aka Home Sweet Home, aka Small Town Stories
Prologue
I took one look and joyfully pronounced to my friend, “It’s perfect! I’ll take it!”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes! I’m positive. It‘s just what I’m looking for.”
My friend drove me back to the city. As soon as I arrived home I called a friend I knew who worked for the County and informed her that I wanted to live in this little village. “Don’t you want to take a look at it first?” she asked.
“Oh, I just got back from looking at it. I absolutely love it!”
Moving Day
As the number of days left before moving day grew smaller, my anticipation and excitement grew larger. The date was conspicuous on my calendar; marked with a thick circle of green (green means go; going to my new home). On the day itself, my “city friends” came and we all joined together loading up the trailer procured for the occasion. By late Friday night all my material possessions were inside my new apartment and my bed was set up for my first sleep in my new home.
The next morning I was awakened by a knock on my bedroom window. Looking in were two curious faces. They proceeded to the living room and peered in again. I opened the patio door so we could talk. A man and a woman introduced themselves by name and explained that they just wanted to see who their new neighbour was. We had the first floor in common. I have enjoyed being their neighbour for a number of years.
Sunday
Sunday came soon. I set out to join the community church for their Sunday morning service. Directions in hand, I ventured down not-yet-familiar streets. Having outgrown their building, the church was meeting in the local elementary school. I am geographically-challenged, so it was no surprise that I got lost and had to re-trace my steps.
When I did arrive at the church, I was welcomed so warmly that I felt almost no anxiety about being a stranger. Drawn into the message I lost track of time and so was surprised at how soon the service was over. Afterward, people lingered over light refreshments, smiling and laughing, apparently enjoying each other’s company.
One lady approached me and sweetly asked if I would join her for lunch. I happily accepted her invitation. She drove us to a restaurant downtown. As we were eating, she regaled me with accounts of what life was like for her, decades ago in this village. As we walked from the restaurant to her car, she told me that she would like to show me around the village. I accepted her offer. It was wonderful; as if I had a personal chauffeur driving me around this village and commenting on places of interest.
I Belong
I discovered that Sunday was not the only day that the community church meets together. There are a number of groups, small in number, held in people’s homes on weekdays. Topics and methods vary e.g. movies, books etc; however, one thing that is common to them all is the genuine love they have for each other. These gatherings are informal, friendly and comfortable and I truly feel like I belong. Friendships begun there grow and are cemented. Now that I have lived here for a few years, not only am I citizen of this little village; I belong here.
Antiques
Walking around this village is a pleasure; quaint shops, century-old (i.e. antique) houses and other buildings. One store that I frequent specializes in antiques for very good prices. There I enjoy browsing; there is always something interesting to look at. Musical instruments are often among the items for sale. I am fond of guitars and there is usually a selection of them. The store owner knows me now; I am a regular customer.
I have the privilege of being one of the persons that the store owner trusts. Hence, when a guitar is brought into his shop for sale, he will often ask me to price it for him. I am happy to help him out. Both the library and the computer store downtown allow me to use their computers. I use the internet to find the guitar or a similar one, write down the details and the price and make my way back to my friend.
Sometimes, on cold days or slow days, I will walk to the coffee shop at the end of the street and buy a couple cups of the steaming brown liquid. Then I return and enjoy a cup of coffee together with my friend, the store owner. The coffee warms my body, my heart is warmed by hearing myself being referred to as “friend” by the store owner.
Christmas and Kindnesses
Christmas holidays can be a hard time for many people, for many reasons. I am one of those people who have a hard time during Christmas holidays. I don’t have family within close driving range and feelings of loneliness easily overtake me. One of the churches in town serves Christmas dinner to those who are alone; it likely helps some, but it doesn’t help me.
This past Christmas was very special; a married couple invited me and a gentleman to be their guests. We both accepted. The food was great, but spending time with these dear friends surpassed it all.
While at their house, I noticed that their living room furniture and my living room furniture were based on the same colour: light brown tan. The colour of their living room walls are a soft blue-green. I wondered if the colour of their living room walls would be suitable for my living room walls. When I mentioned it, the husband said that he may have another can of paint left over from the last time they used that colour paint. We all agreed that it was a good chance the paint may go well with my living room furniture.
It was only a matter of days before my friends came over and brought with them all things needed to do a good job of painting. I was flabbergasted at their thoughtfulness and kindness. The husband told me that he works best on his own, because I would just get in his way. His wife confirmed it; so she and I went out to a neighbourhood convenience store to grab some supper.
It took a number of days to paint; foul weather stole a couple days.
Now that all the furniture is back in place, the room looks awesome. The paint gives the illusion that the living room walls has always been this colour; it is a natural fit.
Movie Nights
When it comes to “natural fits”, I have found a couple people in my circle of friends that share my fondness for movies. The library here has a tall, wide bookcase of movies; many of which I have yet to watch. However, a friend of mine claims that she has watched almost all of them. It is a hope of hers that the library will get some new movies. I, too, watch movies but I have a ways to go before I could legitimately say the same thing. There are three libraries in this county and they swap books and movies to improve circulation. Therefore there is a chance, be it a slim chance, that my friend will get her wish.
Another friend of mine likes to watch movies also. Not long ago, the three of us spent an evening in my apartment’s common room enjoying a few movies. Recently the weather has not been co-operating with our movie quest. I, especially, have a hard time getting motivated when the weather is so cold i.e. 10 degrees below zero Celcius. However, a combination of tasty food and refreshing drinks e.g. tea, orange juice, dainties and cookies, enhances our movie-viewing. Sometimes, if those elements are together, I do agree to walk with my friends to the library to fetch a few movies. The hard work to get a movie is almost always rewarded with a good show and good times with these friends.
Conclusion
Friends like the ones I have here in this village are not common. They are truly rare and precious as priceless jewels.