Experiences

As I write this I am contemplating renaming my blog An Urbanite's View of Small Town Living. I've been coming to this town since 1994 and in 1998 purchased a small cabin. I've since graduated to a lake home. I love this place that much.

Even though I've been back and forth for many years splitting my time between what I called my 'real' life and my sanctuary I always dreamed that at some point I'd live in my sanctuary. Be careful what you wish for. My 'real' life consisted of my career and my social network: my family and my friends. After losing my job and therefore my career as I knew it, my decision to come here permanently was fraught with...well...indecision.

Over the years I've been extremely fortunate to meet some amazing and wonderful people in this little town. Now, don't get me wrong, just as an urban lifestyle has its own unique problems, small town living can be its own personal hell. Gone are the congested streets, smog, noise and more noise replaced by tranquility, peace and natural beauty. To a person who has been immersed in the go go go of urban life for over 40 years, taking it down a notch has not been easy. It is one thing to have a vacation home to escape to, but when your escape becomes a self imposed exile, there are factors that must be weighed like "how do I keep myself busy enough to NOT go insane".

Last night I took part or rather, watched a lovely tradition unfold. The town I'm in has a very small school and therefore, student body. In the 'big city' Proms are usually reserved for that special rite of passage for seniors. In this town, because of the small student population, everyone from freshman to senior year is invited. But the tradition didn't end there. For the benefit of those not attending (parents, relatives and friends), the students flowed into a ballroom and walked on a make shift cat walk in their Prom attire and paraded past a host of onlookers. A stream of beautiful young women in formal gowns and dresses and handsome young men dressed to escort their lovely counterparts. It was absolutely magical. A moment suspended in time.

They came coupled, as friends and single. It didn't matter. I remember when I was a senior I didn't even go to my Prom because my boyfriend and I had 'broken' up for the hundredth time 2 months earlier. I still think it was because he didn't want to wear the mandatory Tuxedo. Back then it would have been unheard of to go to the Prom alone. No no no. But here, or maybe its because it is the year 2008 and not 1978, it wasn't a factor. These young people wanted the opportunity to enjoy themselves with their peers and whether they had a date or not, they were there. All dressed in their finest.

I looked at their faces, which ranged from proud, to nervous with a hint of expectation. As they walked the walk, they all had this magnificent sense of innocence. Looking at them from many many years in the future, I can only imagine what life has in store. How exciting and yet frightening at the same time.

Yet the excitement and fright is not reserved just for high school kids. Life is that way for all of us. Adults just tend to forget. We get so caught up in our daily trials that we don't stop to think that we really don't know how life will unfold. Sure, we have calendars and PDAs to help us manage our time and keep appointments, but those are distractions to what life truly is. Life is really about experiences. All the electronic devices do are remind us that we are to have an experience at such and such a time.

Last evening was magical. There isn't much to do in this lovely town, at least not by big city standards, but there is plenty here to share with ones friends. As I watched these young people step out into a sense of excitement, I am reminded that my own life is unfolding in much the same way theirs. I really don't know what the next few days, weeks, months or years will bring. All I can do is thank God, that I am finally willing to just let it happen.