When I was a senior in high school, I couldn’t wait to escape the confines of my hometown in Massachusetts. After attending a small high school where I could tell you the life story of all 120 kids in my class, I was itching for a new place with new people. That’s where the University of Connecticut came in, and I have no regrets about going out of state. However, I’d be lying if I said I never missed Littleton, the lovely town I grew up in. As a junior, UConn now feels like a second home. Still, every time I spend a weekend at home, I can’t help but reflect on what makes Littleton special and how it shaped who I am today.
The lake
Every town has that one spot where all the teenagers hang out and cause trouble. In Littleton, Long Lake is that place. My memories of the lake start young, back when the “deep dock” was too far to swim to without a life jacket. I had a tradition with my friends to go to the lake every year on the last day of school so we could all open the envelopes with our report cards and see what teachers we got for the next school year. I also trick-or-treated in the neighborhood surrounding the lake many times and can say they have some of the best Halloween decorations in town. Over time, the lake became a place for late-night hangouts and tanning days, our life jackets and swim goggles long forgotten. The lake is the last place my friends and I hung out before we all moved into college, and I feel an incredible sense of nostalgia every time I go back there.
The Point
Littleton may not have a Target or Walmart, but it does have three Dunkins and its own unique charm. Although the town has seen some development over time, I remember when there wasn’t even a Starbucks in Littleton. When I was in elementary school, construction for a new plaza called “The Point” started. It was expected to have a movie theater, new restaurants, and a bunch of different shops. This project sent waves through the quaint town of Littleton, but I remember how exciting it was as a kid to have a fun new place to visit in my own town. The plaza is still growing now; a T.J. Maxx just opened at The Point, and my teenage self would have absolutely been taking trips there every day.
The Point is within walking distance from the middle school in Littleton and quickly became a hot spot for middle schoolers to visit on half-day Wednesdays. It’s a place I’ve made many memories at growing up, like accidentally knocking over candles in The Paper Store with our backpacks (oops) and trying on wigs and costumes in Party City. The Point is probably the hottest spot in Littleton, and it even has a gorgeous view of the sunset outside Market Basket.
Four SEasons
Growing up in Massachusetts and now going to school in Connecticut, I’m a true New Englander. The thing I love most is the beauty of the four seasons we experience here in the Northeast. While I love the sunny warmth of summer, I can also enjoy a cozy winter day inside. I can’t say I love shoveling and trudging through the snow on campus, but there’s something about each season I truly love, especially when thinking about my hometown.
Back at home, each season brings its own traditions and beautiful scenes. Summer in Littleton means trips to the lake and picking blueberries off the bushes in my yard. It means getting texts from the neighbors about bears walking through their backyards and seeing kids ride their bikes down the street. Fall brings the most gorgeous foliage on the trees across from my house. It also means the end of heirloom tomato season, as my mom plants tomatoes every year using seeds from my grandfather. I’m also a firm believer that the apples at the orchard near my house are the best around, perfectly crisp and bursting with flavor. When the snow and winter come, it’s time to pick out the perfect Christmas tree and decorate it while watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Winter also comes with holiday baking and brings memories of the treats my grandmothers used to make, including delicious pies and muddy buddies. Finally comes spring, when the trees come back to life, and I could finally go play outside again. When I imagine each season, the first things that come to mind are what it looks like back home in Littleton. I think I’ll always be a New England girl, and I can’t imagine living anywhere that doesn’t have the wonder of four unique seasons.
go play outside
Along with all the nostalgic places across Littleton, my house and neighborhood also make my home special, and there’s something that sparks a memory everywhere I look outside my house. In my backyard, there’s a path that leads into the woods and connects with a hiking trail. These woods are incredibly serene and are the habitat of countless bugs and creatures. My neighbors also have an extensive garden surrounding their house, including a small frog pond that used to be hopping with little frogs. I loved to check out this little pond as a kid, always sneaking over to it when I would play outside. Similarly, there’s a swamp down the street from my house that’s home to beavers, turtles, and many more frogs. Although it may sound like I live in some sort of forest wonderland, there are memories beyond the scenery and wildlife that make my home special.
One loss I still mourn is when a giant cluster of trees in my yard had to be cut down when I was a kid. There used to be a group of three huge hemlock trees in my front yard whose branches and leaves formed the appearance of a giant bush. This “bush” became a secret hideout, as you could sneak through the branches and step inside the cluster of trees, entering a wooded cave. I used to play in this giant bush with my older sister and cousin, and we loved our secret hideout until the trees got too old and had to be cut down.
I used to play outside a lot as a kid and was obsessed with nature, so much so that at one point I thought I wanted to be a botanist when I grew up. While my career plans look a lot different now, I still have a great appreciation for the outdoors and am grateful to have grown up in such a natural place with so much space to use my imagination.
home is where the heart is
Although UConn isn’t too far from my hometown, it still feels like a totally different place. When I go back home, I return to the place and people that shaped me. It can be sad to see all the changes made in Littleton since I graduated. I often expect to return to the same exact place every time I come home, forgetting that time goes on every time I leave. Nonetheless, the moment I see the “Entering Littleton” sign on the highway, I feel grounded. A place that has known me at every point in my life, I can’t deny its importance to me. There are countless places I didn’t even mention, like the other lake in town my friend would take us water tubing on, or the elementary school playground that became a new hangout spot during the pandemic. Littleton is a lot of things to me, but it will always be the place I grew up; the place that holds a special spot in my heart.