Appreciation the small stuff

For my entire life, Mayberry has held a special place in my heart.  It's seen my best, witnessed my worst, kept me grounded, and helped teach me some of life's most important lessons.

If you're not from a small town, there are some things you have been deprived of:

For instance, where else can you walk into a restaurant during the busy lunch hour and the waitress knows exactly what you want before you sit down?

In towns like this ...
- You wave to just about every vehicle you pass, because you know them, are related to them, or used to date one of their relatives

- You can, while on your morning 3 mile walk, pass the doughnut shop and decide to eat one. However, you don't have your wallet and the owner tells you to take it and bring by cash before you go to work, which is a block away.

- When a fire truck is around your neighborhood with its lights on, you WILL receive phone calls wanting I make sure that you and your grandma's cookbook are ok.

- Instead of pulling you over, a cop might call your cell phone to tell you to slow down. Or, better yet- he'll call your dad. (That will scare the crap out of any sixteen year old!)

- You will see people driving to a rural restaurant on their 4-wheelers or UTVs. Technically, I think it's illegal, but people do what people do.

- If there's been a death in your family, people will show up within hours to mow your yard, feed you broccoli casserole, water your flowers an take out your trash. Why? Because they know you have more important things to deal with and they've been there too.


All that is just more reason for me to love this town, but more importantly, appreciate the people who have molded me into the person I am today.

Wherever I may end up, I know this town will always be in my heart.