There’s something sweet about growing up in a small town. Tennessee is the heart of the south, chock full of tiny towns and itty-bitty high schools, tight communities and the lights of the big city off in the distance. We’ve found 15 things you can never, ever get away with if you were born and bred in the deep south, and the only question is – do you agree?
- Your high school sporting events - good or bad.
AJ Mangoba - Flickr Yes - that high school football game that went down in infamy? Your painful soccer goal that just, wasn’t? It will live on FOREVER in a small town. It’s just the name of the game, folks.
- Your grandparents’ friends will forever think you’re 4 years old.
Doron Darak Loer - Flickr It can get annoying, but then again - it’s a sweet thing to have a community that believes you are forever cute and good and young. Right?
- As well as everyone in the supermarket …
ricardo - Flickr You know everyone. Or are related to them, one of the two.
- Forget about keeping secrets from your parents.
Wassim Loumi - Flickr Your parents knew about your detention before you even got home, and it was SO annoying when you tried to lie about it. It just didn’t work out.
- Watch out for them tractors!
Carl Spencer - Flickr Tractors in the road is a legitimate reason to be late to absolutely everything. Tardies are forgiven at school, and no boss is going to give you a hard time for being a few minutes late.
- There’s nothing worse than a small town break up.
Adam Kusmierz - Flickr Because everyone knows, and you run into your ex-SO all the dang time. They’ll probably end up dating one of your siblings and that just gets so awkward. Best of luck!
- Don’t leave the house in sweats…
Neil Staeck - Flickr Because, again - everyone knows you. Don’t give your former boyfriend (see #10) a reason to be happy you broke up. It’s all in your hands!
- You’ll always be held to your older siblings’ reputation.
Alex Bray - Flickr How they did in school, at your job, at church…it’s a real struggle to be the baby sometimes.
- The coolest place to hang out on a Friday night was the mall.
Edward Musiak - Flickr Because there’s really nothing else to do.
- Except we meant Saturday night because Friday was for FOOTBALL.
H Michael Milley - Flickr Ah, yes. The whole town shows up to high school football games, and its the social event of the week.
- You’re used to really, REALLY strange news stories.
Megan Morris - Flickr Moose crossing? Yep. Strange colored robins eggs? Alright. Ms. Susie’s third son lost his job? Front pager!
- You’ll be celebrating everything - with everyone.
ccho - Flickr Columbus Day and International Dog Day and Best Friend Day become one in the same when it comes to turning around a party. Cupcakes are always welcome, you know.
- No news is boring - there’s always news.
Maria Biblik - Flickr #5 kind of touched on this, but the crazy thing? Everyone is interested in everything and everyone. A little bit of the good, a little bit of the bad.
- The church pie contest can get really dirty. It matters.
Alliance for Historic Homes Don’t enter unless you’re prepared for what follows - and sometimes it’s downright salty.
- But that sense of community? You can’t ever get rid of it.
Jim Pennucci - Flckr It’s something you can’t fake, and it’s something that matters. We wouldn’t trade small town Tennessee for the world!
What a list! Phew. We’ve also found the The Epic Adventure Bucket List Every Tennessean Must Complete!
AJ Mangoba - Flickr
Yes - that high school football game that went down in infamy? Your painful soccer goal that just, wasn’t? It will live on FOREVER in a small town. It’s just the name of the game, folks.
Doron Darak Loer - Flickr
It can get annoying, but then again - it’s a sweet thing to have a community that believes you are forever cute and good and young. Right?
ricardo - Flickr
You know everyone. Or are related to them, one of the two.
Wassim Loumi - Flickr
Your parents knew about your detention before you even got home, and it was SO annoying when you tried to lie about it. It just didn’t work out.
Carl Spencer - Flickr
Tractors in the road is a legitimate reason to be late to absolutely everything. Tardies are forgiven at school, and no boss is going to give you a hard time for being a few minutes late.
Adam Kusmierz - Flickr
Because everyone knows, and you run into your ex-SO all the dang time. They’ll probably end up dating one of your siblings and that just gets so awkward. Best of luck!
Neil Staeck - Flickr
Because, again - everyone knows you. Don’t give your former boyfriend (see #10) a reason to be happy you broke up. It’s all in your hands!
Alex Bray - Flickr
How they did in school, at your job, at church…it’s a real struggle to be the baby sometimes.
Edward Musiak - Flickr
Because there’s really nothing else to do.
H Michael Milley - Flickr
Ah, yes. The whole town shows up to high school football games, and its the social event of the week.
Megan Morris - Flickr
Moose crossing? Yep. Strange colored robins eggs? Alright. Ms. Susie’s third son lost his job? Front pager!
ccho - Flickr
Columbus Day and International Dog Day and Best Friend Day become one in the same when it comes to turning around a party. Cupcakes are always welcome, you know.
Maria Biblik - Flickr
#5 kind of touched on this, but the crazy thing? Everyone is interested in everything and everyone. A little bit of the good, a little bit of the bad.
Alliance for Historic Homes
Don’t enter unless you’re prepared for what follows - and sometimes it’s downright salty.
Jim Pennucci - Flckr
It’s something you can’t fake, and it’s something that matters. We wouldn’t trade small town Tennessee for the world!
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