In My Little Town….

I grew up in a small town with a big heart.  I believe we led an idyllic life. We played kickball in front of our house, and hide and seek until dark.  We crafted may baskets for the elderly.  My dad taught every kid in the neighborhood to water ski. We skied and swam all summer long, and ice skated on the pond in winter.  The whole town came to the football  basketball, and baseball games. There was an older lady in our neighborhood named Opal, she played cards with us on rainy days.  It didn’t matter what time of day it was…if we knocked we were welcomed in for a game of 31.  And there was Clara. .. Clara was an amazing cook and gardener.  She always greeted us at her door with cake, cookies, or the bounty from her huge garden.  She was also the neighborhood watch dog.  When my older sister or her friend Cheryl would return from a date Clara  instinctively turned on her porch light and began sweeping .  I am not sure if she colluded with our parents or if she was just “inquisitive”.

The other night while waiting for my husband to arrive for dinner I visited Facebook and stopped in my tracks.  A friend from high school had posted these beautiful pictures.  All pictures but the first are the view I remember from my dad’s boathouse.  His home was torn down and replaced by two McMansions a few years back when he sold his house and moved to Texas. His side of the lake has changed a lot,  but across the lake it still remains as I remember it…
 


“I grew up in a small town,  in a place where your whole world revolved around friends, family, school,  church, and sports”.
Kenny Chesney



It was very much like Norman Rockwell: small town America. We walked to school or rode our bikes, …, skated on the pond.
Dorothy Hamill

A small town is a place where there's no place to go where you shouldn't.” Burt Bacharach

“To read the papers and to listen to the news... one would think the country is in terrible trouble. You do not get that impression when you travel the back roads and the small towns.  They do care about their country and wish it well.”  Charles Kuralt

“In my little town…I grew up believing…God keeps his eye on us all…Simon and Garfunkel

all images courtesy of dave bramlage 

I grew up in a little town called Monticello in Indiana.  I moved to California shortly after college and have lived here ever since.  I love California and hope to never  leave but there is something magical about growing up in a small town in the Midwest. The people are kinder and more grounded. Everyone looks out for everyone else. Maybe I wouldn’t feel the same had I stayed. 

When my children were young I tried to take them back every year to experience small town life in the Midwest. They loved it and I think they are better people for having experienced it. I try to go back for my high school reunions because I enjoy reconnecting with those people that helped and supported me while growing up.

In my little town…the leaves are beginning to turn…

Thanks Dave for the beautiful photos.

Did you grow up in a small town…if not do you wish you had?  Do you read Tongue In Cheek?   If not gohere….http://willows95988.typepad.com/tongue_cheek/  Corey now lives in France but grew up in a very small town in California…if you don’t read her blog you should it is wonderful.