The Yin and Yang of Raleigh

As my departure date draws near, I'm hard pressed to ignore the many things I'll miss in North Carolina. With the Yin comes the Yang, not the opposite rather the balance. The Yang are all those things I'll not miss. This list does not include specific people I'll miss because that list is too long.

Things I'll Miss in NC...

Lighted Church Signs; "Call 911, This Church is on Fire for the Lord!"
Running into someone I know almost everwhere in Raleigh (even when I'm making a complete ass of myself).
Friday evening beers with my group of miscreants, misfits, and fascinating conversationalists.
Rarely waiting in line for restaurants or movies.
UNC, Chapel Hill in the fall.
Trees, Trees and more Trees.
Long walks through Umstead park.

Affordable housing. (Affordable everything)
Elderly southern women with gentility and grace complimented by a hard-as-nails will (truly women to be admired and feared).
My 30's (I'm 'chanting' for a decade in my 40's at least as exciting).
Fireflies and Caroleena's slam poem about fireflies, both are now synonymous in my mind.
Politeness from even strangers on the street.
Roadside graveyards.

Outdoor concerts (symphony, Art Museum Concerts, etc.)
My school.

Things I'll Not Miss...

W Stickers, especially in Fuquay-Varina
"Have a Blessed Day"
Humidity to make even the most dessicated corpse sweat a little.
North Raleigh mini-vans with soccer moms on cell phones driving like bats-outta-hell because Brittany or Candice with an 'i' has to go to cheerleading practice.
Omnipresent religious intolerance.
Homophobia in even the most liberal pockets of Raleigh.
Maintaing households on two seperate coasts.
"Family friendly" restaurants.
Nascar (I know Nascar is everywhere but I'll not miss living in the heart of Nascar country).

Feel free to post comments and add your own favorites or rants in the comments section.