growing up in smalltown, usa
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Introduction
i grew up in houston, missouri (pop. 1900). i wouldn't have changed it for the world.
some observations, likes, dislikes.
everyone knows your business
this isn't always a bad thing. keeps everyone on their toes. it did get bothersome when my grandparents would clock my speed past their house, and check to see if i was wearing my seat belt.
cruising
since there is not a lot to do, driving in circles seemed like great fun! we had this down to a science. from main street to the strip, around sonic, back down the strip, up main street, left toward the school, around the tennis courts, back to main street - start over.
seven minutes per loop.
seven minutes per loop.
more creative entertainment
as children, we played outside, used our imaginations, would go on big explorations. none of this video game / TV bullsh*t.
or we would partake in vandalism. we would soap cars, saran wrap cars, get on top of the local hardware store and throw crisco on cars as they drove by (try getting crisco cleaned off your windshield).
or we would partake in vandalism. we would soap cars, saran wrap cars, get on top of the local hardware store and throw crisco on cars as they drove by (try getting crisco cleaned off your windshield).
neighboring towns
there was rivalry and intrigue from all of the neighboring towns (cabool, mountain grove, licking, west plains, salem). if anyone from one of these towns showed up to cruise, the strip would be abuzz. who were these people? what did they want? if they were male, were they hot? if they were female, how can we run them out of town?
we loved going to neighboring towns to stir things up too.
we loved going to neighboring towns to stir things up too.
big fish, small pond
it is not hard to get involved and figure out what's going on. everyone has a fair shot.
hawthorne street
i had a very unusual situation with both sets of grandparents living on the same street as my family. and my great-grandmother was one block off the street.
main street - 20 years ago
soda fountain, pool hall, department store, barber shop, jewelry store, shoe store, local grocer, dime store, sports store. "walking uptown" was a big deal. we would go to the soda fountain and order one of their (suspect) hamburgers, a donut and a large cherry dr. pepper.
main street - present
i detest wal-mart with every ounce of my being. a few of the main street businesses are still there, but hanging on by a thread.
school system
some of my education may have been spotty (watching "robin hood: men in tights" as a substitution for "don quixote" in my advanced spanish class) but overall, i feel i got a good education. a lot of it was from being involved in organizations, extracurricular activities and knowing all the students and teachers.
it is very irritating and disappointing that school bond issues are nearly impossible to pass.
it is very irritating and disappointing that school bond issues are nearly impossible to pass.
natural beauty
being in the middle of nowhere - in the middle of the ozarks - there is a lot of natural, untouched beauty. the piney river, large trees, wildlife, bluffs, valleys.
mom's kitchen
used to be hungry holler, now mom's kitchen. a greasy spoon where my grandfather goes every morning to sit at the "table of knowledge". the table has it's own sign and everything.
going to a bigger town was a BIG DEAL
at 90 miles away, springfield, missouri was the nearest "city" (200K people) and going to the mall was all i ever wanted to do on any given birthday. they had an express AND a gap.
Kelly, I really love this list. It makes me homesick for what I use to have.
Takes a village...Sure did appreciate Jerry's Service Station letting me know you had 5 people in the front of that truck! Oh, and of course, sweet old Rosco Mayberry.."Kelly has a lead foot, doesn't she???? Flys by here everytime." It may be hard on the kidfolks..but kinda nice to have a whole village actually care and know its young residents.
Oh, Kelly, you bring back such great memories. First there was you and Katy in your very unique cars flitting around town; then my kids got old enough to make that 7 minute circle. When he was little my son love to play Indiana Jones in out back yard, we had lots of trees & bushes, a little creek in back and two empty lots next to us. Our family would go to "the city", Springfield, for doctor appointments and shopping. Never dentist appts as we had the best dentist ever in town. Jerry always told me that my son was one of the better drivers. Woohoo.
Small towns. Like Boulder,CO used to be before it was over run by know-nothing hippies and the digusting devolved yuppies that now have given way to the elitist swine that have driven the housing up through the stratosphere. I left that "Small town" in '87 and never looked back. Cherish your small towns now, because as the baby-boomers age they will be looking for cheap land and ignorant people to swindle, creating their mini-malls, and instituting yoga for over 60's. fuck them.
Oh...what great memories! I will have to make my own list of "growing up in Bado, MO" I might make that my first list! What a great place to grow up! I know I wouldn't have wanted to grow up anywhere else! I think we could add to the creative entertainment section you listed....could we still be arrested if we disclosed everything??????
I love this! It ALMOST makes me want to go visit... plus I am really glad to be away from the Emmet Kelly Clown Festival... those were torture... I hate clowns!
i love this list! i want to go to houston. nate and i found a real live soda fountain on lexington. our bill was $54. really though, good memories.
"Well I was born in a small town And I can breathe in a small town Gonna die in this small town And thats probably where theyll bury me" John Melloncamp
http://www.onmylist.com/category/miscellaneous/Houston_Mo_-_Oh_What_A_
Town_1 Go here to learn more about Small Towns !
Town_1 Go here to learn more about Small Towns !
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