My hometown has many positives, but like all towns, it’s not perfect. Although I was born here (well, actually in a town about ten miles away because my town didn’t have a hospital then), I did not grow up here. I came to attend the college, and I’ve been here ever since.
But I never intended for it to be my forever home. I won’t go into the reasons why, but it has taken me years to accept that this is to be the place I will likely live until I leave this earth.
That’s okay. I don’t want to move anymore. Sure, I’d love to live closer to my grandchildren, but I’m grateful neither one of my son’s families live so far away we can’t see them fairly often. I have some friends whose children and grandchildren live in other countries or far-way states like Alaska.
I love the friendships I have here, and I’m fairly certain (99.9%) I could never develop those friendships in a new place. I love the comfort of the familiar, and although there have been times I longed for anonymity in an area that is prone to gossip because everybody knows almost everybody,. I love the locally owned restaurants and shops.
What, then, would make my town perfect or at least perfect to me?
Sidewalks. I want sidewalks everywhere. I want to be able to walk on my road without having to step off onto the grass when a car going way faster than the 35 mph posted blows past me. I want sidewalks that would allow me to walk along the highway to the Dollar General Store located a little over a mile from my house. Well, maybe not even that far. I want a walk-over bridge on the bypass near the college so I can cross to go the shopping area and restaurants located there. Another one at the intersection by McDonald’s so I could walk to those areas, including Walmart. If you’re new to my blog, the reason for this is because I can no longer drive, but I’m in great shape and can walk for miles at a time.
Speaking of Walmart…as helpful as it is, I wish we had a Tate’s right here in town or another rE.W. James like the one in Dresden or Union City. You know, a store with an actual butcher on site.
I wish we had a store like J.C. Penney’s or Goody’s like Union City had for so long. Department stores that are more affordable than Dillard’s but still carrying good products. I miss the Macy’s in Jackson–I know we can’t support one here, but I’ve always preferred Macy’s to Dillard’s. I am not a fan of Beale’s or any other outlet type store where you have to wade through a lot of junk to find anything good.
I know the university is the lifeblood of our community, but I hear others talking about how the housing is all about the college. Seniors don’t have options like the condo complex behind E.W. James in Union City. Of course, that doesn’t have to be just for seniors. It works for all ages, although probably not so much for families with young children. I am content living in my home of over 34 years, but someday we may tire of maintaining the pool and large yard and would want to downsize.
Pipe dreams, I know. Too much like those Hallmark movies or series set in small towns where they have picturesque communities and shops that could only be supported by the higher income residents, and community festivals that are upscale and classy instead of a bunch of food trucks and some very bad flea market stalls.
The photo is not of my town. It is AI generated and could represent almost any place.
Except for the sidewalks. I really, really, really want sidewalks. And the walk-over bridges. Sigh.
