Saturday, April 19, 2008

In a small town where bad things never happen

Every year around this time I consider moving back to the city. Spring just seems like a good time for new prospects, new boys. However, when I actually move to the city, I usually find that it's the same low paying jobs, the same stupid boys, there's just more of them. When I lived there, I just felt claustrophobic. I hated the traffic, the never ending noise.

Honestly, I love where I live. It's not a "normal" choice for a twenty five year old to live in a place that isn't even on google maps. I was here when the county got its first stop light. Even walmart is 45 minutes away. I like dirt roads, & the fact that the only time there is traffic is when someone is moving sheep across the street. I find it endearing that the post office just recently stopped taking a three hour lunch break. We have random festivals all summer long. It's basically Stars Hollow minus Luke. Visitors always laugh because when we pass a car on the road we wave at each other. They ask, who is that? I say, I don't know but they would probably stop & help if my car broke down.

A few days ago, I woke up to the phone ringing. It was my aunt, asking if I was dead. I said not to my knowledge. Apparently, there had been two murders in my small town a few hours earlier. It reminded me of when Lorelai was watching the news & says something like "Something horrible & grizzly happened in a small town where horrible grizzly things never happen" Yes, my town has crime. Yes, I always lock the doors on my car & house but mostly as a reflex from my days in the city. However, I've never been scared here before. I've never felt unsafe before. I've never mistrusted strangers I see in town. They eventually found the murderer a few states away. The motive is still unknown. I noticed yesterday when I was driving that most people didn't wave back. I guess the only thing to do is just keep waving.

8 comments:

Allie said...

Wow. Yes, keeping waving has to be a good thing.

Anonymous said...

Yowza, that's crazy. Keep waving dearie, and keep your doors locked.

xox

Unknown said...

unnerving! i'd still keep waving...it may catch on again! :) stay safe!

Trish Ryan said...

Yikes. It sounds silly to say, but I'm so glad it wasn't you! Keep waving, indeed!

LEstes65 said...

Keep waving. Don't let the idiots stop the wonderful Mayberry sensiblity you all have built.

Being a former city girl, I doubt I'll ever be able to leave my doors unlocked.

robin ann mcintosh said...

i think it's amazing, and admirable, your choice to live in a small town. waving at strangers? doesn't sound like a bad life :)

Alyssa Goodnight said...

Really? You live in a Stars Hollow without the Luke? Who serves you coffee? Where do you go for grumpy commentary?

Don't worry...things will bounce back.

Anonymous said...

I moved from Miami to a small town in NC for college, and I always lock my doors. No matter what. But keep waving. I think it's almost like an act of resistance, the refusal to stop something that can someone's day brighter.

So keep waving.