Down Home

Just off of the beaten path
A little dot on a state road map
That's where I was born & where I'll die
Things move at a slower pace
Nobody's in a rat race
And these days that's a special way to fly

I've been thinking more on the "small town" feel since I wrote that post. I remember it being quite the change from the DFW area.
I always think of the song "Down Home" by Alabama when I think of this life.
*Down home, where they know you by name and treat you like family.

It's a quiet town. No traffic lights, one stop sign. Everyone waves as you drive by each other, even if you don't know one another.
They all know your car. They all know your business.
*Down home, where a man's good word and a handshake are all you need.

We have a general store, a post office, a laundromat (and showers for those without running water) and a volunteer fire department. I actually know the deputy sheriff, as he has been here more than a few times, but I rarely actually see him drive through town.
*Folks know, if you're fallin on hard times, you can fall back on... those of us raised up, down home.

Some people do have a tab at the grocery store. When I've needed help here while alone, neighbors get together and help.
When my water pump died, neighbors went and filled up barrels of spring water for me and the horses.
The pump guy came out on a holiday to fix it, no pay required immediately.

You don't hear sirens. You don't hear car alarms. You hear the train sometimes, dogs bark, and the occasional gunshot.
There is no fast food. There are no restaurants. No delivery.
No newspaper. No ice cream shop or donuts.
No ones in a hurry. Everyone says hello. Everyone smiles :)

Of course as nice as all of this is, you start to miss some things.
I miss pizza delivery.
I miss coffee shops and donut shops.
It's weird to not have a local paper or the local news.
You can't run down to the store after 8pm when you have a craving.
You can't run to Target because you forgot to get a gift.
You can't stop and get dinner somewhere because you don't feel like cooking.
And.. you can't use your cell phone here.

But.. it's peaceful and it's beautiful.
And I'm know I'm lucky enough to say I get to enjoy it.
And soon, I'll be able to enjoy the best of both worlds.

*When I was a boy I couldn't wait to leave this place
But now I wanna see my children raised...

Down home.