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Health & Fitness

A Tail Of Two Cities

I see that as the next challenge to face Fenton and it's population. Our feet aren't too big for our shoes, and yet, we still want more and more pairs.

Everyone has their story, and it usually involves striking out in new and ever widening circles, all with the same goal in mind. Moving forward requires looking back to gather less than satisfying adventures to make the new ones that much better. I am reminded of how my father shared the wisdom of ventures in the workplace that didn't last, mistakes he was responsible for, and how just by doing that, I was encouraged never to become despondent or even fearful. The lesson learned was, no puzzle piece in the picture, no matter where it fits is useless.

In the early 1980's with children, pets and a truck full of worldly possessions, we moved away from the big city to a small town. This place was far from work and far from any and all conveniences.  To get a pair of shoes required carrying a lunch and finding a bathroom caused a stir.  It was such a small place that there was one pizza parlor and one stop light. 

The first mistake I made was to mimic Seinfeld and the Soup Nazi, getting banned from the aforementioned pizza parlor, because I ordered wrong.  In my own defense I was too tired and hungry to stand much less to know the ordering code. Undaunted, when we wanted a fast meal, I sent one of the children to pick it up.  The owner would eye the face, and with name omitted, we ate dinner. 

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There were two roads in and two roads out, with miles of fields between anywhere and being there.  The day following our move, I went to the hardware store in town and found that everyone knew me, and my vital statistics before I had the pleasure of introductions.

A tiny comment about preferring a certain morning kindergarten for my new-schooler, resulted in an entire rant about how all those spots were taken by historical living arrangement. OK, I could understand that, being a 'townie' and not grandfathered into the system. It was the lack of feeling homey like grilled cheese melted into the community and more sticking out like a sore thumb that made the entire move a mistake. 

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The town we chose to make our home had a human telephone operator who asked a lot of questions and complained on the line about connecting us to family and friends.  I really can laugh about that and I can also laugh about the shocking number of miles we travelled.  What I don't laugh about is that the people in power and the residents alike were firmly planted in stone, against progress, building and change.  If it wasn't there already, it didn't belong and wasn't going to happen. There was one old dentist, one doctor and one sit down restaurant which required such a long wait, you had to always go elsewhere, die or starve. 

Believe it or not, we were a tiny bit uncomfortable and moved back to the city with the same haste we left, and I have never missed it. There was nothing for the children to do, as that was eyed as trouble in the making, and believe me, there was a great deal of that already with restless youth afoot.  Never mind, I learned enough from that experience, to make a new list of requirements to find a place to call home outside the big city. 

Welcome To Fenton. As the old saying goes, 'it's growing like a weed.'  We have so much to be proud of here and newcomers join old timers with purpose and delight, in community.  Growth and new business are not just encouraged but patronized and everyone benefits in the process.  There is more to do and experience, for all ages, than can be written down.  We need multimedia to make sure everyone gets in on the action. 

What I worry about most, is, that it will outgrow it's shoes and have to move. No, that's not quite the right way to put that.  I hope, it keeps it's small town atmosphere and doesn't bring the problems, well left to bigger places,  becoming overloaded and out of balance with the needs of the people. Need is important, but you can have too much of anything and not really enjoy it.

What never has that feeling of outgrowing need, is not set in wood or mortar or stone, is bringing people together and keeping an eye open for new faces. Making sure that your neighbor is enfolded in your respect and by friendship. Coming together to eat, talk and be extended family of one another. Where is the tipping point?  When you don't recognise at least a few people in the supermarket, or you can't ask for help or offer it, on your street. When, dissension becomes more common than, civil informational sharing and solving problems for the common good. 

I see that as the next challenge to face Fenton and it's population. Our feet aren't too big for our shoes, and yet, we still want more and more pairs. An eye on the past, made growth useful and life enhancing.  An eye on the present, says, there is still more room, but not a lot.  Setting the vision to the future, and I think we just might wish for times gone by. 

Filling the welcome wagon with too heavy a load will result in the horses not being able to pull it along.

Just a former city girl, sitting here loving Fenton.

Respectfully written and smiling.

Mary

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