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April 19, 2006

Hometown Meme

Jim asked for volunteers, and since I know y'all are just dying to learn 4 interesting things about my hometown, the big city of Marshall, Arkansas and the surrounding area, here we go:

1. Marshall, the county seat, will celebrate its sesquicentennial on June 3rd of this year....which means it's only 30 yrs. younger than the state of Arkansas. There's a big to-do planned, and everyone's invited to come dressed as someone from 1856. I'd thought about showing up in overalls, raggedy cotton shirt, brogans and carrying a jug of moonshine, just so as to represent my ancestors authentically of course. But then I realized I'd also have to have a big chew of tobacco so.....no. Not going to happen.

2. Nearby boomtown of Leslie once had the world's largest barrel making factory. They're largely the reason there's next to no virgin timber in the state, I guess. After WWI, better methods of shipping were developed and the town dwindled to the small, sleepy little place that it still is.

3. When I was a teenager there, the main entertainment was drinking drugs and sex the Marshall drive-in. You could get high just from walking around the back 2 rows in those days. It's still in operation, one of the few left in the state.

4. For all its attempt to capitalize on the Buffalo River tourists, it's still a very insular area. If you weren't born there, you will always be someone from 'away', even if you live there till you're 100. If you were born there, you will always be from there, no matter where you live. I can still write a check at just about any business in town....even though it will have an out-of-town address. Sometimes the proprietor might peer at me quizzically for a few minutes, then say, "Oh, you're [my parents'] girl ain't you? Why sure you can write a check, for a little over if'n you need some cash."

Which used to irritate the shit out of me when I was younger. Not the check writing, but the recognition. How could all these old people see my parents in my face? Now I'm one of them, and I know how. You just do.

All of which gives me a tremendous sense of my roots, my history, of my belonging somewhere. I didn't appreciate that when I was young. But I do now. And there are days when I long for the time when I can return. Return to a quieter place where clocks are only important when you have a doctor's appointment.

Life moves much slower there. Which gives you time to better appreciate the finer things in life....like how a cool breeze on a hot July day rustles the trees with its promise of rain. Or how the little creek sometimes seems to almost giggle as it rushes around the rocks.

And that ain't a bad thing.

If you want to tell 4 things about your hometown, leave a comment or trackback to your post.

Posted by Rita at April 19, 2006 08:01 PM

Comments

I don't even know where my hometown is, so I'll just leave that part up to everyone else. Nice to read people's feelings about their hometowns. One of our other neighbors is from Marshall as well...they go and visit all the time.

Posted by: Bill McNeal at April 19, 2006 09:24 PM

You could always write about B-ville, Bill. I have a neighbor from Marshall? I bet we're related one way or another. lol I'm always running into relatives up here.

We don't go visit much anymore because that drive really kicks my butt these days. But we'll prolly retire there someday. One of the finest places in the state....if you don't have to make a living.

Posted by: Rita at April 19, 2006 09:30 PM

Sounds like a fine place -- sort of like Mayberry. However, I suspect I'd walk into a local eatery and said, "Yo! Haya dooin'? Could I get a Taylor Ham on a hard roll?"

Probabably as well as someone from Marshall would do if he walked into a Jersey Diner and said, "Howdy! Think I could get a plate of hamhocks and grits?"

Posted by: Jim - PRS at April 20, 2006 07:47 AM

If it weren't for the meth problem, it might be. Plus unemployment, poverty and general lack of education. The area has a lot of problems, but there's still many good people there.

Actually I don't know that you could get grits there either. Remember, it's more Appalachian than Southern. You couldn't get Taylor ham, but you could get Petit Jean....or even better, Coursey's. Now that's some fine eating.

But you can't find a decent rye bread anywhere. I know, I've tried.

Posted by: Rita [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 20, 2006 08:05 AM