Sunday, July 10, 2011

10 Things that I Miss about Dayton


I had started to draft a different post for July's 10 Things, but then I changed my mind after seeing a photo on Facebook. I have lived in San Antonio for seven years, and here are 10 Things that I miss about Dayton, Ohio:

1. Family
I grew up living near most of my family, and I miss having them nearby. Our families have spread out, but most of them are in the Dayton area.
(Christmas 2007)

2. Friends
Many of my friends are still in Ohio, and I miss them. Facebook, email and visits help.

3. Spring, Summer and Fall
I have never been a fan of winter, but we only have 2 seasons in South Texas: Hot and Not Hot.

4. Dayton Dragons Minor League Baseball
The games are a blast! Someone posted a picture on Facebook from their 815th sell out game, and got me thinking about the things that I miss from Dayton. It is especially fun to watch some of the guys go up to the Cincinnati Reds.

5. Marion's Pizza
It is the best thin crust pizza ever!

6. Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm
I can't wait to take Alex there. I spent a lot of time there growing up, and then John and I had our wedding and reception at the Center.
(My friends and bridesmaids before the wedding at Aullwood in 2004.)

7. MetroParks, including "The Englewood Reserve"
I also spent a lot of time there growing up.

8. Festivals
The Dayton area has a great variety of free and low cost festivals including City Folk, the Celtic Festival, and the Aullwood Festivals, and more.
(Cherish the Ladies at the 2005 City Folk Festival)

9. University of Dayton
I loved the two years that I spent as a student there for graduate school and still cheer on the Flyers.

10. It is home.
There is a history and familiarity there that will take decades to develop anywhere else.

For more 10 Things posts, head over to Shimelle's blog. Please come back on August 10th for 10 Things that I Love about San Antonio.

7 comments:

Alison said...

I know what you mean about the familiarity of 'home'....even though I don't really MISS the place where I spent most of my younger life,I DO feel a sense of belonging when I go back!
Alison xx

Sue Althouse said...

My son and his wife live in Dayton, or West Carrollton to be more precise. He works in downtown Dayton, just across from the Dayton Dragons ball park. I can see how you miss it, Dayton really is a nice place, if you can avoid the highway construction! Maybe you will be back someday?

Connie Mercer said...

great list:)

Sara said...

@Sue - I grew up in the Englewood area. The highway construction is much needed but takes forever. We try to visit at least once a year, but I do not know if we will ever move back to Ohio. We have gotten quite settled in Texas.

Sara said...

@Alison - Yes, it is a sense of belonging. Things have changed in the Dayton area since I moved though, including some jobs loss as a General Motors plant closed, other companies cut-back or closed, and NCR moved their headquarters to Atlanta.

The Constant Scrapper said...

Hi Sara: I have lived in Austin, TX, for 10 years now but grew up in Willoughby, OH (near Cleveland). I can certainly relate to missing the familiarity of home, friends and the seasons there. My family of origin no longer lives there, so I really don't have as much cause to go back, which makes me feel even more nostalgic about it. And it definitely takes a good bit of time to develop those same feelings about a new place. Thanks for sharing your list. Have a great week!

Stephanie Medley-Rath said...

I grew up in a little bitty town in Illinois and moved to Atlanta for six years. I totally relate to the seasons, but at least it did actually snow on occasion in Atlanta. People thought I was crazy that I missed winter and missed actual snow. I couldn't wait to get back to Illinois for the seasons and my family. We are back in Illinois but even now we're not in my dream location. We moved where we could find work but are still 45 minutes from my parents.