The smell of fall is in the air. Summer finally appears to have reached its closure. I for one, couldn’t be happier.
It is once again that spooky time of year, with Halloween quickly approaching. Following this spooky holiday will quickly be Thanksgiving once again. I cannot wait. I could use some that wonderful comfort food right about now.
I know I haven’t written much lately and know I am not here to make a declaration that I am back. But I am here to tell you that my family and I have been hard at work. We recently opened the Janesville Journal, in, well, Janesville. With the new business, we have been very busy. To those of you around town that have asked, no, that does not mean I have stopped working at the Star Eagle. It just means I’ve been very, very busy. Things seem to finally be settling into place. There’s a saying I heard the other day, “Thank God, next week things will finally slow down.” Well, it finally appears to be that week.
As well, coming up in November will be my 22nd birthday. My last birthday was one of my best by far — not because I could legally drink alcohol for the first time, but rather, the way it was celebrated, with my close friends. It was the closest thing to a surprise party I have ever had. I knew we were going to get together and spend the night hanging out, but I didn’t know they had planned the whole night out. I’ll spare you the drunken details, but the camaraderie I felt, rather the love I felt in the room amongst my close friends was something I will cherish forever and not forget anytime soon.
Sometimes I wonder how much I mean to my friends. I overthink things sometimes, and I’m sure I’m not the only one to think this way from time to time. My friends, that night, really showed me how much I mean to them. I just hope I can continue to return the favor.
The other day I stopped over at my neighbor’s house to catch up with old news. I was quickly reminded why I love small towns. Everyone is connected in some way. You or I may be close with someone, maybe our neighbors or family, and they will be close with someone else. That extends to the rest of the town. Before you know it, someone stops by and it’s like, “Wow, I didn’t know you too were friends.”
It’s kind of funny how small towns work. Some people love them and others can’t wait to escape. People claim to hate gossip and others can’t get enough. I tend to think that a lot of the gossip begins from a good place, a caring place. Of course this isn’t always true, and often times gets blown out of proportion. Everyone remembers playing the game “Telephone” growing up. Small towns are really like one big game of Telephone.
My great uncle Chuck wrote last week about smiling at strangers. I like what he said, but when I’m in town I’m not smiling at strangers as they pass by, I’m smiling at my old bus driver like I did today when I walked into the gas station. Or I’m smiling at the cashier who’s the younger sister of a girl I took my first prom. Or it’s the homecoming king making my food, or the cook at my local cafe whom I’ve seen at local council meetings.
I really feel like I write about this topic quite a bit, but I don’t think it can be said enough. Small towns are truly family. Some family members you like more than others, but at the end of the day, you love them all the same.