Today I traveled out a ways from suburbia - into the part of my state with small towns ... old towns that seem to have been unchanged by time like the big cities of America. I walked into stores, and was greeted with a big smile, open friendly personalities, and it took me back a bit. I am used to busy people with solemn, low key, stay to themselves attitudes. Is it me, or has the way people act in public different now from just 10 short years ago? When was the last time you had a conversation while shopping or even just walking down the street?
Ever wonder if the way we communicate now has changed just a bit from technology? Don't get me wrong, I love media platforms that allow me to reach a vast audience, and talking to someone in Malaysia on my mobile phone as I am running about during a work day, but when I peer into my not so distant past I see far more face to face socialization. During my 20's I would have imploded if I could not be all over the city Friday night through Sunday. Now my time at home is much more common. After work I just want to wimp out and vegetate! Also, when did life become so stressful? Between the economy and the rest of the crazy things going on in the world now it seems just breaking from reality and creating some goofy post is like therapy. Ahhh ... what a month I am having, I just need a break. I wonder what it is like to be rich, more money more problems? Somehow I doubt it.
Wait a minute, I was just talking about the happy small towns I was in today, wasn't I?Maybe I will go open a small golf shop out in the toolies and live in a small cabin a few blocks from Main Street. Yep, somewhere way out in the country where I can talk to everyone for a while and not be late for something.
Sounds like a great blog too .... "My new start in Smalltown USA" I would call it.
18 comments:
I bought my first Doomsday Device at Adam's Store and Cafe.
Ah, the memories.
Hey Speedy!
I got so busy today ... I don't remember if I said I was going to invent anything for Tuesday or not ... but apparently it was a "not" ... at least based on results. LOL.
But you will still be a bachelor on Wednesday, and I'm thinking that the ladies should wow you with their ... wit? Jokes? I'm not thinking I saw any pedicures.
I'm thinking I will have to post pictures of MY toes. .. which means pedicure tomorrow. lol!
Hugs!
Wendster
i missed you, speedy! have a great week. :-)
I think "Adam's Store and Cafe" dates back to Genesis.
(The Peter Gabriel version, or the Biblical version. I'm not sure which is older).
I don't know if it's technology or just people in general, but communication has definitely changed. Living in a mid-sized city I can see both sides of the street. You get the big city crush, and that's getting more prominent, but there's still an element of small town going on.
Not sure how many folks out in the toolies play golf though.
Ahhhh... the small town walk to reminisce about what a great country we live in. Can we talk?
And yes the country has changed a lot so that not many people want to hold a friendly conversation anymore. They are too busy looking for employment or their next meal. Sad to say, but true!
I live in a very small town and it is sad!
Sounds good to me Speedy. If I wanted to talk to someone while shopping here I would have to learn Spanish. I would bet that 95% of the shoppers at the mall are Mexicans. You can walk the mall and not hear a word of English. Okay, I'm off topic, but it makes me angry.
May I purchase the cabin next to you? That would make us both happy.
Have a terrific day. Big hug. :)
So true, so true. It seems the rare friendly stranger takes us totally by surprise in our busy worlds. Small Town USA sounds very appealing sometimes.
come on down to Florida...although we have to be home by Easter. it
seems we just got here...anyway I digress...people in Florida are friendly...much more so then anyplace else...coming from New England it's hard to believe what a difference there is. Speedy you cn make good friends wherever you go.
Hey! I think creating a blog-friend small town would be fun! Just don't make me work at a shoe store. Already been there, done that. And PLEASE please include a really good library.
Speedy, I think you need some sunshine!
How about this?
http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Poland/photo278893.htm
Ten years ago, I think people were saying the same things about ten years earlier...
Hometown life...small, humble, close knit...I love to find comfort here after all the hectic travel for work.
Great post!
Hi there, Speedy. Smalltown USA is where I am pretty much 24/7. People will talk your ear off here if you let them and want them to. You come here, they'd probably make you the mayor for real within a year or two. HA!
I enjoyed this post. There is still plenty of stress in a small town, but I think there are lots of friendly faces around who help you deal with it. It's not hard to find someone with a kind face and a patient ear to listen to you while you tell your troubles to them. You know that old adage about happiness shared is doubled and sadness shared is halved---that really seems to be true here.
I hope the pressures ease and things look a little brighter for you soon. Hugs from Daisy.
We must live in a unusual neighborhood in the city since everyone has open friendly personalities and we stop to talk to each other when walking down the street...
Maybe, we are too old and most of us haven't heard of Twitter?
This post is touching. I try to be as friendly as I can and talk to people when I do get out and about in the world. You correct in that people are not as sociala as they use to be. I smile and get a snarl in return. People now a days have become to busy to just smile and say hello. That one smile you give someone can turn their whole day around. I say go for it speedy! A little golf shop in a small town sounds wonderful.
I bet you didn't miss my long comments while I was away...lol:-)
I was born in a small town... hey that sounds like a song. ;o)
Anyway, I moved away when I was 17 to the great city of Chicago. I missed small town living for years but now I can't see myself going back to live. To visit sure.
I have also noticed that where I live in Australia. There is much less chatting going on in shops, with neighbours and so on. I miss it.
You're right about the stress levels too - life is much more frenetic than it used to be. Bring back the village atmosphere. We need it in this fast-paced day and age.
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