Small Town Cafe Gathers Community

Saturday morning, it's around 10:30am you have that deep craving in your stomach for something, but you’re not really sure. All you know is the only thing that can satisfy your mid morning hunger is Neighbors. Everyone has a go to place to eat when they just are tired of eating at home or need something different, and that has to be Neighbors for my hometown. To describe Neighbors in one word I would say, “Homie.” You always feel welcomed whenever you walk through the door, Shelly (the owner) greets you right when you walk in the door and tells you to sit where ever you want. It might not be a big place but you can tell by the atmosphere it has a big heart to it. Naturally I sit on the side wall in a booth like usual. Right when you sit down you’re taken back by memories from pictures on the wall. The waitress gives you the menu, but of course you already know exactly what you want.

Here is a link to Neighbors website- http://www.neighborscafe.com

- My photos 

HAPPS

A single word that can turn a lame lonely night into an adventure... Happs. Also known as Half Price Apps at Applebee’s. It might not seem like much to most, but for someone just trying to get out of  the house it’s a life saver.

It’s a Friday night, your hometown football team just one their game, you’re with all your closest friends, so what do you decide to do? Wait for 15 minutes at Applebee’s to get a table just to eat half price appetizers. You walk in, it’s packed, but of course you already know almost half the people there because this is just the place everyone wants to be after a Friday night win.

Sometimes the small things don’t seem like much, but when you look back on it they meant the world.

Small Town, Big Heart Break

Tragedy can happen anywhere, anytime, any place, but for some reason people never think it can happen to them. Tragedy struck my home just last week. A young man that was in my graduating class in high school committed suicide. Thing change and people change after high school, but feelings don’t really change. This boy wasn’t someone I was necessarily close to, but close enough that I knew where he was going to school, I had occasionally been to a party or two with him and had similar friends. Living in a small town everyone is affected different by an upsetting event like this, but we are all affected in someway or any other. This tragic death also can bring people back together. My friends and I all went back for the viewing and gave us a chance to see people we haven’t seen in awhile, but it all hurts just the same. It might be a small town, but it’s a big heart break for everyone in it.

ELE or EKE

Some people are familiar with the phrase, ELE Everybody Love Everybody. But when it comes to a small town it should be more like, EKE Everybody Knows Everybody. Everyone knows your business in a small town and it's not always the best. But if you're wanting to live in a small community you might want to get use to it.

For example when you're going to the grocery store and have to buy more personal items that you don't really want everyone knowing about. But of course you know basically all the cashiers and you know somehow word of you're shopping spree will get out. Occasionally the people in your town know more about yourself than you do.Then there are those moments when you are supposed to know who someone else is and you have no idea, but somehow they know you. From my personal experience in my home town it doesn't help being the youngest in your family, because it makes it even easier for everyone to know you. The biggest advice I would say for someone growing up in a small town is make sure the image you set for yourself is a good one!

"Hey wanna go to Sonic?"

It's a hot summer day and you're sitting at home with nothing to do. So you hit up one of your friends with the signature text, "Hey I'm bored." The typical response I would get is, "Wanna go to Sonic?" Of course you say yes, and you head off to sonic for half price drinks.

For most places this conversation would end once summer is over, but for a small townie there's almost nothing better then half price drinks. After you have gotten your Route 44 cherry limeade it’s time to head off for a nice drive around town. Nothing like wasting a little gas to pass the time away. You've done this multiple times, but overtime you always seem to enjoy that casual stroll through your hometown. For some this might be a waste of gas, but for others it's just another thing to pass the time.

The Places Everyone Hates But Never Leaves

What’s a place you hate, but always find yourself coming back to? For me it happens to be my hometown. I am from McPherson, Kansas which has a population of 13,000. Depending on where you're from that might seem like a lot, but for others it is very little. McPherson occupies multiple companies, but when you get rid of all of those companies my small town is like any other small town. This blog is going be highlighting a few of the many things you pick up from growing up in a small town. The constantly trying to find something to do, to the people always knowing your personal business. I hope while you are reading this blog you either find something to connect with or gain a little bit of insight to small town living!

Photo from- http://www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv31130.php