(The second story of six remaining from our trip south for Easter Break)
In spite of what those in big cities, or those from important cities, such as Washington, D.C., New York City, or Los Angeles and Chicago think, most of America is still made up of people from small towns. There is so much to treasure about a small town, especially these days. Any small town that can make it, that has a working Main Street, with well-stocked shops and restaurants and cash registers that ring, that small town is to be commended.
In spite of what those in big cities, or those from important cities, such as Washington, D.C., New York City, or Los Angeles and Chicago think, most of America is still made up of people from small towns. There is so much to treasure about a small town, especially these days. Any small town that can make it, that has a working Main Street, with well-stocked shops and restaurants and cash registers that ring, that small town is to be commended.
I visited one small town like that with Jamie during our time with her there earlier this month. It's not terribly far from her town, and this one has lots of old storefronts, three blocks or more of them. They're all very well kept, and have these sidewalks with canopies, which in itself is charming.
(Hi Jamie! She was far ahead of her photo-snapping mom--on a mission, trying to find the right dresser for the baby's room! She found it!)
(Hi Jamie! She was far ahead of her photo-snapping mom--on a mission, trying to find the right dresser for the baby's room! She found it!)
There are no cookie cutter door fronts here, no sleek, modern windows all in a row. Each shop has their own look, their own kind of charm, in loads. I give them credit because it can't be easy to keep this town looking this way when it would be so much easier to go the way of "low maintenance".
But here old is celebrated, and there are plenty who (like us!) appreciate that. Walking the main street, traffic is noticeably heavy, it's not far off the main interstate, there are plenty of places to go, most of which take everyone straight through downtown. Because of that heavy traffic, the shop owners are rewarded, especially if the light turns red, and drivers have time to let their eyes wander and look at all that's in the antique shop and thrift store windows!
But here old is celebrated, and there are plenty who (like us!) appreciate that. Walking the main street, traffic is noticeably heavy, it's not far off the main interstate, there are plenty of places to go, most of which take everyone straight through downtown. Because of that heavy traffic, the shop owners are rewarded, especially if the light turns red, and drivers have time to let their eyes wander and look at all that's in the antique shop and thrift store windows!
You hear the sound of traffic, changing with the lights, and many times you'll hear the loud train heading through...blowing its whistle loudly and rumbling the sidewalk you stand on.
For many, it would be an immediate flashback in your mind of holding mom's hand while shopping in your own little Midwestern hometown, decades ago.
All of it greets and welcomes you with open arms, to stay awhile, to spend some time browsing or eating, or if you're like me, just looking and ooh-ing and ahh-ing and spending a few dollars.
This little display was in an outdoor eating area at a little restaurant in town, as charming as can be. I just wanted to get that old kitchen cupboard with the tin counter top...load it up and take it home!
This shop was closed at the time, but how I wanted to grab three of these old Coke crates, for TEN DOLLARS?!!
(Sorry, didn't mean to shout, but what a bargain!)
(Sorry, didn't mean to shout, but what a bargain!)
What small town southern scene would be right without the requisite number of rocking chairs: it's indicative of the pace of the south, laid back, there's all the time in the world!
A broader view of Main Street.
And the side street on which the Depot and the Freight House stand...
(Ya think I could hot wire that old Ford truck and bring it home?!)
(Ya think I could hot wire that old Ford truck and bring it home?!)
Pretty as a picture.
Tomorrow I'll show you scenes from Jamie's baby shower, held in the Freight House, next door to this beautiful old Train Depot, a centerpiece in this treasure of a town!
One of the shop owners told us her husband is a train engineer for CSX and that when he comes through town, he has a special combination when he blows the whistle, just so she knows it's him! I thought that was so sweet!
If you can go to visit the deep south in the spring, you certainly will not regret it, the world is in bloom, and the weather mild: the feel of the gentle days heart-breakingly soft, and for this color-starved girl from the cold and gray Midwest, it was a balm to the soul!
