For the last couple of days I’ve had John Mellencamp’s song “SMALL TOWN” going through my head. It starts,
“I was born in a small town
And I live in a small town.”
I can’t say I was born in a small town, Chicago being my place of origin, but I have spent more than half my life in small towns and I probably will remain.
Our local high school football team played in the state championships last week. This may not sound too spectacular to some but, in order to understand this you need to know that this is a school that requires you to do well academically and finals were given to all students regardless of their athletic ability. Besides the cramming for tests, another negative factor in their case was that their last chance at a championship game occurred thirty five years ago.
Saturday morning they received a huge send off from the local citizens, scored breakfast at a local eatery and were sent on their way to the Georgia Dome. They were to play against last year’s winners – a big, tough group of young men who had had a perfect season. But, our local team were winners whatever the outcome of the game and they knew it. They were wrapped in the arms of Jefferson, Georgia; their home town.
Not being a huge football fan unless my grandsons are on the field --I had places to go and things I wanted to do that afternoon -- I turned on the television to maybe just catch the opening. It was the most exciting game I’ve every watched. Jefferson won 31-14; their first state championship ever.
Another small town had an enormous tragedy last week. Twenty tiny children murdered, six adults murdered and many unanswered questions as to why. The residents of Newtown, Connecticut will endure suffering and pain for a long time to come. Media coverage has been a mixed blessing. There will always be some journalists who cross over the line with inappropriate questions and seemingly insensitive remarks. Most members of the press, on the other hand, have shown compassion and sympathy and have conducted themselves in a dignified manner. Seeing the faces of the members of this community and hearing their stories brings them close to our families and make us want to reach out to them in their need.
Through social media, whether television, Facebook, Twitter, etc., we all live in a small town. Please, wrap your arms around this community; these families, these teachers, these people just like you and I, who need your love and support.
“No I cannot forget where it is that I come from
I cannot forget the people who love me”
All the best,
Sharon