Small town life is good isn’t it?
I think sometimes we forget how good it is. When I see what goes on in large cities I cringe.
Example, a woman called me because she had an error in an obituary and would I fix it? And she was so sorry to bother me.
I gave her my cell number and said if you find another error call me day or night. I am here. And I am so sorry for your loss.
Obituaries here are free and we like them long. We want to know stories and really remember the person.
When my father passed away in a larger area in Florida in 2006, the funeral home said it would be $1.00 a word for his obituary.
But his name date of birth and date of death were free. I can’t remember now if they charged me for the dash in between. sarcasm
In a small town neighbors and friends can get on your last nerve but at the end of the day if tragedy strikes, those same people are at your door with a meal or an offer to help.
Politics get put behind relationships. These are the people of our town. We work with them. Seeing the new teachers faces in the newspaper made me happy.
If I see one of them downtown, I can say hi and introduce myself. Or I can try to help if needed.
I remember when I lived in New York City and the homeless were everywhere. I walked by them, stepped over them without a second thought.
The way I spoke to people and how others spoke to strangers shocks me. Random people will just walk up to you and scream obscenities or tell you off.
In a small town you don’t do that. You work through things. If there is a homeless person, someone or several someones try to help.
Community, interpersonal relationships and humanity were evident at the county fair. People got on each other’s last nerves. But I know I could call any one of them today in an emergency and they would be there in minutes.
We are interconnected here. Our actions and our words matter to each other. And if someone is having a bad day or a bad year we may cringe a little but our door is still open to them.
When the world seems crazy and the news gets to you, the beauty of a small town is we can shut the television off, go for a walk, go help a neighbor or just be kind.
I wasn’t born in a small town but I appreciate Syracuse more than you will know.
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