You can live in a place forever and never fully appreciate its beauty. Even when we lived in Boston, coming home for visits to Arkansas never felt like much. It was the same place that I knew as a child, as a college student, and as a young adult. It was nostalgic, yes, but never really an exciting place to be. Now that our time in Arkansas is quickly coming to an end, I find myself taking the time to notice how sweet of a place that my hometown actually is. It’s funky and creative, and sometimes just flat out weird. The surrounding area is beautiful, and one of my favorite places to be. It’s a fun little state, and I am a little sad that it’ll soon no longer be my home.
I woke up Saturday morning excited for a sunny Spring day. I sipped my smoothie on the back porch and took some time to flip through a couple of magazines. I organized my grocery list and figured out what errands had to be taken care of that day. I slowly got ready and ventured out of the house, ready to walk the three quaint blocks to the downtown square for the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market. On my way out the door I received a text from the hubs, letting me know about a dog parade taking place just a short stroll away. I altered my route and took a walk down Dickson, watching dogs parade by, and browsing the eclectic booths that lined the street. It slipped my mind that it was the weekend of Spring Fest, a funky little festival that has been taking place in my hometown since before I was even born.
Once the folk band stopped playing and I grew tired of watching interesting people walk by, I made my way up the road and over to the to the downtown square. I took one lap around, just like I always do, scoping out what each vendor had to offer, comparing prices along the way. I picked up a watermelon-lemon popsicle from the man who sells them off of the back of his bike before making my way home. I walked home slowly, taking in the beautiful scene around me. The trees are in full bloom here, and new flowers make an appearance every day. First the daffodils, then the tulips. Now there are radiant irises popping up everywhere. Spring is my favorite, and Spring in Northwest Arkansas is a fabulous thing to see.
While we prepare our hearts and minds for Austin, I find myself nostalgic and thankful for the last days that we will call Arkansas home. It’ll always be our home, of course, but soon a new adventure will begin. Before we know it, it’ll be time to pack up our fun little apartment and head out West. We are excited for Austin, and look forward to the memories that we will create there. Moving to Boston was scary as we had never before lived so far away, but what a beautiful adventure that turned out to be. I’ll miss the quaintness of New England, and the Southern charm of Arkansas, but am excited to experience the sights and flavors of the Southwest. I look forward to creating adventures in Texas and blogging about it along the way!
For now, we’ve still got two months left of Arkansas exploring to do! Until next time!
The Daily Doss 