I love Nebraska!

I grew up in south-central Nebraska, right in the middle of corn fields and small towns as far as I could see. My hometown holds just about 1,000 people. Both of my parents also grew up here and my grandparents too. Family gatherings take place at every holiday just across town. Most of my extended family lives here too. We're close, almost too close for comfort some of the time. 

While growing up, I quickly learned that most of my classmates were less than pleased to be in this same pickle. This town was too small and too boring. Everyone knew your name, your parents and your life story. I can't count the number of times I heard them say, they couldn't wait to graduate and get outta this town! And after college outta Nebraska. Nebraska is too flat, too small town-ish and too boring. I wasn't too sure about this plan. I liked being close to my family. Being an oldest child didn't mean I was full of drive and quest for adventure. I was pretty content. In high school, I wasn't even so sure I ever wanted to move out. I liked my parents most of the time! I enjoyed living in a town where my family's reputation and general knowledge of my life story was known by all. It made me feel content. In fact now that I'm married, I sometimes miss what many instantly knew about me when I stated my last name. But I've been trying to view that as a new challenge to create a reputation for this name and my new family.

I've also always loved the plains. As a child I loved watching the sunset across the corn fields. My dad built a barn when I was in high school, and I remember climbing up on the roof and admiring the view. That view was cornfields and big blue sky. You won't be surprised to learn my second favorite state is Montana. I love the open, grassy valleys and big blue skies! I also love the smell of corn and dirt in the springtime. It's so beautiful watching the fields turn green as they spring to life! And in the fall the smell of harvest fills the senses and makes you realize that hard work is being done. The harvest moon gives me chills. It's so big and orange! The man in the moon looks content in the fall. When I would drive home from college, I had to drive pretty much across the whole state. As soon as I hit the Wyoming-Nebraska border, I already felt like I was nearly home even though I was really only about halfway. Something about the land felt like home. I lived in Jackson Hole for a couple years and always got stir crazy! The mountains made me feel hemmed in. I needed out every few months!! I missed the wide open spaces of home.