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Celebrating Small Towns
Jeff Dorris
In the last few weeks I’ve had the privilege of attending two very special birthdays.
The city of Cardwell turned 114 years old, while Malden celebrated 140.
It was wonderful to see communities pull together and honor their heritage.
There is something very special about a group of people sharing memories of their town.
Remembering businesses of long ago and old neighbors that continue to hold a special place in our hearts.
My hometown is 500 miles north of the bootheel and we celebrated 100 years this spring as well.
I wasn’t able to attend but someone was good enough to put the highlights on Facebook.
I’ve watched that parade a dozen times as it passed by my old haunts.
Although surrounded by large metropolitan areas my little town consists of around 3,500 people.
It’s a small town.
Everyone is attached to the place they grew up, be it a large city like Chicago or New York, or a small community like Malden and Cardwell, but there is something very special about small towns.
Any one that has grown up in one can attest to that.
One of the most amazing things I find about small towns is they all share some of the same attributes.
Oh sure they each have their own personality but there are many similarities.
Whatever region you hail from, north, south, east, or west, all small towns are virtually the same, and it’s not until you move away to a big city that you realize how special they are.
Some stay in the community for a lifetime, but most can’t wait to get out, however we find ourselves visiting often and quite a few of us move back eventually.
Here are a few of the characteristics that all small towns share and why we love them.
You know virtually everyone.
That’s a sort of love it or hate it aspect of small town living. You know most everybody in town and they all know you and your business. In fact, swapping stories about our neighbors is one of our favorite forms of entertainment in a small town.
You have manners.
Manners are important.
Parents and grandparents absolutely made sure you had them. To this day, it’s engrained in me to hold doors open, say please and thank you, and respect my elders.
Bonfires.
There’s not a whole lot to do in a small town but bonfires are always a good idea. We even had school-sanctioned bonfires at homecoming time and the whole town attended. It was a good place to swap those stories about your neighbors.
High school sports are a very big deal.
It seems like the whole town shuts down on Friday night for the game.
You had the same doctor your whole life.
My entire youth from birth to graduation I saw one doctor. I dreaded trips to his office, but look back on him now so very fondly.
There are so many other similarities such as using the streetlights as an appropriate time to get back in your yard, teenagers cruising the main strip, and the anticipation for the biggest event of the year, the county fair.
You’re just glad you grew up there.
I’m so glad I grew up in a small town and now after years in the city, I’ve been able to move back to a small town.
Some of our kids are chomping at the bit to move away and experience life in the big city.
I know, I’ve been there.
It sure is nice to know there will always be a small town, a cherished community, a home, for them to come back to.
God bless our small towns.
See you out there.