Archive for November 20th, 2007
Country Charm
Country View
The river boundary dividing the rural county where I live, from the metropolitan county of my home state’s capital city, gently winds the distance between fast pace and relaxing stroll. I live a world away from the hustle and bustle, despite the mere 20-minute drive back to it.
I am sharing a glimpse into my day as I embrace the charm and blessing of living in rural America. Although it is not as rural or sparsely populated as it once was, the area I reside is a delightful place to live. As I shopped at the small, area grocery this morning, I grinned to myself as I listened to bits of conversations shared between the three church women selecting sweet potatoes for the annual community dinner. Each of them had a large bun of hair pulled tightly away from their delicately lined faces, faces bright with twinkling eyes of joy and seasoned character. And each of three had her opinion of what constituted a prize sweet potato — and each had her say about the pricing of said potatoes! 
Country music — real country music! the music from the legends of country — played in the background as I selected my own sweet potatoes and russet potatoes for my contribution to Thanksgiving dinner. There were no fancy or difficult to pronounce items stocked at the produce corner; no organic or specialty items shelved in this store. Just mainstay staples and the usual canned and jarred items, lots of pop (AKA soft drinks to city-folk), the dairy case (sans soy and fancy protein drinks) next to the wall of refrigerator case items (with extra long sections of packaged sausage and bacon!) and the side-by-side freezer section — which is located on the aisle by the deli clerk hawking her broasted chicken (that smelled oh, so, delicious … regardless of how palatable it might be!)
This folksy store is always full of country charm and — complete with men in overalls, big-haired women (who know how to use hairspray!), fresh-from-the-field bales of hay and home-grown pumpkins decorating the doorway and fresh cut, packaged-to-order meats — is a rare treat. And an event and treasure many folks never experience. It is located right near the Video House (where you can also get pizza!) and the laudromat (AKA Coin Laundry and Cleaners) and has a flag pole in the parking lot with Old Glory waving in the wind.
The country charm continues as one drives away from this small town. There are acres and acres of land hosting livestock, crops and red-dirt beauty! My favorite country view this morning? The herd of Angus grazing on winter wheat (pictured above).
