Small Town Saturday Night

I was born in a small town. Well, actually, I was born in Lincoln. But at the time, we lived in Bassett, Nebraska. Bassett, a town of, at the time, 1500ish people. A town that had The Range… A diner where Sunday morning coffee and Long John donuts were served with a smile. A town that had one swimming pool… At which, according to my mother, I liked to streak. A town where I also, apparently, liked to run around naked up and down my street. Because in small towns, apparently, kids can roam naked without CPS being called in.

After living my first 3 years in Bassett, my family relocated to the place that would, from there on out, be referred to as home. Home because for so very long, that is exactly where my heart was. And that place is Wilber, Nebraska.

I’ve written about Wilber before. And if you’ve missed it, you’ve been living under a rock. Because my hometown is pretty much the bee’s knees. And while I am sure I am biased, to me, it is the most charming, idyllic, heart of America town. It has a COOP and a Drug Store and a blinking yellow light and a swimming pool and two parks and just good, salt of the earth people. People who rally around the town festival and play gracious host to tens of thousands of visitors. People who ride tractors, on occasion through town {but yes, they own cars, in case you wondered}… but mostly for parades. People who would do just about anything for anyone. People who cheer on the local teams on Friday nights. People who wave at everyone who drives through town. People who slow down a bit more because the small town just outside of the city lends itself to a little more relaxed lifestyle with kids playing in yards and riding their bikes to and fro.

For me, the childhood I had was just right. And it is one I very truly wanted for my own children, once I had them. To grow up in a place where the neighbors help one another out. To be able to cheer on their high school team. To know their teachers and have their teachers know me. And to feel like they were safe and secure in their schools.

But our families drew us back near home and jobs called us to Omaha from Austin. And we knew that our jobs would always be more likely in a larger place. And soon, we realized that a lot of our friends and our “people” would also, always be here. And getting to Target and HyVee in less than 5 minutes are things we have become accustomed to. Before we knew it, roots had grown under us. And so, we know, that we will likely not ever move back to a smaller town. And that realization, for a bit, had me a little sad.

Until I started to understand. I started to understand that even though we live in a city, our boys will still play in the trees. They will still ride their bikes and big wheels and plasma cars and anything with or without wheels up and down the hill or sidewalk. They will still run around the house, yelling like wild men. They will still have dirt under their nails at the end of the day from digging and messing and the like. And they most definitely do not seem to feel the need for clothing to do any of these things… nor has CPS been called on yet.

But my fear of all fears around living in a more urban area, was that my kids would never know the beauty of the small town Saturday night. The sitting out under the stars, hanging out with friends with blankets wrapped around you, running around the house after dark and playing Ghosts in the Graveyard. Laughing so late into the night sky. Kids staying up way past their bedtimes and being sweaty when you put them in their sheets, from running around and around and around. And as parents, getting to just chill while the children created memories that childhood are meant for. I feared they’d grow up with less of a community because they are not in a small community.

But the reality is, like with most things in life, I am learning. I am understanding every day. Understanding one big reality: It’s so much, in this life, about the people you know. And I don’t mean to know “important people” or people of “influence”. More that once you have kids I think you realize that it is the humans who you know who give your life fullness. And so just because you live in a bigger community does not mean people won’t bring food over after you move. Just because you live in a larger city does not mean that you won’t walk to the grocery store. Just because you live in a place that has more than a blinking light does not mean you break ties with the people you still know from your hometown. And just because you don’t live in a small town does not mean you can’t have a small town Saturday night. Because the small town Saturday night isn’t only reserved for small towns… it’s a feeling that lives in the hearts of people who long for community.

We have sat under the stars for the last several weekends, around a fire pit, with boys running wild, and adults having real discussions, and hilarious discussions, and drinking brews, and making s’mores and feeling community. Our neighbors pop over to see us and people wave when they are walking and driving down the road. Our boys love their schools and their friends they’ve made there. They are having the same chances to grow and learn as I did as a child. People have brought flowers and wine and other supplies as we’ve been dealing with some sort of major life stuff around the Brehm house as of late {which I will write more on later this week. Sorry I’ve been absent.}. Some of my faves {both from my current hometown, my original hometown, and all places in between} have flooded me with texts and calls and giggles and hugs over the last few weeks. We’ve spent time with an incredible church family that is no different than the type of people I had in my very first hometown. And we’ve been privy to some of the most beautiful sunsets my eyes could capture, even though it was setting over the city sky.

And in all of it, I’ve been reminded that we are living in our new hometown. And we may even be succeeding at raising our boys with a small town life.

Or at least, our own version of one. One full of bigger town folks with small town hearts. And that, well that, my friends is really what matters most. And because I will forever love my own small town roots and will always have the people in my life from that place, I will never let my boys know they don’t have those roots, too. Because good people are good people, no matter where you go. And you can find those people, every which where. Small town, big city, or somewhere in between.