This morning, my beau and I made a quick trip to Lexington for some meetings. I quickly noted that everyone around us had totally panicked and forgotten how to drive as soon as they saw the first raindrop, but the city's charm quickly redeemed itself when the University NPR affiliate started playing a 2008 interview with Mr Keightley about the '78 Wildcats. As I cut through campus on Cooper Drive, driving past several coffee shops because only the Chevy Chase Starbucks would do, it hit me: no matter how long you stay away from the LEX, if you're a Lexington person, you're Lexington for life. 

Here are 10 sure-fire signs that you're Lexington for Life.  

1. You'll drive an extra 20 minutes to avoid New Circle Road.

2. You can't remember actually buying UK gear. It's just always been in your closet.  

3. There's only one "fancy occasion fried chicken"; they serve it at the Merrick Inn. 

4. You know several people who watch the Derby at Keeneland every year. 

5. You associate each Kentucky county with someone you know who grew up there. 

6. You know Ramsey's serves the best food in town, but you can't quite describe the menu. 

7. It just seems like so much trouble to drive to Louisville. 

8. You own (or have made) at least one needlepoint belt, and you know why it's a relationship-killer.

9. If you need to do some serious shopping, you go to Cincinnati. 

10. Special occasions call for some combination of Maker's Mark, country ham biscuits, Magee's cake, and Spalding's donuts. It would be rude to substitute these essentials.