Ever since I was a little kid, I've been watching WBOC cover stories about life on Delmarva. From school delays to Scholar Athletes, I've seen Lisa Bryant and Jimmy Hoppa reporting on all there is to know about the peninsula. However, it wasn't until recently that I began to appreciate the area they have spent so many years covering.
Like most teenagers, I was unable to appreciate my hometown. I thought life on Delmarva was boring, dull, and uninspiring. After all, it's just a bunch of farmland cut off from the rest of the world and surrounded by water, right?
So I left the peninsula and set out to find somewhere more stimulating, more fun, just...more.
But more came with a price.
The endless dining options in Newport News were overshadowed by insane traffic. The sandy beaches in Florida came with unbearable heat and a complete lack of fall foliage. In Virginia Beach, lovely roommates couldn't make up for the fact that someone broke into my car.
Deep down, I knew it was time to go home. So, I did. And I've been falling in love ever since.
In the summer, I get to enjoy fresh, local seafood, visit our beautiful beaches, enjoy nature and wildlife, and attend all the fairs and festivals. Fall and winter bring a special type of beauty as the cornfields turn brown and the season becomes right for picking apples and pumpkins.
Even when I go to Salisbury, the traffic there is nothing compared to I-64.
Local bars, restaurants, and shops flourish in historic towns. People are generally kind, and life here has a slow, sweet pace that seems to hum along with Mother Nature's rhythm. Even when you're in a hurry, you're still moving slower than the rest of the world.
For me, the Delmarva Peninsula is a respite. You can go into town without being perfectly dressed. If you need to clear your head, you can get to the water in less than twenty minutes from almost anywhere. We are far from wildfires, and we have been fortunate to avoid many hurricanes.
Some people here think it's boring. But to that I say, boring isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes being bored is a sign that all is well. The term I prefer to use is peaceful.
Our area may not have as many fancy stores and high-end restaurants, but for those with eyes to appreciate what is here, it's easy to see there's plenty to love about living on Delmarva.
You just have to take some time to enjoy it.
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