Small Town USA

BY VONDA HENDERSON

‘Where’re you from?’ An easy question. For folks from a small town in anywhere USA, there are some similar characteristics regardless of the geographic location.

People in a small town are quick to recognize strangers. Why? Not because they’re unfriendly, no indeed. They just know everybody who lives in town, so it’s easy to spot a stranger. Remember that episode from The Andy Grif th Show when a stranger showed up who seemed to know so much about everyone in Mayberry? Just from reading the local paper. If you’re of a certain age, you may recall that small town newspapers used to publish visits and other social events – so and so’s kids are in town for the week, the visiting pastor had dinner with the Joneses after Sunday church – that was big news.

Speaking of knowing local folks, which they do, they also know the family history back for several generations. Those ancestry businesses have nothing on them. Local citizens are a wealth of information about families in the area – who went off to war, who stayed home and why, who decided to leave home and came back – or not, who’s getting married, divorced, or engaged. Who bought that old home place, who is selling their family farm, or who’s buying up land? The fact list is long and ever-changing.

If you have brothers or sisters, you may have a lot to live up to or to live down, as the case may be. The teachers that taught your siblings remember all too well how they behaved and have likely already made assumptions before you even walk into their classroom. In some cases, they may have even taught your parents. Talk about pressure! And forget about seeing those teachers just in school. Nope, they’re out and about town just like you, and don’t forget that they know your mom and dad. So, if you thought you’d get away with skipping class or didn’t turn in homework, you’ll be found out – and soon.

Small town living is an open book. It’s hard to keep a secret. If you want to keep something private, tell no one – and even that may not work. If someone’s seen you your entire life, changes are noticed quickly.

Social life for small town living is interesting. Depending on the size, there may or may not be a movie theater, bowling alley, or fast-food restaurants. What is there to do in small town USA? Church activities, community-sponsored events, and local school athletics are high on the things to do list. There’s generally a strong emphasis on local high school sports and rivalries with neighboring communities. Depending on where you live, high school football games or basketball games are king and are the social events of the week.

And dating, well everyone knows who’s dating whom. Is a break-up imminent or are wedding bells in the future? Just how serious is this relationship? Are the families close? Or, is a Hat eld/McCoy situation brewing?

And, what about those kids who left right after graduation? Coming back home to visit is news, big news. Everyone wants to see you – family, friends, old neighbors and they all want to know what you’ve been doing and if you’re coming back to stay. Sometimes the pull back home is strong enough to bring folks back. More often than not, however, a visit is a time to re ect and visit, an R&R stop, and then back to your new home. Never fear, you’re not forgotten. Small towns love to have folks return, even for short periods.

Y’all come back now, ya’ hear?

Trellis