I was ready to get going but not quite ready to leave.

Departing the small tourist town of Fredericksburg was rough. In Fredericksburg, you run over tourists (kidding of course), but in Abilene you run over and into pot holes, uneven lanes, and strong currents of water at the slightest hint of rain. The roads are "rough" and bumpy yes, but I prefer my naturally hilly home.

In a literal sense I enjoyed a specific bump at home that my car would glide over, sometimes catching air. But now we are just getting away from the point. The point is that small towns have a unique charm to them, a charm that is not immediately noticeable in a city.

1. The sense of community.

H-E-B may have been a whopping five minutes from my house, and I may have gone in there with a list and a firm understanding of where everything was, but my time in the store usually lasted on the upward of 45 minutes. You have to be sneaky for it not to. You see your teachers, your co-workers, and your neighbors. It is safe to say that the most happening places in all of Fredericksburg were the store, specifically H-E-B, and Whataburger (just like we like it in Texas).

2. People honestly care about you.

Tragedy strikes no matter where you are, but small communities are there to back you up during your worst and celebrate with you in times of joy. Communities are the essence of Romans 12:15 which reads "Rejoice with those who rejoice; and mourn with those who mourn." People have a sincere interest in your wellbeing because they understand that you are not just a number making up the population.

3. 5 minutes to the countryside

It only takes five minutes and a tank of gas to get to somewhere secluded. During that time you can think about all of life's problems and the solutions, or jam to innocent Justin Bieber or Miley Cyrus. You don't have to worry about missing exists because your options are limited and the "worst" thing that could happen to you is you end up on a backroad with cattle guards, which is actually preferable over the highway anyway. Traffic is not a word in our vocabulary.

4. A love for country music.

I joke about Justin Bieber but really it's all about George Strait, "The King of Country," and Cody Johnson. We know our country artists and may have even met some at the great Luckenbach Dancehall. We pretty much have the two step down and can more than likely do line dances such as "Copperhead Road."

5. More than a name

There is a "Main Street" and it lives up to its name. It is the main street which everything else flows from much like a heart. Most of the important places such as Dollar Tree, Walmart, and DQ share this address with all the local shops and restaurants. Main street also serves as the town speedway/ time waster.

"What are you doing?"

"Driving back and forth down Main Street."

6. Being able to trust people.

Your boss probably goes to your Church. Your school teacher may also double as your Sunday School teacher. Your co-workers probably sits next to you in school. You know the different situations people are in and have learned to trust them because of the context and time you spend with them. While it would be unrealistic to trust everyone fully, you know there isn't a need to always be cautious of your surroundings. People are not likely "out to get you" because they care about you and love you as they love themselves.

7. Quiet nights

You know what stars really look like. You hear crickets nightly. You see deer run across your yard. The combination of the three equal a sense of comfort. The world is still in motion and the animals are taken care of my the Creator. You are being taken care of too, by the presence of a strong community bound up in love.

What happens when you escape a small town?

You realize that your grand escape has led to an appreciation for the finer things in life: cattle-guards, community, and country music. All those times you complained there was nothing to do, and all you want to do is go back and do nothing but enjoy other people's company and the sound of crickets. I am so thankful to have grown up in a town that makes me want to "escape" back to it.

I was ready to go, but I will never leave Fredericksburg completely behind.