This past week the annual Spirit of the West celebration took place here in Beach, ND.
It’s a time of celebration and reuniting with old friends. The event tends to rekindle an appreciation of small-town life.
I went to the parade. School classes, vintage cars, and big fancy farm equipment along with businesses and community groups were represented.
It’s simple fun, but a celebration of our lives.
For those of us who grew up in small rural communities we know we are the lucky ones.
I grew up in Grimes, Ca. In my days there we were a community of about 200. At high school at Pierce Joint Union in Arbuckle, CA my graduating class was just over 40 students.
The benefit of small-town rural education is the lifelong friendships we establish.
I graduated in 1966. As long ago as that was, some of my best friends then remain my best friends now. You don’t see that as much in larger schools.
I take pride in being a small-town girl.
Call me a local yokel and I’ll happily claim it.
I’m California born. I’m not for a minute a big city girl. I’ve lived most of my life in rural California or North Dakota. I’ve lived in a few big cities in my lifetime, but I’ve always migrated back to country living. It is as it should be for me.
Life is good today.