Small Town Living – Community

Small town living. 
Community. 
A fun reminder today of the uniqueness of this place we call home.

The sun shone brightly.
The temperatures tipped the scale at 34!
The wind ceased it’s assault and for moments it felt warm.
I hung my sheets to dry.

The change isn’t here yet.
But soon.
Very soon the wind will shift and bring the warmer air.
Some brave birds have taken up their chorus of welcome

I head to the local market.
Still fairly new, I marvel at how quickly I can get there.
I drop the farm girls off at the Middle School, and head over to the store.

I think of the years this building was the shop for the Lumber Mill.
I can still see all the activity.
We would head over there for sawdust for the farm.

I move through the aisles to gather my few items.
Potatoes for a neighbor gathering in the evening.
Fruit and bread for the house.

I notice the local chocolate shops have a display.
I love the idea of supporting our local businesses.
Small town living. 

My thoughts are interrupted.
A woman introduces herself.
She recognizes me.
I recognize her name.
She lives in this small town and has followed our story.

We chat there in the store.
Strangers becoming friends. 
She, a military mom.
We find other connections.
My heart is warmed by this inter change.
Small town living. 

I continue on with my shopping.
I see another dear woman in the faith.
One I highly admire and look up to.
We chat briefly.
Both of us with much to do.

I head home to make a potato salad and get ready for the afternoon performance at the  middle school.

I am still carrying this sense of Community – small town living-  as I watch, for the second time, these young people perform.
At the end of the performance the 8th graders stand up and pay tribute to the Drama directors.
It is a beautiful thing.
Some students share about their connectedness to this group –Community.

Small town living.

I head home to prepare for a gathering at a neighbors.
Neighbors meeting together a few times a year.
We catch up on life.
We talk of winters grip and the spring.
A meal is shared.
Community. 
Small town living.

It wasn’t a particularly spectacular day.
It was just little  moments here and there.
Life in a small town. 

“After all,” Anne had said to Marilla once, “I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea