A very good place to start.
Beginnings. We all have them. I was lucky enough to be raised in New England, where this (sometimes) great nation all began. My beginnings came from the beginnings of America, and I always took so much of that for granted.
Everyone thinks where they grew up is special. There's a unique personality to every location, every city. New England is no exception, and in fact, I like to think it's extra special. There's a distinct flavor and culture to it that predates many of the other states. Each state within New England is intensely different from the others. Even the tiniest of states, Rhode Island, packs a whollop in terms of oddity and traditions.
I grew up the typical millennial, one who thinks that getting away from where they came from is the only way to find out who they are. And that's what I did. I left Rhode Island for the big city (of Boston, so really, I was within the safety net of New England and was kind of an asshole for thinking that I was better than RI) for college and stayed in Massachusetts after. I spent years wishing I was from somewhere with kinder winters, kinder people, and kinder eggs.
Just kidding. I just liked the list of things that started with "kinder."
Now, as I'm in my 30s, I treasure what makes New England different. I proudly declare myself a Masshole, I love my classic New England bungalow from the 1860s, and I love the history that comes from this place. After my divorce in 2015, I began to explore other parts of New England, including day trips to New Hampshire, Maine, or western Massachusetts. It was insane to me how different these locations could be, even though they were only an hour away.
I became fascinated with New England folklore. We love our tales of witchcraft, haunted houses, and old wives' tales. Where did they come from? How did they shape us? How much of this forms our culture and informs who we are?
Everywhere has a story. New England just happens to have older ones. I'll do my best to tell the ones that I find.
Everyone thinks where they grew up is special. There's a unique personality to every location, every city. New England is no exception, and in fact, I like to think it's extra special. There's a distinct flavor and culture to it that predates many of the other states. Each state within New England is intensely different from the others. Even the tiniest of states, Rhode Island, packs a whollop in terms of oddity and traditions.
I grew up the typical millennial, one who thinks that getting away from where they came from is the only way to find out who they are. And that's what I did. I left Rhode Island for the big city (of Boston, so really, I was within the safety net of New England and was kind of an asshole for thinking that I was better than RI) for college and stayed in Massachusetts after. I spent years wishing I was from somewhere with kinder winters, kinder people, and kinder eggs.
Just kidding. I just liked the list of things that started with "kinder."
Now, as I'm in my 30s, I treasure what makes New England different. I proudly declare myself a Masshole, I love my classic New England bungalow from the 1860s, and I love the history that comes from this place. After my divorce in 2015, I began to explore other parts of New England, including day trips to New Hampshire, Maine, or western Massachusetts. It was insane to me how different these locations could be, even though they were only an hour away.
I became fascinated with New England folklore. We love our tales of witchcraft, haunted houses, and old wives' tales. Where did they come from? How did they shape us? How much of this forms our culture and informs who we are?
Everywhere has a story. New England just happens to have older ones. I'll do my best to tell the ones that I find.
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