tourists. But sadly, once you've done it once you've done it enough.

There's plenty of shopping centers, but it doesn't take long to visit all the stores in one afternoon. We have a movie theater, only one, and it gets expensive to spend 8.00 on a movie every weekend. Everything seems to be catered to the younger generation, so as I became a teenager there wasn't much going on to take up all the excess time.So as I grew up in participated in every activity possible-chorus, orchestra,dance,tennis, etc.You name it, I probably did it for some time.Though dance wasn't the best hobby for someone with two left feet. But even those activities weren't enough to keep me occupied in this beach town.

Many times after school in High School, my friends and I would keep ourselves busy by speeding through the school's parking lot trying to stay conspicuous to the police officers who were always guarding the front of the school. Sometimes my friends would do something stupid like get their car stuck in the mud and then we'd get yelled at by our JROTC teacher. If we got too bored wreaking havoc on our school's property, we'd head to the park. The Northchase park was the closest but Greenfield Lake had more space. We would go outside and blast music while playing basketball and eventually end up at McDonald's or Chick-Fil-A. We'd go to the local Mexican restaurant or hang out at Ian's house who just happened to have a hammock and a really awesome dad. One weekend a grew of about 12 of us were at his house, one thing led to another, and my friend wound up getting a second degree burn. That was the talk of the class for the rest of the school year.

Wilmington is one of the most beautiful places you'll ever visit if you decide to stay for a vacation, and if you're a tourist there's plenty of activities to fill your weekend.I'll even give you a complimentary tour for free.But, for us locals, it can get very monotonous and dull.There's only so many lifeguard towers you can climb in a day. Let's just say you had to learn to get creative with the free time you had during the week.