Friday, June 20, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Going Home - Seneca, Pennsylvania pop. 966
In just three weeks we'll pack up the car with food, videos, games and luggage and head "home". I don't know why it's still "home" when I left when I was 18 and haven't lived there since. I hold a special place in my heart for the area where I grew up, here's why.
1. It is beautiful there. I never realized until I left how unique and special the area is. In the fall we would drive through mountains covered with the most vivid colored trees that it looked like they were on fire. And we didn't have to make a special trip to see them, we passed them on our way to work. In the winter, the melting snow would form icicles that were as tall as buildings on the sides of the cliffs. Somehow, people dyed the ice different colors, I still don't know who or how. That is something most people will never see.
2. All of the roads are windy. All of them. And they were all still only 2 lanes the last time we were there. Unless we were setting out for an hour or more trip to Erie or Pittsburgh, I only ever drove on one road that was more than 2 lanes. That one was, of course, known as "the four lanes".
3. Everybody knows everybody. Well, I'm sure they don't, but sometimes it really seemed like it. And I'm sure everyone I still know who lives there, still lives in the same house.
4. When I lived there, we had 3 traffic lights. Two at the mall and one by the supermarket. Until I turned 12 and we got the mall, there was just one. Now I can't get to 7-11 or the grocery store or work or school or ANYWHERE without going through lots of lights. It sure would be faster without them!
5. Cows. We saw cows everyday. It's not that it was very exciting. It's just that my kids only see cows when we drive for an hour or more. Actually, I think we could smell them everyday, too. So maybe less cows is an improvement.
6. Friends and family. Childhood memories. High school and youth group. Great grandma's house that literally hangs on a cliff. Roller skating, sled riding, swimming in a lake. Conneaut Lake Park and Canadohta Lake. Bucktails day camp. It's more of a journey to the past than it is a drive of 10 hours. I guess it's worth it.
1. It is beautiful there. I never realized until I left how unique and special the area is. In the fall we would drive through mountains covered with the most vivid colored trees that it looked like they were on fire. And we didn't have to make a special trip to see them, we passed them on our way to work. In the winter, the melting snow would form icicles that were as tall as buildings on the sides of the cliffs. Somehow, people dyed the ice different colors, I still don't know who or how. That is something most people will never see.
2. All of the roads are windy. All of them. And they were all still only 2 lanes the last time we were there. Unless we were setting out for an hour or more trip to Erie or Pittsburgh, I only ever drove on one road that was more than 2 lanes. That one was, of course, known as "the four lanes".
3. Everybody knows everybody. Well, I'm sure they don't, but sometimes it really seemed like it. And I'm sure everyone I still know who lives there, still lives in the same house.
4. When I lived there, we had 3 traffic lights. Two at the mall and one by the supermarket. Until I turned 12 and we got the mall, there was just one. Now I can't get to 7-11 or the grocery store or work or school or ANYWHERE without going through lots of lights. It sure would be faster without them!
5. Cows. We saw cows everyday. It's not that it was very exciting. It's just that my kids only see cows when we drive for an hour or more. Actually, I think we could smell them everyday, too. So maybe less cows is an improvement.
6. Friends and family. Childhood memories. High school and youth group. Great grandma's house that literally hangs on a cliff. Roller skating, sled riding, swimming in a lake. Conneaut Lake Park and Canadohta Lake. Bucktails day camp. It's more of a journey to the past than it is a drive of 10 hours. I guess it's worth it.
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