Reminds Me of Home

From June 2007
This was an email (a "funny") that was forwarded to me quite a long time ago. But I printed it off once, because it reminded me so much of how life was where I grew up.

Small Towns
In a small town...
1. You can name everyone you graduated with.
2. You know what 4-H means.
3. You went to parties at a pasture, barn, gravel pit, or in the middle of a dirt road. On Monday you could always tell who was at the party because of the scratches on their legs from running through the woods when the party was busted (see #6).
4. You used to "drag" Main.
5. You said the "F" word and your parents knew within the hour.
6. You scheduled parties around the schedules of different police officers, because you knew which one would bust you and which ones wouldn't.
7. You could never buy cigarettes because all the store clerks knew how old you were (and if you were old enough, they'd tell your parents anyhow.)
8. When you did find somebody old enough or brave enough to buy cigarettes, you still had to go out into the country and drive on backroads to smoke them.
9. It was cool to date somebody from the neighboring town.
10. The whole school went to the same party after graduation.
11. You didn't give directions by street names but rather by references. "Turn by Nelson's house, go 2 blocks to Anderson's, and it's four houses left of the track field..."
12. The golf course only had 9 holes (if you even had a golf course!)
13. You couldn't help but date a friend's ex boyfriend/girlfriend.
14. Your car stayed filthy because of the dirt roads, and you will never own a dark vehicle for that reason.
15. The town next to you was considered "trashy" or "snooty," but was actually just like yours.
16. You referred to anyone with a house newer than 1965 as the "rich" people.
17. The people in the "big city" dressed funny, and then you picked up the trend 2 years later.
18. Anyone you wanted could be found at the local gas station or hamburger joint.
19. You saw at least one friend a week driving a tractor through town on one of your friends driving a grain truck to school occasionally.
20. The gym teacher suggested you haul hay for the summer to get stronger.
21. Directions were given using the one and only stop light as a reference.
22. When you decided to walk somewhere for exercise, 5 people would over and ask if you wanted a ride.
23. Your teachers called you by your older siblings' names.
24. You could charge at any local store or write checks without any ID.
25. The closest Mc Donalds was 25 miles away or more.
26. The closest mall was over an hour away.
27. It was normal to see an old man riding through town on a riding lawn mower.
28. You've pee'd in a cornfield.
29. Most people went by a nickname.
30. Your teachers remembered when they taught your parents.

Such fun memories! Some of these things are still true in my hometown. Some of these are true in the small town I live in now!