What Makes a Great Small Town?
Author: Bill Garwood
What Makes a Great Small Town?
I have talked about Townsend and all that makes it great before. This time I’m talking about any and all small towns, in America. I will use Townsend as an example because it’s OUR hometown. And because I’m too lazy to go looking at all the other small towns, to gauge their pros and cons.
One thing I just observed (yes, I’m not all that observant) is our alleys, those smaller roads behind our lots, or between our regular street addresses. Alleys (mostly) make good neighbors. People taking out their trash meet and talk about their neighborhoods. Or just to offer advice on mowing lawns, or trimming hedges. I’d say “clandestine” meetings but I don’t want to give the impression that there is “hanky panky” going on in our alleys. (What in blue blazes is “panky” anyway?)
I was driving around Townsend’s alleys and found all kinds of neat-looking back yards! Lots of boats, old cars, etc. and WORKSHOPS! Wow, do you folks ever get into working on projects! All kinds of engine repair shops, maybe some “Mad Scientist” experiments going on. (“I see NOTHING”).
One thing I love to watch is when tourists come into a business and are looking all amazed at how everyone seems to know everyone. If you have worked in Townsend, or around the area for a while everyone knows your name and will say hello. This is a wonderful thing, however, it sometimes scares the new folks or people just visiting. (Which is always Fun!)
Even our wonderful mail carriers get greeted warmly as they go about their appointed rounds in the morning; friendly people are everywhere. Why this unnerves some people I have no idea. We do have our own selection of “NUTS”, of which I count myself among, thank you very much. People who walk around downtown saying hello to everyone…whether you can see them or not. These are called “Apparition Americans” or ghosts/spirits etc.; Townsend does seem to have many of these special folks. I guess they just love the town so much they don’t want to leave.
Everyone remarks on the weather, a common phrase is: “looks like it might rain"…to which the folks ALWAYS answer: “but we NEED the moisture”. We even have a good bar-to-church ratio, not too many of either. Want to know what’s on the minds of local people? Read the bumper stickers, that will tell you the thoughts and feelings of everyone from our area. Our town is going through a great revival (NO there isn’t a massive circus tent with Gospel singers..). People are just cleaning up and refurbishing their homes/land/vehicles. NICE!
So go out and walk around our town, see what is more than average about our town. You will be amazed and welcomed by local folks all over town. And just for fun, make a crazy face at a Tourist.
