I love "Small Town" living!!!

[Cyclejohn]

Yesterday I was out riding rural 2 lane roads to 'test' a bike I have been working on (off and on) for the last 2 months. I rode out to my daughter's house (actually, my place in the country that I own) to deliver a package to her. She was not home. I decided to take the long way home and struck out on country 2 lane roads for that purpose.

About 4 miles after leaving her place the bike spit and sputtered and every now and again offered up a KA-POW through the exhaust system cluing me into the fact that it was an electrical issue. I turned off onto a side road and was able to coax it about another mile before it completely died. I coasted into the driveway of an elementary school in the middle of no-where.

The young fella bouncing the basketball in his driveway across the street let me use his phone to call my daughter. About 20 minutes later she showed up.

We dropped her off to get her truck so she could head to police academy training and her boyfriend took me home so I could get my truck and trailer.

When I arrived back at the bike (in the middle of no-where) 'POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS' plastic tape was wrapped across the handlebars and around the seat. I took that off and loaded the bike.

When I got home my oldest daughter told me that the local city police had showed up and knocked on the door to do a 'wellness check' because of the bike they found in the country.

A Sheriff's Deputy came upon my bike in the boondocks and ran the plate and called the city police to ride by and do the 'wellness check' at my house in town. How AWESOME is that.

John

[Valker]

Great story. Thanks for sharing. I, too, live and love small town life. My name is Eric West and I live on Grape Lane. I once got a letter in my mailbox addressed to Harry Quest on Grey Plain. Say them both out loud. Only in my small town where I've taught school for 40 years would this get delivered to me.

[Rams]

To Protect and Serve.   I often tell LEOs I'm proud of them and thank them for doing what they do.   

Rams

[Robert]

I dont think you could call where I live a small town but I have a story.

In the mornings before I go to work its great to have the trash can empty before I go to work so I can put it away and the wife does not have to do it. We have a driver that is a very nice guy and comes early and when I go to work I can put my can away. Well once in a while they must change out drivers and this other driver comes late in the afternoon. Sometimes he even misses the house.

Its a small thing but I really appreciated this guy being there so early. So one day when the early driver came back I was riding my motorcycle going to work and the early guy had already picked up the trash and his truck was down another street. So as I was riding I saw what I thought was his truck and I stopped and asked him if he was the driver that came by my house. He said yes and I threw him a 20, and rode off.

So about 6 months later I was at my house outside when he came and he emptied the trash and I was grateful as it was early and I gave him another 20.

He said you are the guy on the motorcycle, I answered yes and we both laughed, I told him how grateful I was that he comes early and that the other guy does not, and he thanked me and left.

The next week I found my garbage can instead of being left in the street it was put away next to my house.

I did not do it for that I just really appreciated his timing, but it was a nice of him to do that.

So many times we do jobs that unlike so many that have parties or thanks or get applauded in the performance of their duties just go along and perform their jobs faithfully and without much question. I wanted to bless this man just for doing a job that is pretty thankless and was appreciated back.  

[JimC]

I retired as a LEO in a small city in Wisconsin, half way between Milwaukee and Madison.
One shift I was mid nights and half way through my shift (2am) I happened to drive through an old gas station on the edge of town and noticed that the lights were still on in the gas pumps.
I called the owner, he came down and shut them off.

Next night I stopped in expecting to hear a horror story about the theft of gas etc. I forget the exact numbers, but the gas pumps were used about 20 times before he turned them off that night, and almost all of the people stopped by the next day to pay for their gas.
Actually made me feel good that I lived there also.

Jim

[Rams]

I retired as a LEO in a small city in Wisconsin, half way between Milwaukee and Madison.
One shift I was mid nights and half way through my shift (2am) I happened to drive through an old gas station on the edge of town and noticed that the lights were still on in the gas pumps.
I called the owner, he came down and shut them off.

Next night I stopped in expecting to hear a horror story about the theft of gas etc. I forget the exact numbers, but the gas pumps were used about 20 times before he turned them off that night, and almost all of the people stopped by the next day to pay for their gas.
Actually made me feel good that I lived there also.

Jim

That is an excellent story and speaks highly of the community you were in.   

Rams

[cookiedough]

having lived in 2 small towns right nearby each other both 1000 total population each all my life, it is a blessing and a curse both.  Blessing being it is safer and somewhat cheaper living and not as much traffic and crime, etc., but in a way a curse since everyone thinks they need to know everyone else's business in town since we all pretty much know a lot of folks in town.  Plus, some what they think are big wigs think they are above the law and can do what they want and run the town themselves and get away with things us normal folks would be fined for such as my 2 neighbors up the hill on my street.   My nice neighbors up our street though on other side of the street,  an older couple in their mid 80's, who in decades past has done a lot for this town,  refuse to put any money in the local bank for they seem to all talk amongst the general public at the bank.  I keep my money down there but have not heard one rumor about how much money I have down there.  Then I get the local tire/gas station owner in early 70's who has lived here his entire life stating to me I should buy all my groceries locally in town regardless of the price as he has done forever.  Am sure he feels that way about his gas station where I should also buy most of my gas from his as well regardless of price.   I buy both gas and groceries downtown, but not even close to 1/3rd of all the time simply not cost justified.  One should not tell another resident of the same town on how the other should spend their own money IMO

[Valkorado]

Nice story, good post.

Well, I was born in a small town
And I live in a small town
Probably die in a small town
Oh, those small communities

[old2soon]

           I REALLY Like where I reside here in Southern Missouri. Willow Springs. Small town U S of A. When I went down on Phatt Ghurl in 16 my next door neighbor to the North of me had asked about my crutches and walking boot. Told him the why of the walking helpers and the inflatable boot. Was fixin to call a lawn service one morning when the grass Needed a trim when I heard a lawn mower Real close. Hobbled out on the walkin helpers and Ed-the North neighbor-was cuttin my grass.  And he did that 3 or 4 more times til I was able again to do my own grass cuttin. Two young famalies across the street from me and I git along with them both and fer some danged reason the kids like this old guy!  Yeah Like and Enjoy where I reside. Keep yer big cities and hustle bustle. Visited most All big cities when I wuz still drivin big truck. And even Springfield Mo. too large fer my likin. RIDE SAFE.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Yesterday I was out riding rural 2 lane roads to 'test' a bike I have been working on (off and on) for the last 2 months. I rode out to my daughter's house (actually, my place in the country that I own) to deliver a package to her. She was not home. I decided to take the long way home and struck out on country 2 lane roads for that purpose.

About 4 miles after leaving her place the bike spit and sputtered and every now and again offered up a KA-POW through the exhaust system cluing me into the fact that it was an electrical issue. I turned off onto a side road and was able to coax it about another mile before it completely died. I coasted into the driveway of an elementary school in the middle of no-where.

The young fella bouncing the basketball in his driveway across the street let me use his phone to call my daughter. About 20 minutes later she showed up.

We dropped her off to get her truck so she could head to police academy training and her boyfriend took me home so I could get my truck and trailer.

When I arrived back at the bike (in the middle of no-where) 'POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS' plastic tape was wrapped across the handlebars and around the seat. I took that off and loaded the bike.

When I got home my oldest daughter told me that the local city police had showed up and knocked on the door to do a 'wellness check' because of the bike they found in the country.

A Sheriff's Deputy came upon my bike in the boondocks and ran the plate and called the city police to ride by and do the 'wellness check' at my house in town. How AWESOME is that.

John

It is a good story with a good outcome. Mine would have worse I’m afraid. Never had much luck with small town cops. When I was 16 I worked 150 miles away for about a month. It was in a town of about 2,000 at the time. I had a 61 VW Bug and would go back and forth home on the weekend. About 70 miles out of town I thru a rod thru the case going up a mountain pass. Pushed it off the road and hitchhiked home. 2 days later my Dad drove me down to tow it back. It was gone ! To make a long story shorter, the cops had it towed back to Kenai. Charged me for towing and 2 days storage. Took my Dad and I all day to get that bug.
 I’m glad your experience was better.  

[F6Dave]

Years ago I moved to a small town, and the 'Town Marshall' stopped by and helped me move some of the furniture into the house.  He was probably checking me out, but it was nice anyway.  I asked him who to talk to about a building permit, so I could build a garage for my motorcycle.  He said to see him.  He wasn't just the only LEO in the town, he was also the building inspector.

[h13man]

Had a rear tire go flat soon after both were changed etc. Low behold it went flat just past exit #175 on I 65. A local GW rider and his lady assisted us and we were able to get it back down the ramp and into a closed for the nite BP parking lot. Well a local Sheriff came by and seeing the situation said it would be safe to park there and said he would check periodically on bike. It was still there the next morning. As it turns out the rubber 90 degree didn't like not being supported by the rim "tombstone" holder and/or a defective valve stem.

[Jess from VA]

I once lived in a town so small, when you used your electric razor, the trolley stopped.    

[old2soon]

       Heard one town was so small you used yer electric razor the towns only blinkin light quit. RIDE SAFE.

[scooperhsd]

IN NC - We lived outside a town so small (population 600-1000) - there were 2 stoplights on downtown main street, one out at US 1 by the shopping mall (Grocery store and some restaurants), and one stoplight further south on US1 and the road that went into town. At least there was a barbershop where I got my local gossip.

[Rams]

IN NC - We lived outside a town so small (population 600-1000) - there were 2 stoplights on downtown main street, one out at US 1 by the shopping mall (Grocery store and some restaurants), and one stoplight further south on US1 and the road that went into town. At least there was a barbershop where I got my local gossip.

You had a stop light?      Check out Rosalia, KS.   Was lucky to have a paved road through town.   All the side streets were gravel.   Home of the Flinthills School District, the largest geographical school district in KS.   My graduating class was a whopping 18 people. 

While everyone knew everyone else's business, there was no crime, everyone looked out for each other.

Rams

[John Schmidt]

My first small town was in SW Iowa and had a rather detailed street map: +....that's the street map. Nothing but a crossroads in the middle of nowhere. One corner had a farm with two entrances...one on each side of the crossroads. One driveway was in town, the other wasn't, and the "city" limit line went through part of the dining room and a bedroom. The other corner had a grocery store/bait shop/post office/drug store/ and living quarters for the owners. Another corner was occupied but a little old widow lady with all her property hidden by trees giving it a creepy look. We kids knew she was a witch and the big house was haunted.  The fourth corner was a gas station/pool hall/bar/banquet room for the school board to meet in. Local joke was due to the outhouse being about 20 yds. outside the back door and past the city limits....you could get drunk in town but if you had to relieve yourself you had to leave town to do it.  

The next place was in northwestern Iowa with a grand population of about 525 except on Tuesday nights when all the stores were open until 9:00pm, otherwise the streets rolled up at 6:00pm. There were two restaurants and two gas stations and they took turns being open on Sunday. The local jail was pretty much a copy of Andy Griffith's & Barney's, sort of an open door policy for the two town drunks. It was below the volunteer fire dept. garage and was never locked. If you saw one of their cars by the local tavern after it closed, you just went to the jail to pick them up....they were almost next door to each other. In that town, if you daughter got knocked up it didn't do any good to ship her off to her "aunt's" for a few months cuz everybody knew about it anyway. You bounced a check only once, you never got a chance to write another since everyone in town knew you had done it one time years ago. And...you could neve cheat on your girlfriend or wife(or husband/boyfriend). We lived in those two towns from the early 40's to the early 50's, rather quiet and simple times...especially following the war. I miss it.  

[old2soon]

         Where I grew up in the 50s-Round Lake il. you could leave your keys in the ignition over night and your car would still be there in the mornin. You could leave your front door unlocked and nobody but family came in. Friends and Neighbors knocked before entering. I did something wrong I might git 2 butt warmins-one from a neighbor the another from my Parents. We were taught respect for others and how to say yes mam and yes sir growin up. We held the door for the wimmin folk. NEVER took anything that was Not mine and I paid for everything out the store I had picked up. Yup some things should NOT have fallen by the ayside.  RIDE SAFE.