Your always seventeen in your hometown...

Funny how that works. I've had the priviledge (and it truly is a priviledge to ever see the inner workings of Paradise - aka Henderson, Texas) to spend some time at home. Now - "home" is actually a sub-suburb of Henderson, Texas (pop. 12,000). Work with me here, okay? You've got Henderson which is where everyone grocery shops, tans, and gets their eyes checked. Then, you've got Laneville (pop. 500'ish) which is much smaller and has the all important social venues of every small town: a post office and a feed store. Then you've got Bethel (pop.50 on a good day - when my brother, sister and I are all home!). You've got a cemetary and a Methodist church. Now, I don't have anything against the Methodists... but I do wish the Baptists would've moved a little quicker. Regardless - I make my home in Bethel. (Keep in mind that home in this context means "where your heart is" not "where you lay your head".)

So... to make sense of this post's title I have a little story to tell you. It seems funny to me how every small town idolizes their high school students. Or - in my case, high school aged students. (I never attended the local high school.) I'm in a wedding in June that has mandated most of these trips home. Dress fittings... addressing invitations... yada yada yada. So, at the most recent dress fitting the following dialogue takes place:

me: "Hi, Mrs. So-and-So... how are you?"
Mrs. So-and-So: "good... good... you look like you've lost weight!"

*I chuckle because I know that this isn't true. It's the standard greeting to all single women. Instead of the Married Woman "how's John & the kids?" comment - single women, it's assumed, work out constantly so that they may some day posses "John and the kids".

me: "oh... thanks! I've cut out Cokes - and you know it's worked wonders!"
*Notice very fake words like "wonders" thrown in! I'm such a genious!!!

Mrs. So-and-So: "You won't believe who was just in! You'll just never guess...."
me: "who?"
Mrs. So-and-So: "Well, Mr. Big came by the other day and had his trousers mended! I can't believe that you guys are almost 24! Oh my laaaaaaaaands.
*she really does say laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaands. Just like I spelled it too.

me: "Really?"
Mrs. So-and-So: "Yep, yep. When did you go and get so old on me? I keep thinking you're seventeen. I mean - look at you all grown up. A job - a car - a husband. Oh - you aren't married yet. Nevermind about that part."


Anyway - she went on and on and on and on about me, Mr. Big, The-Bride-Who's-Bridesmaids-Dress-I-Was-Getting-Fitted-For and Mr. Big's Friends ('cause I had the lowdown on all of them like any small town girl should). So... guys & gals - I think we'll always be little guys in someone's eyes.