When people ask where I’m originally from, I usually say “the Chicago area.” Or sometimes “a small town near Chicago,” which is a little more accurate. And even though I’ve spent most of my life living on the outskirts of major cities, I consider myself a small-town girl at heart. That’s why last Friday felt so good.

It was a gloomy, rainy morning, and I was getting ready to head out to the doctor’s office for a routine check-up when I got a text from a friend, asking if I was interested in going out for lunch and a little shopping. The rest of my day was clear, so I texted her back and said I’d love to, and I’d call her as soon as I got home from my appointment.

We started out with lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant, and then went on to a clothing store we both love. The store is right on the corner of our town square, which surrounds the 200-year-old county courthouse. But first we stopped at a new coffee shop in the Georgia Writers Museum. While chatting with the owners, we learned of two other small businesses that had just opened up nearby. One was open only on Fridays, and the other was celebrating its Grand Opening. So we added them to our agenda.

While we were in the clothing store, we noticed some commotion outside. A group was gathering along both sides of the street, with the editor of our weekly newspaper among the crowd. A local high school football team was playing for the state championship that night, and friends, fans, and family members were lining the street to cheer them on. Hearing the siren of the police car that was leading the way, we stepped outside to join the crowd waving and clapping as the bus drove past.

At two more of the places we stopped in, people asked us if we had been to Myrna’s yet. Myrna was the owner of one of the new shops we were told about, and everyone we talked to raved about her floral decorating and design work.

“Are you Myrna?” I asked when we finally reached her shop. For all the people who had mentioned her by name, I felt like we were meeting a celebrity. And after spending some time with her, learning about her family and her decorating background, we felt as though we’d been visiting with a friend.

By now, it was mid-afternoon. The rain and gray skies had disappeared, and the weather was sunny and warm, matching our mood – the kind of festive, friendly, and familiar mood that comes from living in a small town.

December 6, 2023
©Betty Liedtke, 2023

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