As I have gone off to college and been introduced to numerous people the familiar question came up more and more, “Where are you from?” In the beginning I used to say my town name loud and proud, and was always met with a blank stare or a vacant nod, and an “Oh! That’s nice.” The truth being that no one had ever heard of the town I grew up in. After I learned that, I had to go through an extensive checklist of landmarks for people to have an idea of where I might live. Many however were still clueless. I grew up in small-town, middle of nowhere but I would not have traded my childhood or my town for the world.
Growing up in a small town makes you realize and embrace the facts of life that are somehow missing in the bustling version of life that inhabits cities. Stores are not a quick drive or walk down the street, a drive into the “city” takes 30 minutes at least and the stores close as soon as six o’clock. Each and every house is surrounded by walls of green and trees separate land more than fake fences. Dirt roads are a common occurrence and paved roads are certainly a blessing. Local farms sell eggs and their produce, while many of your vegetables come from your own backyard. A walk to a lake, pond, or river is never too far and growing up fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and hiking around the water provide for some priceless memories. Having mountains upon mountains nearby is just another small-town blessing and a continuous reminder of how small you really are on this earth. The nature surrounding you is constantly humbling.
A small town makes you bond with your family, they are your main entertainment source. Your friends all live down the road or the next one over and everyone knows everyone. Your graduating kindergarten class is filled with the same faces as your high school class and you form a family over the twelve or more years that you have shared together. A small-town bond provides endless support for not only your individual self but for your athletics, academics, societies, and local businesses. Everyone is always there for every event, every family, and every big moment that needs a little extra care or help.
Some people view small town folk as poor but they are greatly misunderstood. We may not be given direct access to the busy city streets, the streams of people or the sky-high apartment and store buildings. However we are very rich. We are rich in the fact that the stars light up our sky at night and that swimming holes and mountains are around every corner. Rich in the bonds we share with our neighbors and bordering towns. In the connections that are found in family heritage and history within the town and the nature that fills our every breath. In the family owned businesses and safety of the small neighborhoods. However, the thing that makes us the richest of all is that we get to call small-town, middle of nowhere our one and only home.
