Small Towns
Small towns are great places. Just a week or so ago I found myself in Baltimore, Oh. My load was loaded. I had just awakened from 8 hours in the sleeper birth. I had 2 hours left on my 10 hour break. There is a truck stop 8 miles up the road at the I 80 interchange. I could split the break and head up there, But that would push my 14 hour clock up 2 hours. I had 571 miles to drive to Oshkosh, WI. If possible, I would rather start out with a fresh 14. It just made more sense to hang around this small town.
It was a good time for a long walk. I needed to pick up something from the hardware store. Every small town should have a hardware store. People just seem friendlier in small towns. Almost everyone waves or says good morning. You notice that almost every home has a front porch. Every front porch has furniture or perhaps a swing. They can say hello to their neighbors as they walk by on the sidewalk. You will notice that some homes seem to be misshapen. It is like they just added a room to an existing house. I imagine that it was because they were blessed with a new child. They either could not afford a new home, or they just liked their home and neighbors.
American flags hang from the flag poles. City Hall was built before my grandparents met. The
cemetery has head stones. One told of a couple that was married over 50 years and died within weeks of each other. Their parents’ stones might be in the same cemetery. Generations lived and died there. Children can walk to grandma’s house after school. In my head it is the way it should be.
The hardware store is about a half mile from my truck. I am greeted as I walk in the door. They ask what I am looking for and direct me to it. No problem, in minutes I have what I need. You don’t have to buy everything from a store with over 100,000 square feet. As I was paying my bill a young man walked in looking for a job. The
clerk used the intercom to communicate with the boss. I remember he said “Mom, there is a guy coming back there. He wants a job. “ A well run business can last for more than a generation.
Small towns have too many empty stores. The stores that are still in small towns appreciate each customer. They act as if it is a pleasure to serve you. They don’t act as if you are an interruption. They act like you are their reason for being there.
When I got back to my truck I realized that I had done 2 good things for my business. I had walked about 5 miles. My health is as important to my business as anything. But, I also learned how I should treat my customers.