I will always be a small town girl at heart. There is just something about a small town that soothes my soul. It could be that my roots are in a small town or maybe it’s just the reliability. There are certain constant elements that you can depend on in any small town. You can count on people holding door for you and offering you a polite ma’am or two. You can count everyone, strangers and friends alike, offering a courteous wave as you pass on the street. You can count on finding a church on every corner and a cozy café that serves the best coffee, or chicken, or pie in the state.
It’s the buildings that take my breath away and keep me coming back. There is a sweet sadness in the facades that were once new, but are now rust covered and worn.
Our world is so set up for speed: fast food, high speed internet, interstate highways. It’s entirely possible, even seems to be preferable, to zip from one place to the other with nary a stop along the way. But whether we take the time to notice or not, these small towns are still tucked away from the hustling hurry with a story to tell. Although these towns show the signs of decline, they are where the American dream took shape and begin to spread. Next time you are traveling the highway, take a chance on the next unknown exit, population 305. Find a cozy cafe, sit a spell, and have some pie. Maybe you’ll find that your roots are here too.
What a beautiful post! I didn’t appreciate small towns until fairly recently, when I started reminiscing about my college days and the small town where I lived during those years.
I’d never thought of it that way before, but I think you’re right when you mentioned reliability! Just what a mom needs sometimes. 🙂
Amazing pictures. Where are they from?
I love this post – Incredible pictures too – we saw a few small towns this summer and they all have charm!
~Becca
Such pretty pictures. I love all the angles and points of view!
So is this close enough to you that we can check it out when I come visit? 😉 I am a city girl through and through, but a small part of me loves the country too. It is my escape from the chaos on my life.
These shots are amazing! You make me want to hunt down an old factory and do some shooting like I used to do in my college days. Classmates would kill for a location like you have shown.
Gorgeous, truly meaningful post. I’m not a small town girl but feel most comfortable and connected there too, especially little villages in Europe. Guess that is my heritage tho – my mom is from a small (pop. 500) town in Germany.
I love those pictures! 🙂 sometimes I wish I grew up in a small town like that!
Beautiful and thought provoking! When DH and I travel, we always try to stop in a small town with a small cafe, preferably local cuisine. We figure we can always eat at nasty McDonald’s at home, so why not experience the locals? I lived in the country growing up, went to school in a small school (35 in graduating class). I love small towns.
I love these images…I feel a sense of melancholia about simple things fading, rusting. Reminds us how temporary everything in life is.
When I do roadtrips, I like to stop at small towns and find a local diner. I think you can get the best pies and the best chillis at such places.
What a great post! It makes me want to pick up and move to a small town! I would love a slow life and friendly people!
I’ve always wondered what it’s like to live in a small town, like the ones I seen in movies. I love the thought of living somewhere peaceful and quiet and everyone is nice and neighborly. Visiting from Mingle Monday bloghop!
The Twerp and I
I consider myself a small town girl, maybe not that small, but it looks amazing. Very cool shots.
Beautiful post! I grew up in a small town, but live in a city now. We’re facing the likely prospect that we’ll be moving back to said small town (gotta go where the jobs are, right?) and I’ve been feeling really sad about it.
But after reading this, I actually have some hope. There is a different lifestyle in small towns, and I think it might be good for us.