We didn't leave our small hometown this weekend; we usually do for a day or evening. But this particular weekend was full of small town stuff, including the annual Yolo County Fair. I grew up in Sacramento, which hosts the California State Fair - about 10 times the size of the Woodland fair. While they're similar in design - both having plenty of 'fair stuff' (petting zoos, beer garden, exhibit halls, carnies and rides, platic toys on sticks, fried food galore) - they're just so different in magnitude that that they can feel like two totally different animals. And this weekend was all about the lambs rather than the lions.
But the intimacy within the small stuff sometimes just can't be beat.
After 2 nights at our local fair - and running into nearly everyone we know here - we decided to hit a matinee on Main Street. Here, the tri-plex felt more like a home theatre system, but hey, the tickets cost just $5.50. We took our seats and began watching the thick paint peeling off the ceiling... until the 1960s projector began rolling; clicking and thumping like we'd just stepped back in time.
Last night, we raided the backyard garden for salad fixin's, and came up with the heartiest meal we've had all weekend. Then Tom's dad stopped by to say 'hi' while we were on the porch watching neighbors stroll by.
For a long time, I tried to slow time down with my mind and slow the pace of modern life by slowing my own strides... I hadn't realized that some places just have the slow thing down pat - Until I rooted in a small town, began growing my own garden, truly savoring the simple things, and leaving the front door open for spontaneous guests.
0 comments:
Post a Comment