Friday, August 28, 2009

Life in Paradise

Last week, I took my son out to dinner and a movie. While eating out, we saw my high school science teacher and my childhood Girl Scout leader. (They were not together.) It's certainly interesting living in Paradise. Paradise, as you know, is a town small enough that you always know or know of someone wherever you may go. It's more than just interesting, however. When you go to town and see someone like your former Girl Scout leader, the nicest woman who ever lived, you sit up a little straighter. You think before you speak. You worry about what others might think or say.

I was not perfect as a child, and I was even further from perfect as a teenager in Paradise. However, there is an accountability in small towns. I knew that whatever I did would probably get back to my parents at some point. Even if my parents didn't hear, there are somethings you don't want everyone in town talking about. . .

In these days of violent town hall meetings and constant bickering, I wonder what the world might be like if we all lived like we were in Paradise. . .If we all took the time to think before we spoke. . .If we were careful and considerate of how our actions affected those close to us. . .I know I'm not proposing any novel idea, but I do believe I'm proposing an idea that's long been abandoned by some.

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

I get what you mean, but there are some who have not the slightest idea of what a small town life is like. And there is even more of a difference when you live in a small town in the central/southern states as opposed to a small town in say Maine or California. I lived in a small town in Pennsylvania and our ideas of small town life were completely different to them.

Of course I had a boyfriend out there who asked me what we did for fun since we didnt have tv. When I asked what he meant he said well without electricity.....
Steff