I get to the telephone office and the drive-thru was closed which pissed Jack off because the window lady always slips him a treat.
I went inside and there was an older lady, maybe 70-75 years old, in front of me. When she's done paying, she turns around and gets a big smile on her face. "Well hello, Mr Lane!" she says, "I see you got a haircut and cut your beard down short again. It looks very nice, even civilized if I might say so."
"Yes ma'am, about 2 weeks ago," I said. "Thank you for noticing."
"Lordy, it's almost time for my husband to do the same. He won't shave or cut his hair after the beans are in, but when he's ready to plant in the spring he'll cut it all off again." Then she added, "We farm out by you on....." and then named the road I live on. Then she pats me on the arm and wishes me a good day before leaving.
I have no idea who that woman was. Not a fucking clue.
Yep. Love small town life. 7 homes on my road- we’re the newest here, and I know 5 of the couples. The others in our “village”? Nope.
ReplyDeleteAs the saying goes, “ small towns are where folks know who’s credit is good and who’s wife isn’t.”
I'm stealing that saying and posting it on my feaclepages.
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ReplyDeleteMemories of my early 1950s youth in a town of a few thousand. My grandfather was paid in cash every week, dutifully handed it over to grandmother then once a month my grandmother would gather a certain amount of cash she had squirreled away in a ciar box. She and I would stop past the phone company, electric company, bank to pay the mortgage, local grocers to pay the bills in cash. It should normally have taken an hour or so, but I swear my grandmother knew every single person on the journey and spent forever talking about the past and gossiping about current local events so it took the better part of the day. As far as I can remember besides her not driving, she didn’t even have a checking account. Life was simple, but good.
Well, it appears they know you. And consider you a good neighbor. Can't ask much more than that.
ReplyDeleteTomoldguy
Yep, word gets around and it looks like your neighbors are glad to have you living there. That’s worth a lot more than some folks know.
DeleteI feel you. I've lived in Cedaredge on and off for 30 years, still have no clue who anyone is. My wife does, I do not. I'd claim that I'm just bad with names, and it'd be true. But I suspect the real problem is that I just don't like people. And if I don't care, why would I remember? Harsh, but an indictment of me more than other people, I think.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'll ever be looking for an excuse to leave the house though. I'm a homebody by inclination. The less I leave the house, the happier I am.
John G
I have the same problem with my customers....
ReplyDeleteYeah, Alzheimer's really sucks.
ReplyDeleteTell me about it.
DeleteTell me about it.
DeleteTell me about it.
DeleteThat's funny, made a grumpy old man laugh. Thanks.
DeleteI see what you did there.
DeleteTell you about what?
Delete:-)
DeleteI thought you were gonna say she was your Mom.
ReplyDeleteYou may not know the small town, but the small town knows about you... Go with it and appreciate it. Be a good neighbor, it is work, but rewarding!
ReplyDeleteYeah, that sounds like the small town resident(s) alright. Never met them before but they probably know your underwear size ...
ReplyDeleteWife was a teacher (retired after 36 years but still goes to substitute) and so help me, every day we go out, a former student smiles and waves and talks to my wife. Her 1st year students are already young grandparents themselves - talk about aging yourself.
I'm glad to hear your utility office is that pleasant. The only bill we pay in person is the city water / sanitation bill and that is normally thru the drop off box because we still work.
Maybe it was your angel. Just watching over you.
ReplyDeleteShe probably lives beyond Ken and is watching his place like a hawk every time she goes to town. Like having a private security patrol. Kind of neat, really.
DeleteShe is probably watching and keeping a close lookout over Ken and her "people" through a Redfield 4X9! LOL
DeleteIn the Northeast if you want to be known to your neighbors be the guy with the biggest Arien snow thrower and break down the plow pile of compacted slush and snow across their driveway.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons we (people who live outside the US) find your country fascinating is that you talk about a drive-through lane to pay your phone bill as if it’s normal!
ReplyDeleteWait until you hear about drive-through lanes in our liquor stores.
Delete--Tennessee Budd
Like a cowboy wouldn't get off his horse to walk across the street, we loves our cars and trucks. We've got drive-thrus for beer too.
DeleteI run into people in town who know me by my bald head and my tractor. By name. Oddly comforting, The kid down the road brought a couple of school buddies over to meet me last fall. i must be known as the crazy Army guy by the local kids. Life is fun out here. Eod1sg Ret
ReplyDeleteMrs. Kravitz
ReplyDeleteLmao
DeleteThanks Kenny, nice story. The truth.
ReplyDeleteI'm still laughing. Great story.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteEvery once in a while a random little old lady in town will catch me flatfooted and tell me that she had babysat for us kids or was a friend of grandmas or something , and Im terrible with names on a good day , but trying to figure out who the heck im talking to and I haven't seen since I was a nine year old is impossible.
Small town - my farm folks went shopping in town for several items. Wound up getting a couple more items at different stores than expected and the checkbook ran out. The last purchase was made by my dad writing a check on an envelope - the store accepted it and the bank honored it.
ReplyDeleteYou never dare play about in a small town. Your wife might not know, but everybody else in town will. Meeting in some nearby town of city won't help either.
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