Tiny towns litter the Midwest. They all have that small town charm. They all have those kids who are desperate to leave. They have the farmers who meet for coffee, and a small grocery store. They all are special in their own way. Hershey, Nebraska, however, holds a special place in my heart. It's where I grew up, It's where my family lives. It's the place I think about when songs about a small town come on the radio. It is not a town without faults, but it is a pretty incredible place to live.
1. Fall Festival is one of the best days of the year.
This past Saturday is one of the greatest days in our village. Start out with the wild fun run in the morning. Then the parade. Eating in the park with basically everyone in the town shows how close the community is. Next the firefighter water fight or pie social at the church. It's a great day.
2. Some teachers taught your parents too.
Mr. Mark, Mr. Rankin, Mr. Foster, and Mrs. George all taught my dad, and I was lucky enough to have them too. Three of them retired shortly after teaching me, and only one lucky enough to have all four of my younger siblings, Mr. Mark. I am 95% sure he's immortal and will someday teach my children.
3. Cousins. Cousins everywhere
Everyone is related to everyone. The Huebners and Johnsons are related to the McConnells. The McConnells are related to the Browns. The Browns are married to the Huebners. Follow that? It's okay. It's complicated. When you're families homesteaded around 110 years ago, family lines cross. It's safer to assume everyone is related and just date outside of the town.
4. Sports are life
In the fall Friday nights are for football. In the winter it's basketball games galore. Then the community pulls together to put on a track meet in the spring. In the summer it is popcorn and baseball. When the teams do well they are given a send off by the fire department and most of the town.
5. You know the gym is empty without Coach Miller
Honestly, when I walk into the school I still expect to see him standing in the Common's area, swinging his keys and drinking coffee. I still expect his voice to come ringing out the gym doors.
6. Trains
Sitting in class and suddenly the whiteboard starts to shake. Or you're laying in bed in the middle of the night when the horn goes off again. Every 8 minutes. EVERY 8 MINUTES there is a train that goes through Hershey. They're annoying but you truly do get used to it, and when people in Wichita complain about the trains I laugh.
7. The Rope Swing
The interstate lake right outside of town is great for kayaking, or fishing, but the most fun thing is the rope swing. Climbing up into the tree just to throw yourself into the water is considered fun right? More than once I have done an epic belly flop or gotten my foot stuck. But despite a few disasters, it's a pretty awesome way to cool off.
8. You know everyone
Really, though. You know everyone. Walking down the street your hand can get pretty tired from waving to everyone you pass. Trips to the grocery story or into the school take four times longer than they should, just because you have to talk to everyone.
9. DaMoude's have the best fireworks
Grammy and Poppo DaMoude are not playing around when it comes to fireworks. They plan all year for this, it's basically their Christmas. They have the best fireworks, at the best price and because they really are just the best Poppo typically throws in sparklers.
10. You know the waitress's at Butches, and they know you.
Lunch time and there's only one place to go. Butch's Steak House. I've been ordering Shirley Temples there for so long that when I enter most of the waitresses don't even ask me what I want to drink. They know who wants ranch. They know how everyone wants their steaks cooked, and they're just the sweetest.
11. You know random things about most everyone.
If you live in a small town, you know things, it happens. You know who dated who in high school. You know the name of your neighbor's childhood pet. You know Peggy Brown makes amazing sugar cookies. It's really a small town thing.
12. Olsen's feed yard is a smell that you never get used to.
I have no idea how many times I've driven by the feed yard but every time I still hold my breath until I've passed it. Worse than driving by it, was when it hits you unexpectedly. When the wind blows just right you can smell it at the school, and you just can't hold your breath for all of track practice. I've tried.
13. The nearest Walmart is 20 minutes away.
So is the nearest mall, fast food restaurant, dentist, doctor or anything vitally important that you may need. Really the drive isn't too terrible, but when you have to make it 6 or 7 times a week it gets a little old.
14. Farmers drink coffee at Kwik Stop
If you get into town in the wee hours of the morning you will see the rare sighting of farmers relaxing. They go in, get a couple cups of coffee and gossip like a bunch of old women. If you see a bunch of trucks sitting outside the gas station it's safe to say there's a coffee break happening.
15. Community is everything
Remember how we saved the town from flooding? People filling sandbags, taking out food for workers and just helping everyone. If there ever actually was a zombie apocalypse I would feel very safe in this little village, because when we put our heads together there isn't anything we can't accomplish.
