“I am looking for plain old America. You know what I mean?”
I do. This area is anything but progressive. In East Tennessee. In fact in a lot of ways I feel like we have gone backwards 30 years. And I mean that in a good way. You can’t go to the grocery store without talking to everyone and finding out how they are doing. I have to leave my house about 10 minutes early just in case I encounter someone in the holler, because just driving by and waving would be rude.
When we signed up for utilities, we got instructions on how to come in and pay the bill. What?! Yep that’s how a lot of people do it. A lot of our older neighbors go in and pay their bills in person. They get to chat and find out the news. I still use online bill pay but I think it is adorable. There are a couple ma and pa shops nearby, when you stop in there a bunch a good old boys sitting around talking. and they want to know all about you. And they are still extremely respectful of women. Nothing like how it was in California. We had some workers remodeling the house, and one of them hit his thumb with a hammer or something and cussed. And then he said I’m sorry mam when he saw me standing there.
When I first got here I was asked unashamedly where I went to church and how did i vote. Apparently I answered correctly because I got handshakes and hugs and told welcome. People here are welcoming but don’t want the wrong types here. Thank goodness!
Sounds like a home. Nice!