Small towns...

I live in a small town, a bump in the road, the middle of nowhere. I know satellites can see us from space, (I have checked out my house on Google earth) but not sure why anyone would want to, unless you live here :) Growing up in a small town seemed like a curse, trying to do anything "fun" was certain to be witnessed by someone related to you, or at the very least someone who knew your parents. I couldn't wait to leave when I finished high school, and yet soon returned, discovering it is a great place to raise kids. Over the years I have adjusted to the scrutiny, where everyone knows what you are doing often before you do, where talking is just a way to pass the time, even if you would rather not be the topic of discussion. For all the small town cliches it is simply a great place to live. I reminded of the good in small towns often, I see it at the benefits held to help out a local family in need, or a people helping out when a tornado struck farms near town, or a town turning out to welcome home it's division of the national guard deployed over seas for a year, no one could have been more surprised than the soldiers on those buses who as they reached the city limits were welcomed by people lining the streets the entire way to the armory, so cool to see, and be a part of, so amazing to be able to say thank you for all you sacrificed. Last June I once again seen how a small town can pull together, this time to say good bye to a fallen soldier, whose aunts and uncles lived here, the entire route his funeral procession would take was covered with yellow ribbons, the streets were once again lined with people, who silently watched as the cars drove by, on their way to the cemetery where he would be buried in a town south of us...I'm not sure who was more surprised the people on the streets, who watched an endless stream of cars, buses and motorcycles, filled with family, friends and veterans, or the people in that procession who passed all those people lining the street, there for no other reason than to say we support you and thank you..small town pride is an amazing thing.

Today I have witnessed a couple of examples of small town pride...picking Yahaira up from dance practice I drove by the catholic church, quite quickly realized I should have taken a different route but glad that I didn't, I was surrounded by cars, filling every parking space, for blocks as I rounded the corner, I noticed a line of flags along the walkway to the church as I got closer I realized they were being held by men, guessing veterans, many from Vietnam..why? Inside the funeral for a local business man was being held, a man who was a local voice for veterans, a man who to his family was simply dad or grandpa, and yet in this small town his life touched many , and so this group of people were simply paying their respects in this way. Made me cry seeing this and yet proud at the same time. Talking to my sister later and she tells me about the caringbridge site set up for another local person, Heather is a secretary at the high school, earlier this month she was diagnosed with cancer. The site has had over 1300 hits since it was created on Thursday... so cool to read the comments, so cool to know that meals are being delivered to the family and that people are stepping up to help out in any way they can..if prayers and support alone could cure her, she would be well on her way to recovery... is this unique behaviour, I don't think so, if you were to ask someone from a small town they would quite likely seem puzzled and reply it's just what we do. I guess there is a balance there, for all the busybodies who know everything about you, there are many more who reach out to help when you stumble along the way...and that is just so cool! here is the caringbridge site for Heather if you would like to follow along on her progress
www.caringbridge.org/visit/heatherspitzner