Small towns tend to get a bad rap in the media sometimes. Look at any movie where the main character is itching to get out of the small, suffocating town. Especially in the South, there are plenty of these small towns with people itching to get out as soon as possible. What they often forget are the exact reasons our families have been here for generations.
1. The Acquaintances
When you walk down the street, or even down the aisle at the grocery store, it's impossible not to run into someone you know. You'll get into a ten minute conversation about how their mama is because you heard she was a prayer request at First Baptist last week or how their dog is doing since your cousin just got a puppy from her last litter or how their hunt went last week and try to weasel your way into getting some venison. Even if you don't know them, odds are you still throw up a hand in a silent hello.
2. The Family
There's nothing quite like having family so close. If you ever need something, they're right there in a moment's notice with anything you could need. Last week, I remembered my great-grandmother didn't have a hair dryer. Instead of facing the struggle of having to let it air dry and still not having a hair straightener, I drove the whole ten seconds back to my uncle's house and borrowed his wife's hair dryer. When I pulled up, my great-grandfather's brother was there having Uncle John look at his boat. The glories of having family live close to you.
3. The Friends
On the first day of Kindergarten, I became friends with a girl whose mom walked with my mom when they were pregnant with us. When I was home over Christmas, I laid in bed with her and watched "Gilmore Girls" and then went on an adventure with her and her fiancé, who was one of our best friends in middle school. The day before, I went to dinner with a friend from high school and lunch with a friend from middle school. Only in a small town can you be close with the daughters and sons or nieces and nephews of the people your parents went to school with.
4. The Food
Especially in a small Southern town, you get plenty of good food. When you can recognize Ms. Yvonne's mashed potatoes or Mrs. Anna's twelve-layer yellow cake with chocolate icing on first sight due to the many times you've eaten them at church potlucks or funerals, you know you're from a small town.
5. The Recognition
I still can't go to Walgreen's without the cashier asking why she hasn't seen me on any of the singing talent shows. Sure, the names of the shows may change from "American Idol" to "The Voice" or "America's Got Talent," but I still have people calling me "The Little Girl With The Big Voice" from shows that we did in elementary school. I can still say, "Yes sir, I'm Mrs. Anna Hardwick's great-granddaughter," in certain places in town and get anything I want from and extra cup of Yum-Yum sauce to getting around having to have an ID at some places since they can see the family resemblance.
6. The Places
Odds are, there's a story around every street corner. From the old courthouse where you had your first kiss on the front steps and won your first Mock Trial case to the train tracks where everyone took Prom pictures. Whether it's a fantastic story about the time you beat the hometown rival under the Friday night lights or one that causes you to turn red like the time you landed flat on your butt at the IHOP, each place has a unique story to it.
There are few things as great as living in a small town. You get to know all the people, all their business, and all their quirks. Just keep in mind that everyone gets to know the same things about you!
