Small Towns
My husband is from a small town and me, well..I’m not. I’ve lived in a small town, two actually, but not for very long. Believe me it is so different when you have lived in a small town your whole life. In small towns everyone knows everyone as well as every-one’s business. Which I’m not so convinced is a bad thing. You have a lot of friends that you have had for a very long time and you know all of their family.
I grew up with Target, The Galleria, and the Theatre. Very different stuff.
When Ryan and I go visit his friends and family back home it’s always a huge learning experience for me. It was hard for me at first not to be judgemental, not in a bad way, but everyone and everything is so different. I mean the language is different. They talk about fishing, bottle feeding their heffers, and grass fires. They have accents, that sometimes I can’t even understand. But one thing is for sure, they are not out to impress anyone.
Recently we met up with an old running buddy of Ryan’s, and he and his wife took us “riding around.” This is probably one of the biggest hurdles I have had to overcome. Because all you do is ride around. It’s not that I’m too good for this experience, it’s just simply something I never did. Where I was from you got in your car to go to the next destination period.
However, I have noticed something that I love about small towns. I love the fact that folks (you like that?) just stop by. Now THAT is something you certainly do not see in the suburbs. We live our lives here, it seems, inside our fences. What happened to that mentality of just visiting for the sake of visiting. Why do I feel the need to ask to see my friends? I know that we are all busy, but seriously I would love it if my friends felt comfortable enough to just stop by my house…because they were in the neighborhood.
On the flip side of that, if say someone did just come by, I don’t want to greet them with, “Sorry my house is a mess.” That too is something that is peculiar to me. Seriously, are houses supposed to be clean ALL the time? If that is the case, I am doing this stay at home thing all wrong.
So if any of you out there ever just want to just stop on by. I have a pot of coffee always ready. My house, guaranteed, will not be tidy. But, you are welcome anytime.
Love it!! =)
Comment by Amber — July 7, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
I love this post!!! It’s so true! When I was little, my dad would say, “let’s go for a ride!” The four of us would pile in our van and drive usually to Brazoria or Lake Jackson and get a snow cone or a Blizzard and just enjoy the afternoon. And visiting… while at my parents for the fourth, they had two different families just pop over to visit- it was so great!
Comment by Melissa — July 7, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
I wish we lived closer to eachother! Our house is open anytime!
Comment by Allison — July 8, 2008 @ 8:44 am
This post made me laugh. We go “riding around” in my home town too. I also miss people just stopping by (my sister and I call it “the popover”). Why do we need to make appointments all the time? I guess it’s just the nature of our society since the introduction of cell phones. But really, stop by any time. My house is usually a mess too. Except today, today it’s begging for a popover.
Comment by Meg — July 8, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
I feel so much more in the country than in the suburbs. I remember spending time with my dad and relatives in the country when I was young, and my fondest memories were the fishing ‘tank’, eating ‘homemade’ pork ribs (we picked the pig out ourselves), plucking the turkey for cooking, gathering eggs from the chicken coop, and using the outhouse…ok, maybe that isn’t a fond memory… But, it’s simple living (who cares about the latest fashion), people are kind, and sweet tea is plentiful. How to create that life here? I don’t know….but I hope to in our next house. Hm, thanks for giving me something to think about. I so easily forget there are other ways of doing life….
Also - hope y’all can make a road trip up here to see Ethan!
Comment by Cynthia — July 8, 2008 @ 9:40 pm
You’ve been tagged!
Comment by Nicole — July 9, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Thanks for this post Christy..sometimes I forget just how country my good friend Ryan is. Hillbilly.
Comment by Phil — July 9, 2008 @ 7:44 pm
The pop-in was a definite plus of growing up in a small town… I took a lot of things for granted growing up that I now see as clear advantages of small-town living. (Ex. It never takes more than 5 minutes to get anywhere; You didn’t really have to remember your library card, they know where you live…)
Comment by V — July 16, 2008 @ 9:10 pm
Ha! I hadn’t even read this post before I “stopped by” last night! You were very welcoming…..but you may want to wear a bra at all times just in case someone else drops by….he he he!
Comment by Julie — July 24, 2008 @ 10:09 pm
begokosh…
begokosh…
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