There's nothing like a small town. The cricket and cicadas buzzing in the background, the sounds of people talking in small conversations, and the occasional burrr of a car driving by. This is small town America, and from what is quickly becoming clear on this journey out west, this is most of America.
I grew up in a small town; graduated 80-something people from my high school class. Everybody knew everybody, and I can still remember the bus route we took, and where everyone lived. Sure, that meant more people "in your business", but small town Americans have a charm about us. It's really that we care, and think it takes a village to get stuff done. Sure, city-dwellers can be gentle and welcoming too, but there's nothing quite like good 'ol country folk.
I drove through Illinois and Iowa today (spending tonight in Omaha, NE). I made a point, as I ways do, to get off the highway for a bit and drive some smaller roads. Interstates all start looking the same after a while (plus it's a great cure for getting road sleepy- smaller roads keep you awake!), and these roads hug the contours, and get you into the parts-unknown (to outsiders, that is). I was pleasantly surprised by stumbling onto Sacred Rock State Park in Illinois. I was actually hunting down Utica, IL, since I'm from nearby Utica, NY. It's a fantastic park, and worth checking out! But all this driving in these gorgeous, lesser known areas got me thinking all philosophical-like: why do we get so "bored" without constant stimulation?
I won't actually attempt to answer it- I'm not that good at blogging yet. But I can say that people from bigger cities (NYC cough NYC) tend to complain of the lack of "things to do" in small cities. Boy, I'd like to show them Utica, IL, or Grinnel, IA. Now, that by no means is wrong, or even untrue- I mean I love cities, I really do (see Chicago post) it's just a different perspective of things. Now, comparing any town to NYC will probably leave the opinion wanting, but it's worth thinking about how your outlook effects your happiness.
Small towns show the value of being quiet, slowing down, and letting your thoughts, well, be thoughts. Instead of puzzling through something, how often do we drown it out with media, a text, a game on the i-whatever. Being out here lets one think, and that's a good thing. Also, it's beautiful to look at too. Food for thought!
