Monday, January 11, 2016

Just a Small Town Girl

Let's be honest.  When Journey comes on the radio, we all turn it up and jam, right?  But, I have to break the news to you.  Journey lied.  The first line of their hit song , "Don't Stop Believing" says, "Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world..." Well, I've lived in a small town most of my life and if there is one thing I know for sure; it is never lonely.  In a small town, we know each other.

My husband, who grew up in a slightly larger town, recalls the first time he was introduced to the small town ways of our hometown.  He ran into the post office for a few minutes, and came back to a dead battery.  Before he could pop the hood of his car, he had four retired men standing around "advising" him on what to do.  That doesn't happen in New York City, people.

So, I compiled a list of the Top Ten Best Things About Living in a Small Town:

10.  I didn't cook a single meal for at least three weeks after the birth of my two youngest children.  If there are two things people in small towns love, it's babies and casseroles.

9.  You basically only have to parent your child 75% of the time.  There is always someone watching out for them (and I mean that in a good way).  Recently, my teenage daughter was short a little money at the concession stand at the football game, but not to worry; someone covered her tab.

8.  Speaking of football; you have not lived until you've attended a Friday Night Football Game (and yes, I capitalized that, because it's a proper noun in Texas).  It's a sacred experience.  Of course here in our town we are SPOILED to one of the nicest small-town stadiums ever; but I imagine every fan feels a tremendous amount of pride under the Friday night lights...no matter what their stadium looks like.

7.  The decision makers of small towns are available and approachable.  Oh, I'm not talking about the elected officials, although they're pretty good, too; I'm talking about the coffee drinkers.  Every small town has the group of coffee drinkers that set out early in the morning to make sure our community is running properly.  They are valuable sources of information.  Need a job; they can find you one.  Need a rent house; they're your best source.  Need to know what business is coming to town next; who do you think enticed them here.  I got my first job here as a single mom, because my aunt went to high school with a lady who's husband overheard a local bank was hiring, while he was drinking coffee.

6.  We've all got that one restaurant that we proclaim has the best ____________ (fill in the blank).  I'm going to go ahead and say, my current town has the best pizza.  It tastes familiar and consistent; exactly what comfort food is suppose to taste like.  (And, no it's not Trim Healthy Mama, but a girl's gotta splurge every once in a while).  If you have moved away from your hometown, you know that one place you just have to go when you go home...that's the place I'm talking about.  #MimasKitchen #Wimberley

5.  We are safe!  The best security system ever, is the nosy neighbor.  In a small town, we know who should be going in and out of your house and who shouldn't.  We also know all the neighborhood dogs; and where they belong.  Your kids can even ride their bike down the street without parental supervision...as long as they dodge the potholes...but that's a different post, for a different day.

4.  Medical Care:  I know what you are thinking, city slickers; isn't that a reason NOT to live in a small town.  Nope!  We all have the local doctor's (or his wife) and a few local nurse's phone numbers stored in our phone.  There is no need to wonder if you should go to the ER or not.  Before we moved here, I had a root canal at 11:30 on a Saturday night because the local dentist felt sorry for me.  Friends take care of friends in a small town.

3.  We are not tempted to overspend at the grocery store.  There are no impulse buys here.  There's also no almond milk...or quinoa...or Cliff Bars.  But, just think of the money we are saving.

2.  One word: teachers!  All teachers are special and all teachers deserve so much more than they receive; BUT there is something special about the teachers in a small town.  They're the teachers that when you're running a little late, tell you not to worry; they'll just take your kid home with them after school.  They're the teacher's that come to your baby shower and you just pray that your child is in their class one day.  They're the teachers that bring YOU dinner when they know you've had a bad day.  They're the teachers that give up time out of their precious weekend because your child asks them to come to their volleyball game, piano recital or baptism.  They're the teachers that even years after your kid is in their class, you see "that" look on their face when they hug your child.  Teachers, you're one of the main reasons we moved to a small town and one of our town's best features.  We appreciate how much you love our kids!

1.  And the best reason to live in a small town....(drum roll, please)...friends that become family.  Friendships are so different when you are invested in someone's life in a variety of facets.  In a small town, we're neighbors, our kids are in the same class, we worship together, we grieve together, we celebrate together.  In a small town, people go on vacation together.  People don't travel for the holidays, because they are already home.  People become lifelong friends.  Family.

I am so thankful to be a small town girl, and I'm so thankful that it is NOT a lonely world!

Journey, you were way off.

4 comments:

  1. Makes me want to move (back) to a small town....even though I've always been a big city kind of gal!

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    1. We don't have Starbucks here; I don't know that y'all could make it.

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  2. I love your blog! I really wish I had better writing skills because I would love my blog to be more than just a scrapbook of our life, but for know that is what it is. I grew up in a small town in West Texas and LOVED it and miss it sometimes. BTW my husband's family is from San Marcos/Wimberley area. Not sure where you live in the McKinney or North Texas area but we probably know some of the same people. Thanks for stopping by my blog - dandjwhite.blogspot.com - Jessica

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    1. Really??? I'm going to email you right now...

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