When I first moved to Laramie, I thought this town sucked. It was small, windy, and had maybe five good, affordable restaurants.
I was from Fort Collins, and I was used to millions of different food options and places to go, and I didn’t see myself ever living in a small town.
That changed when I saw how expensive college was and realized the University of Wyoming was my only option unless I wanted to be in debt for the rest of my life.
I still didn’t want to live in a small town, but it was the only thing I could afford. So I packed up after my high school graduation and drove up 287 until I hit 3rd street.
When I moved here, I spent a lot of the first couple of weeks being scared of walking on chipped Walmart floors and feeling like the wind was going to sweep me away.
It was not fun, and I even looked into transferring to somewhere bigger and better. My happiness was more important than debt.
Then something changed.
I met some friends, and they pushed me to do things I would have never thought I would enjoy.
We would eat at Chilis, or go bowling at the Laramie Lanes, or go to the movies and drink 64oz Icees.
Laramie grew on me slowly, but surely, and I somehow found myself loving it.
When I went home for the first time over break, I even found myself missing it.
I missed being able to run all my errands in under an hour. I actually started craving McCallister’s, and as much as I hated to admit it, I kind of missed the chipped Walmart floors.
All of those things give Laramie a particular type of charm you don’t see in a lot of other places.
It gives you a sense of community.
One where people can run into one another in the most random of places, and I had never had that before.
In Fort Collins, I was so used to never seeing anyone while I was out, and now I see someone I know every time I go out to eat or run an errand.
Now, I don’t want to live in a small town forever.
Once I get that diploma, I am moving somewhere big with so many food options I will never run out.
But I will spend the rest of my time in Laramie thinking about how well it has treated me these last few years.
It provides me with a feeling I can only describe as being wrapped in an old blanket.
It might be a little worn in and rough around the edges, but once you get past it, you will be comforted and maybe even a little nostalgic about how you still love it even though it might be a little ugly.
