By Guest Columnist Lindsay Douglass
My first memory I can recall took place at our local Food Lion. I was four and Jack, my older brother, was five. While my mom was checking out our groceries, the two of us thought standing on the same side of the cart would be a good idea. One concussion and a trip to the ER later, we decided that it probably wasn’t the best idea.
I was five months old when my family and I moved from Falls Church, Virginia to Seven Lakes. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to call the North side of this community home. As I move into my freshman dorm room at Appalachian State University in Boone, I reflect on the past 18 years of my life.
Aside from a traumatic experience or two, growing up in Seven Lakes has been nothing but a dream. When I was younger, my weekends were filled with walks up and down my street, boating and fishing, and riding horses at the stables. Throughout my pre-teen and early teen years, summers consisted of bike rides to the pool or a lake, meeting up with neighbors, and the occasional ride with a friend who was cool enough to have a golf cart.
As I grew older, I realized some of my strongest friendships were with my friends who lived in Seven Lakes. We spent weekends and summers going from lake to lake, swimming until our hands were prunes, eating Mcdonald’s more often than we should’ve, devouring ice cream from Ben’s, and staying at each other’s houses watching movies or playing games until it was time to drive the half a mile back to your own.
I’ll be completely honest; there were times I wished my parents had chosen a home in Pinehurst or Southern Pines. There’s plenty more dining options, a larger social scene, and it’s closer to my high school. But every time my mind wandered there, I reminded myself of the beautiful neighborhood I live in. I scroll through my phone’s camera roll and look at all of the gorgeous sunsets I’ve witnessed from our pontoon boat on Lake Sequoia. I remember that my best friends are less than a mile away whenever I need them. As I move into the next chapter and town of my life, I remain so grateful for the remarkable 18 years I spent growing up in Seven Lakes.
