At the beginning of this month I decided to come home to my hometown, Belpre, OH for the holidays. It has been a nice change up since the fast pace of Atlanta can be stressful. I have realized that I missed the simplicity of the small town lifestyle and even though I have big city dreams there are just somethings that the BIG city cannot offer.
Belpre, OH population about 7,000 if you count the cows. Belpre has been a dry town since the Prohibition period but as of the 3rd of November just passed a bill allowing Belpre to sell alcohol by 22 votes. Yeap, things more a lot slower here but in reality it is really a nice change. People work to earn a living but they do not live to work. In this town the qualities that are praised are how much time you spend with your family and how well your name is respected. Sure we talk about business but in reality we talk more about family and take time for people. I have been gone for 6 years and coming back is almost like seeing it for the first time.
I have been working out of a local coffee shop because I am staying with my parents who live so far out that they can’t get high speed Internet. I was listening in on conversation taking place behind me and 3 older men were asking a girl about the ring on her finger….
“Are you engaged?”
“Yes.”
“Well, how long have you two been together?”
“About 3 years. I moved down here from New York”
“Your not living in sin are you?”
I was screaming laughing when I heard that. These older men have never met this young lady before and they sat there and talked to her for 20 minutes.
Classic.
Will I get sick of Belpre? Probably, as I feel like I need to be around an area where things are progress but as of today…its a good day. I am relax. I am happy and I am fulfilled.
Wow, it feels really good to be able to say that and mean it. 