Adulting, No Thanks

May 20-26, 2019

By Cait Smith
caitlin@dailydata.com

‘Ar-kan-saw?’

I’m originally from St. Louis, however, I moved to Arkansas when I was 9 years old. I’ll never forget that fateful day, “Chelsey, Cai-Cai (that’s my household nickname), we’re moving to Arkansas,” my mom told us. My sister and I both looked at one another with bewilderment. 

“What’s in Ar-kan-saw?” I asked.

To think back on that day compared to where I am now is surprisingly funny. I was boo-hooing over the fact that I wouldn’t be able to eat IMOs or White Castles. Get this, I don’t even eat pork or beef now. I was sad to find out that we had no immediate family in Arkansas. Turns out nowadays I prefer my alone time more versus going to awkward family reunions with people I hardly ever speak to. 

Not to say that I don’t speak to my family, because I do. But as I have gotten older, I learned that we have a lot of family drama that needs to be hashed out – I’m talking to you cousin Tasha. 

Here, I’m taken in by the Natural State. This is a rather new fascination, I should point out. I hated the outdoors because of bugs and hot weather. Being honest, I still hate those things but it’s so refreshing. I love breathing in the fresh air as I climb Pinnacle Mountain. I can’t swim but I really love canoeing on the lake with my boyfriend. I’m not your hunting kind of gal but I don’t mind walking the trails of the forest ever so often. 

Also, I’m comfortable with the size. Just to know how many people are in the state of Missouri, let alone any other big state gives me anxiety. Obviously, Arkansas’s population is huge, too, but it’s a huge I can handle. I don’t even think of it as a state, we’re more like a community; everyone is connected in some form. That can be a good and bad thing depending on how you look at it – either everyone knows your business, or they know nothing at all. You just learn to live it. 

I used to think this state had nothing to offer. I wanted to go somewhere with more options and opportunities. The thing is, they’re right here staring me in the face. I just didn’t recognize them until I was finally out on my own. It’s amazing how things transcend once you start to utilize them. 

For a long time, my family and I were homesick. Every other weekend we would make that five to six-hour drive to St. Louis to see family and old friends. But as the years went by, we would go less and less. I’d like to think it’s because we’ve grown to love the Natural State. 

I’ve adopted the ways of the south. Yes, I like my tea sweet and my chicken fried. I’m proud to be an Arkansan, to say the least.