BE MERRY

On the front of this week's paper I wrote about the upcoming Pioneer Fall Festival. While that story detailed the facts about what you can ex­pect to find at this year's event, it didn't relay the heart of what the festival is really about, at least to me. And from my observations over the years, I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. While the focus is history, I think the Pioneer Fall Festival is really about community, friend­ship and coming together.

We are blessed. As a teen growing up in a town the size of Waitsburg I couldn't wait to "get out," as I put it. I had plans for no children, a big career, and life in the big city. I wasn't sure what city, exactly, but defi­nitely a big one. My mom still laughs at the fact that I have five kids and live in a town of 1,200. And I love it. Sometimes we have to grow up a bit to appreciate the important things in life.

I recently visited the hardware store and couldn't help but pull out my phone and snap a photo. There was nothing unusual going on. A group of men and women sat in wooden chairs, chatting around a table filled with coffee and cookies. Nothing unusual for Waitsburg, that is. We often don't even realize that's not the norm. Did I mention that we are blessed?

You'll find similar scenes in the grocery store, the coffee shop and the post office. We truly are a commu­nity. I've had people call to let me know when my kid rode his bike in front of their car and I've had people pick one of my kids up off the street and drive them home after a nasty bike wreck. That's the kind of com­munity you can't put a price tag on.

To me, the Fall Festival is a celebration of that com­munity. It's a big old-fashioned church service, ice cream social and hoedown all wrapped into one. Most of us have seen the booths and the displays before (though there's always something new). We come for the people.

The Fall Festival is the ideal occasion to stand in the shade, eat an ice cream bar and catch up with a friend you haven't seen all year. It's the chance to show off that new baby or grandbaby while you listen to some Bluegrass. It's the opportunity to share your hometown pride and the warmth of your community with out-of- town friends and family. And if you're new to town, it's the perfect time to receive a warm welcome while enjoying an afternoon of free entertainment. Old-timer or new to the 'burg, y'all come, ya hear?