One Woman, One Pen, Endless Possibilities

I have to be completely honest; I do not have much travel experience under my belt. At least not much outside of the occasional trips to a neighboring metropolis or some great family vacations. I have not been blessed with many opportunities to leave on a whimsy or privileged even so much that I could afford a planned vacation. So I'm going to write about the things and places that I see everyday, and how with a little change of perspective they can become completely brand new.
I'll never forget the day I fell in love with Franklin County, Florida. Growing up all I wanted to do was put as much distance between my feet and that county sign as possible. Returning from college, however, I realized this small little town was not quite what I had left behind.
The world moves a little slower in Carrabelle, Florida. I came to realize this one summer evening sitting on a back porch listening to the hum of cicadas, all while watching the sweat drip down a glass of sweet ice tea. It is a place where all dirt roads lead to cold beer and my favorite swimming hole. I watched the sun rise over the river and set beside the Gulf of Mexico that day. In between I stopped to wave at the local fishermen as they made their way out into the bay.
Everyone says "good morning", "good evening" and "good night". The locals make a point to remember your face, your name and most of the time even a little extra.
It was these things that I truly missed the most when I was away and guess it is these things that will always bring me back for more. I just can't believe I spent 10 years here and never took the time to see nor appreciate any of it. This little town that use to feel so suffocating as an adolescent, now breathes so much peace and reflection into my lungs.
Sometimes when I sit out on the dock under the little white lights at Fish Camp Restaurant watching the river being carried out to the sea, I think of the enormous, magnificent world that I should be reaching out for. Sometimes I take a quiet, slow sip of my glass of Pinot Noir and I think that the world should be reaching out for here.
The world absolutely does move slower in Carrabelle, Florida. Comparatively untouched by the rest of the world, as if shielded by some magical time capsule. I know one day the rest of the world will reach for it and snatch it from the perfectly preserved old photographic it hides away in.
I may not get to see much of the world, but I will forever be privileged for seeing this.