Yes, There ARE Still Places Like This

I needed some recharging this weekend, and I got it.  While Hubs was out of town, the kids and I spent a quiet weekend with my parents in my old hometown, in the hills of rural Arkansas (let's call it Mayberry, for good reason.)

My dad grew up there, and my grandfather, and my great-grandfather.  It's a very small town of about 4,000 people--the kind of place where old men hang out at the gas station to drink coffee and everyone in town goes to the Friday night football games.  When I was in college, my dad sent me a copy of the weekly town paper, and one week a "bandit squirrel" causing some property damage made the front page. It's that kind of place.

When I lived there, of course, I couldn't wait to leave.  I thought it was dull and small-minded.  And to be sure, though it's easy to romanticize living in a Mayberry-esque, small, southern town, life isn't as uncomplicated as one might think.  There is little privacy.  My mother tells the story of, when she first moved to Mayberry after marriage, her next-door neighbor came over to compliment her on her lovely new towels.  Towels? my mother wondered, until she realized the neighbor had been inspecting what she was hanging on the clothesline in the backyard.

Now that I no longer live there, it's easier to dwell on my hometown's charm.  As I strolled the streets this weekend, camera in hand (and laughing as passing cars slowed down--I knew I would probably be dinnertime conversation at more than one table as folks discussed who was the strange lady with the camera), I felt the refreshment that can only come from touching our own roots.  I'm not that young girl anymore--I don't want to be.  But something in me just rests when I visit the place where I was completely carefree, not forced to make any decisions or take care of anyone else. 

And so, today, I'm thankful for that little town that used to frustrate me so much.  I'm thankful to  know there's still a place where the beauty parlor is a scene straight out of Steel Magnolias, and a lady taking pictures on the sidewalk is a reason to slow down your car.  Thanks, Mayberry.

Comments

[Lindsey]

The "real" Mayberry (or at least where Andy Griffith was filmed) is right near me. It is a charming place. Thanks for sharing your great pictures here!
And...happy mama's day!

[rsd]

Great post sis. It almost makes me want to go back... well, almost. It is so strange how a place can hold so many contradictory feelings. It is such a rest from my family's life in the northeast and yet I pull my hair out when I hear typical stories from Mom and Dad. But, either way, your pictures and words captured the feel of our little town perfectly.

[Brenda]

I wasn't aware that you're an Arkansas native. I was born in England, Arkansas and grew up in Little Rock. You're right, it is easier to see the charm of a small town when you don't live there.

[Mich]

It sounds like you had a much needed rest. Seeing pictures of your church sure brings back memories...Love the picture of your dad and the boys.

[Theresa]

Great pics S! My favorite was the hand written one about being closed for the senior graduation. Glad to see in this face-paced world that places like this still exist!

[Michelle- This One's For the Girls]

Hey-- I know that small town!! (Marrying an Arkansas, smalltown boy helps, plus the fact that we've lived in Salem (near Mountain Home), Jonesboro, Hot Springs and Camden. (Husband's folks live in Bentonville.) I think I've driven through nearly every town in Arkansas. :)

I love the small town where we currently reside-- but there is definitely a downside to it too.

Loved your pictures.

[Carol]

Ah! Life in the slow lane. It's enough to make me want to chuck it all and move. Almost.

Love this post!

[Shannon from Rocks in my Dryer]

By the way, that church is the one I was married in--forgot to say that.

[Neighbor Jane]

Wonderful post Shannon. Thanks for reminiscing aloud so we could enjoy it.

[Cindy]

Loved the tour of your hometown. Makes me want to visit. Hope you had a great mother's day.

[Nettie]

Although I didn't grow up in one, I love little towns like that. Glad you had a nice week end!

[Stacey]

I love small towns like this!! It was fun to see where you grew up!!

[Rachelle]

What a great little small town. I prefer to live in a city, but love to visit small places like that. It is a totally restful feeling. Thanks for sharing those pics with us!

[Diane]

There's no place like home! Stunning photo's! Thanks for sharing!

Diane

[Susanne]

Love the sign that says "In Honor the Seniors we will be closed for graduation". Only in a small town! That would NEVER happen in my city!

[Rabbit]

Oh Shannon...I just got home from a week in MY hometown...not so small but still that peaceful calm of being where I'm FROM. Glad you got to slow down and breathe, and thank you for sharing it with us!

[Gibee]

Beautiful pics! Sounds like you had a restful weekend.

And, uh ... your hubby was sent on a business trip over MOTHER'S DAY?!? Is this company run by men? It must be!

Thanks for slowing our pace down for a few minutes by sharing your weekend with us!

[Traci]

Even though I live in an urban area of AR, I still travel through the rural towns surrounding us and I'm always reminded of my days living in rural Kosciusko, Mississippi. I love going back and I miss it, but not enough to move. I've gotten used to this city life - haha well it's not really city life - yet... but it seems like it compared to everything else around us.

[melnel]

Those are some amazing pictures.

This was really fun for me, never having personally experienced real small town charm.

[mopsy]

Very nice post! I never appreciated my hometown until adulthood. I love visiting.

Thanks for taking us along on your trip to Mayberry.

[Megan]

My husband grew up in an extremely rural area of 150, but the closest town where he went to school had about 1,500. We lived there for two months last year between Colorado and Missouri and it is on the radar screen of places we just well might end up after seminary.

I can get very excited about that and very terrified at the same time for all the reasons you mentioned here. The charm of the place is definitely easier to feel when only visiting and not a resident... :)

[mimi2six]

When a friend's son married a girl from a much larger city and they were moving to our little "Mayberry", I told her that the thing she would dislike the most about a small town is that everyone knows your business, and the thing she would like the most is......that everyone knows your business. Much of small town life is as charming as it is often depicted. It has its down side, too......as does any place. It was wonderful raising Shannon and her brother here, but I'm glad they didn't stay here. (And we're seriously thinking about leaving when we retire.....we long for anonymity!!!!!)

[Lei]

On our way to my dad's house we drive though a couple small, Mayberry-esque towns. I've always wondered what it would be like to live in one of them... such small, quaint, everyone knows your name type places. Seems like a charming environment from an onlooker's point of view...

[chilihead]

Lovely post. I felt many of those same things this weekend while visiting my mother. My dad also comes from an even smaller town that I do--more like yours. And it is truly wonderful to make that visit every year when we go to Iowa.

[Shalee]

One thing I miss about the South and small towns: the slow, accepting idea that life is good at a stroll. Stop and talk with the neighbors on the front porch, drink some lemonade and help a friend. Those things get passed by in a busy, hustle-bustle place. Oh and the homemade apple pies to share with a new neighbor... That is one tradition I refuse to lose!

So glad you found the recharging you needed. God was leading you right back to home.

And I love that you showed the church that you got married. I bet it looks as special as the day you said your vows!