Downfall of Living in a Small Town

Many people will tell you the biggest downfall of living in a small town is the constant gossip. They say, ‘I need to get out of this nosey town. Everyone is in my business!’ I do agree, there is plenty of gossip, but the biggest downfall is also the biggest perk, the sense of community.

I know bad things happen everywhere, but it doesn’t seem to affect big cities the way it does Monroe City. My heart has been incredibly heavy lately, dwelling on all the grief our small town has experienced. Being such a close community means we feel one another’s pain as if it is our own. As a town, our hearts break. There are so few of us that we know everyone’s name, where they work, their family tree, if they have kids, siblings or grandkids. Each generation grew up together. I have never experienced living in a big city, but I imagine it is so vast that you can escape these feelings of grief. Sure, you’ll be sad for your neighbors, but the entire town is not your neighbor. You don’t have 2500 people to feel for.

With that comes the amazing support we experience when it truly is your family that is affected by disaster. When my brother, Donnie, died, the community still supported us amongst the fears of Covid. We still were given hugs, food, flowers, cards & memorials. The town rallied together to come to his drive by visitation, showing their support through signs on their windows. Our extended family made the trip from states away, faced fears of illness & showed up at our house. My cousins made the most beautiful video showing their virtual support. We felt the love in every Facebook comment, message & text. Our hearts are broken, but we know we are not alone. Parents who have lost a child came to visit with my parents, showing their sympathy in ways others cannot understand. Brothers and sisters who have lost a sibling reached out to me with open arms. Our co-workers and bosses came for support along with several customers of Indian Creek Marina. Our family didn’t just lose Donnie, the entire town did.

I feel robbed in many ways because of Donnie’s accident. I lost my ‘normal’ experience of motherhood along with losing what I expected my life to be like. But, one thing I did not lose is my sense of community. I was not robbed of the towns support even though Covid tried really hard to do so. I wouldn’t have made it through the past 5 years without this town, and I know so many others feel the same.

For those of you struggling right now with your own personal disaster, know that I feel for you more strongly than words can describe. Your heartbreak is my heartbreak because we are all family in Monroe City.