I love my small town. It's friendly and pretty, too. It is situated on the beautiful Wabash River. Lots of hills and valleys. Lots of limestone, too. But what I love most is what you probably find in most small towns, friendly people.
For instance, today I received a call from our local public library. The conversation went something like this"
Me; hello
Librarian; Hi Jim, this is P-- at the library. We have a book on reserve for you.
Me; Oh, what do you have?
L: (named the book)
Me; Gee, I was just there this afternoon
L; I'm sorry, well, we'll hold it for you until next Tuesday, okay?
Me: Thanks, I'll get there. Thanks for calling.
Where else can you get friendly, personal service but in a small town.
This evening, I bundled up and walked to the library to pick up the book. Where else can you walk the streets, alone, after dark without fear but in a small town.
I go to the locally owned grocery store and the owners call me by name, ask me if there's anything they can help me with. Just today a friend went there needing the ingredients for a recipe, but she left the list at home. The owner's wife got out her Ipad and helped her look up the recipe and find what she needed. Where else do you get that kind of service but in a small town.
People help each other in small towns. This Christmas one of my former student's family was struggling. Mom was laid off from her job, dad is fighting leukemia and isn't working. People rallied, without being asked, and provided a wonderful Christmas for that family. Neighbors help neighbors around here, too. Last year, my next door neighbor used his snow blower and kept both our drives and sidewalks cleared every time.
Churches here work together, help with the food bank, and provide services for the indigent in large and small ways. Churches and public schools work together and they seem to make things happen.
We still have the Nativity on the courthouse lawn every Christmas. And no one objects or makes a big deal. Believe me, if it wasn't there, a big deal would be made about it.
I love the big city. Going to the one closest to me is fun. I even used to live there, but they are a nice place to visit, but I'll take small towns every time. I was a rural boy, born and raised, as we used to say, "14 miles from nowhere." I agreed to move to town because my wife was a townie. I have been in this town for 46 years and counting. I don't think I want to live anywhere else.
Until next time,
Peace,
JE
Your small town must certainly be smaller than our larger town. But I agree in principle about living in towns as opposed to cities. HNY2U
ReplyDeleteTown of about 10,000. But after living here over 46 years I know a LOT of people. I have always worked in this town, no matter what job I had after college. If there is a fault, it seems like "everyone" knows your business. (Or at least thinks they do!) Happy 2016 to you and yours!!
ReplyDeleteI'm from a small town in North Central Montana. Population when I was there was about 1800. I'm a small town fan. My brother still lives there and owns the (only) drive in restaurant (just like the '50's with car hops and window trays).
ReplyDeleteMy daughter lived in Jordan for 3 years. Talk about small towns. Approx 360 people, and it was the county seat. She taught all English grades 7-12 at the only county HS. She'd have stayed there cause she loved it but she was so underpaid that she couldn't afford to stay. She augmented her income by working part time waiting tables at a local eatery. Too bad, too, cause I loved it enough to have moved there, too.
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