My fondest childhood memories were those of playing in the dirt with two guys named Chip and Peanut. I couldn’t identify them today if they introduced themselves to me but I know I had fun. Part of my motivation for living is to recapture all that was good back in the day.
They call where I live now city but those who actually live in the city know it is not. The communities lack the organization of what I would call a suburb. It really is to urban thus the appropriate term would be metropolis. Whatever you call it: city, suburb, urban community, or metropolis I am not a fan.
As an adult my husband and I would join friends in their country home for a few weeks in the fall. The hostess apologized because there was nothing to do- I loved doing nothing. It was just me and my laptop most days, except for the trips to Walmart. Of course there was church on Sunday. I am sure there were things to do but we were able to appreciate the beauty of the land and the silence due to lack of neighbors living to close.
As my community grows I am becoming restless. Many of my friends have already moved to the country. As I approach my 60th birthday I hear the woods calling my name. But first YHWH has to get my city born husband use to the idea of not driving up the street tot he McDonald’s for coffee.
What could convince me to stay here? I cannot think of one thing. Yes there are things for me to do here about as much as I would do if I lived in the country.
Now, I know I cannot go back to the days of dirt roads, and penny candy. What I can do is live in a place where everything doesn’t have to be done yesterday. I would like to live in a place in which faith and family are more important than iPhones and flat screen televisions.
Back in the day they called me Nettie, short for Lynnette. As I tried to grow into a city girl I began insisting everyone call me ‘Marsha’. Sounds metropolitan doesn’t it? Fortunately for me, a few of my elders didn’t not make the transition and as I matured I began to embrace who I was an unsophisticated, untrendy, politically incorrect individual who likes to keep things simple. People who like to keep up with the Joneses have trouble with how I dress, how I comb my hair and even my faith and political ideology. I like who I am a country girl at heart.
written by Marsha L F Randolph
NETTIE-OLOGY /NETTIE-ISM reflects the opinions of and is the soul property of the author MARSHA L F RANDOLPH. All rights reserved- do not use without permission. Disagreeing with what is written is not offensive to the author a disagreeable comment will be deleted.
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