From Hattiesburg to Brookhaven

“How do you like living in Brookhaven?” I’m honestly kinda tired of being asked that repeated question. Is it different? Yes. Very different- not necessarily in a bad way, but it’s much smaller. In fact, It’s about 1/5 the size.When I go to California and Utah, I realize that there’s a lot of cities I consider big- Hattiesburg is not one of them. But I never realized how big it is until I came here, where you can drive 20 minutes and already know where everything is.

In geometry the other day, the students and teacher were talking about how they couldn’t live in Hattiesburg. “No offense Katie Spiers,” my teacher added to her criticism of my home town. “It’s too big. I don’t think I’ve even seen grass there.” I couldn’t help but laugh at this comment (Not out loud of course). If she thinks Hattiesburg is that big, I wonder what she would think of California. 

I never stay on the weekends here, so I don’t really have a perspective on what there is and isn’t to do. A lot of people say Hattiesburg has so much to do, and when you compare the options, I can see why people think it’s so big. There we have a mall, 2 movie theaters (one with an arcade), a skating rink, laser tag, trampoline park, escape rooms, bowling ally, many good stores and thrift shops, and countless restaurants. Actually, as I sat there and typed that out, it changed my idea of how lame it is because it actually has a pretty good variety of things to do. Also, let me make a distinct thought of mine clear: just because a town is small doesn’t mean its lame. yes, I did just think of that. On the other hand, Brookhaven has some things to do too, sure it doesn’t compare to all the things Hattiesburg has, but it’s the small things that count. Especially in this instance. Something that surprises me about this quaint town is that, no matter the size, It has a very sufficient number of bakeries. I think I’ve counted 3 so far. I’ve only been to one, but mannn it was good. I’ve heard only good things about the others, so i’ll take the local people’s word for its decency. Other than the bakeries, there are a pretty good amount of fast food restaurants and thrift stores (sadly though, I have been to no thrift stores- I know. tragic). Oh! And they also have a movie theater really close, but that doesn’t really apply to me because I’m a msa student- meaning I have no time. Or money. I honestly don’t think i’m experienced in the town enough to write about it due to the fact that I’ve only been living here for about a month in a half, so I don’t really know everything that’s here, which I’m sure that will change give or take a couple months. Even though I haven’t lived here that long, I’m really warming up to this little town and all the amazing people in it.

Outside, the view from my room at home and the view from my dorm room at school are so incredibly different at night. At home, the pale moonlight would shine it’s gentle light through my blinds and it would always call me to my window. I could see my back yard turned almost black by the clear starry night with the shadows of all the tall pine trees being lengthened by the radiating white moon. At school, I look outside and see the buildings that remind me of New Orleans, compacted together, lit up by lights strung through the town, reminding me of Christmas. Both are so beautiful, but so different. It reminds me of people in a way, Hattiesburg representing one, Brookhaven representing another- everything about them is so different, giving them the trait of uniqueness everyone possesses, and yet, they are both equally as beautiful. Weather they are lit up my strung lights, or the smiling moon, both create a warming comfort while enjoying their features.

There will probably be a part 2 to this… just letting you know 😉

 

 

 

Author: Katie Spiers

"You can't do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can do." - Jana Stanfield This is my favorite quote and is what I find myself striving towards everyday-- to do the most good I can.

5 thoughts on “From Hattiesburg to Brookhaven”

  1. Hattiesburg is HUGE compared to Brookhaven, but I appreciate both. I really enjoyed reading this especially because these two towns have been very significant to me since I was a young child. 🙂

  2. That’s so funny to me! While I visited Hattiesburg almost every day, I couldn’t help but compare Brookhaven to Hattie too! I think quite the opposite of my hometown and here because my hometown is TINY so Brookhaven is huge to me. It is very small compared to the ole ‘burg though.

  3. I can’t relate in terms of Hattiesburg to Brookhaven but I can definitely relate to the differences in my hometown to Brookhaven. The experience of just being in this town is like no other. I come from the city and people here just act differently. I think we can all agree on the differences between our hometown’s and Brookhaven. Very insightful!

  4. I feel the first sentence so deeply because if I had a quarter for how many times someone asked me ,”How is your new school.” I would have enough to buy a pair of shoes.

Comments are closed.