I saw this article in this month's Howard Magazine and I thought it was fun and good to share. It's called "10 Ways to Know You Were a Howard County Kid". Although, wouldn't you know naturally?
Anyway, here are the 10, and my experience:
1. You remember when the Enchanted Forest was actually enchanted. (And a forest.) Indeed, I did visit the Enchanted Forest a couple times as a youngster. I recall it as being a lot of fun, though each successive visit as I got older and attractions didn't change, reduced the fun factor.
2. You had (or went to) a birthday party at Splashdown. Nope. Never done it. Though I know many who have!
3. You know what it's like to fly over I-70. Done that-- it means attend the Howard County Fair and ride the rides. Not literally fly over I-70. Though that would've been awesome!
4. You know that Soft Stuff was worth every minute you stood in line. I was an adult before I experienced Soft Stuff, but I did! And.... indubitably!!!!
5. You understand that there is only one "The Snowball Stand". Yes, I do, and it's in Woodstock. Been there, done that. Though you're selling your summer short if you don't get a Pete's Snowball in Oakland Mills at least once a summer.
6. Your friends with CA pool passes became your BEST friends over the summer. Uhhh, I grew up in Elkridge and we had Waterloo Swim Club? So yes!
7. You went to outdoor ed near where "Blair Witch Project" was filmed. OK, so that means Burkittsville in Frederick County. I graduated high school in 1985 and we never had outdoor ed. When did outdoor ed become a thing? So that's a no, but I'm giving myself a pass there because it didn't exist! Back in my day, whippersnappers, outdoor ed means trapising in the woods that are now Lyndwood Shopping Center, Timbers at Troy and the surrounding houses.
8. You couldn't resist sneaking around Henryton. Who could?
9. You spent more time at The Mall in Columbia than at home. Yep!
10. You graduated high school by walking across the same stage where you saw your first concert. No, I didn't graduate at Merriweather. Way, way, way back in 1985, we graduated at our high schools. And I remember only having four tickets for friends and family. And for my money, walking across the stage at Howard High was much cooler.
So I had 8 out of 9, and if I count self-propelled outdoor ed, that's 9 out of 10! That would make me a Howard County Kid, by cracky!
Anyone get 10 out of 10? Anyone have any other quintessential experiences of Howard County youth. I can think of a few: going to Skateland, walking the Thomas Viaduct, sitting on the rocks on Main Street which you can't do anymore. Any others?
Let's be careful out there.
-Playing mini golf at FunPut or at the Outer Limits arcade in Oakland Mills
-Sledding down Hechinger Hill
-Attended a Birthday party at the original McDonald's in the Columbia Mall
-Saw movies at Columbia Cinema III
Posted by: Justin | January 30, 2015 at 07:31 PM