Where I come from

I was talking to a friend last week after Trey had been to reading time. She wanted to know how big our library was. This made me chuckle to myself. (I'll explain in a minute). But it got me thinking about where I live and where I've been.
I have the same zip code now as I did when I was 3. I am kind of proud of that. I feel a strong attachment to my community. I've not always lived right here. I have lived in big cities and seen both the atlantic and pacific coasts. I've even been out of the country. I am proud of these things too. All of my travels, homes and trips have helped to shape me into who I am today.
Right now, I'm not thinking so much about where I've been but where I am. And where I am is in a little town I've loved since I wore pig tails. Anybody know the Tim McGraw song "Where I come from" ? My town is kind of like that.
Main Street is about 8 blocks long. Our post office is located there, a tiny limestone building where I used to walk to in order to buy Mom stamps and have a chat with post lady Sally. When I was growing up there used to be a corner grocery store across from the post office where Mom would send me to pick up milk or eggs (and candy occasionally). That building has now burned down along with the pool hall that was beside it (I never frequented that establishment but I know of many men folk who did). There are a few abandoned businesses that line the street. There is a gas station that recently went under, a funeral home next to that. I'm not even sure the funeral home still does business in our town. There are a few churches scattered around one of which may be closing its doors soon. Its hear say that they only have a congregation of 2 or 3 these days. You'll also find an abandoned
filling station. I remember going there to air up my bike tires as a kid. (It was free air too...none of this paying a quarter to get air!) Dad would take the car there sometimes too. I remember hearing the bell ring as we drove in or out.
Not so rundown is a doctor's office. Many people still go there for their doctorin'. Many of the houses still look the same but the owners have changed. The tall, light blue water tower is still there (occasionally decorated with Susie loves Bobby or Class of -fill in the blank-) Then at the end of Main Street is a building that I love and have spent more time in than the average kid in town. It is my old elementary school, previously the town's high school before my time. My family moved to this little town when I was very little so that my dad could teach 5th grade here. He also coached the 5th grade basketball team, was assistant principal and later principal. My dad's involvement in the school is what grew my interest in it. I could write a whole post on things I did at that school including playing there during the summers while my dad worked. (Drawing on the blackboard in Dad's
classroom was a personal favorite of mine and my sister's.) But I am getting off of the subject at hand.
My elementary school has not seen a recess or a Christmas pageant for many years now. But, because others in the community love this building too, it has been turned into a community center. The town uses it to vote at election time, there are town dinners, yard sales and other such things there. The center hosts plays, sporting events, book clubs, music, adult night classes for GED's, and Trey's story time.
I am glad this old building still has some life in a town that doesn't even have a stoplight! The community center houses our library. Its not much compared to others in bigger towns but it is special in its own way. It is located in what I remember as Mrs. Arthur's classroom. The walls are lined with book shelves and so is the center of the room. The left side of the class room has the reading rug for the kids to sit on and the right side of the room has a table for crafts. One segment of shelf in the center of the room holds books for Trey's age group. He looks for titles that catch his eye and we take the books home for a week to read. We return them in exchange for some more, all done on the honor system. And that is our library. I think it is wonderful. And when my son is grown up and is successful (because of course we will be very successful!), I hope he will look back, fondly,
at his time in the old school and feel proud to have been a part of it too.