I was born and raised in a small town thinking the entire time that I couldn’t wait to move to a BIG city.
In the city, I could go to movies whenever I wanted and not have to drive 85 miles one way to get there. I could shop for some stores 24 hours a day and drive around for hours and not see one person I knew. (Because in a small town you never went anywhere without running into a friend.)
All these “adventures” I looked forward to as a kid I now know weren’t really as important to me as I thought. Today I can watch just about any movie, any time, from the comfort of my living room, I am the master of online shopping, and I love going out in my “small town” and seeing friendly faces of my neighbors. I think of a neighbor as anyone who gives you a smile and a wave and would probably share with you all the change in his pockets if you really needed it. People with BIG hearts.
I grew up with people with BIG hearts and I now enjoy the same mentality in my “new” small town. On the North Shore from the U.S. border to the Cook County line there are people with BIG hearts who would do anything for a good cause. Over and over neighbors and friends step up to the plate to help each other out. I can’t think of a time when my parents ever turned away someone in need. Even now I know they are just a phone call away, always willing to lend a helping hand.
Though my parents are very special to me, this attitude of giving is not exclusive to them; it’s a community spirit. I never thought I would find that again, but I have, right here in the Heart of the Lakes. This leads me to believe that small towns are special. People dig in and help each other. The idea that there is always room at the table for one more is right in line with my values and I am so proud to be part of both of these very special places.
“Goodness is about
character – integrity,
honesty, kindness,
generosity, moral courage,
and the like. More than
anything else, it is about
how we treat other people.”
~ Dennis Prager
Taste of Home columnist Sandy (Anderson) Holthaus lives on a farm in South Haven, MN with her husband, Michael, and their children Zoe, Jack and Ben. Her heart remains on the North Shore where she grew up with her parents, Art and LaVonne Anderson of Schroeder. She enjoys writing about her childhood and mixes memories with delicious helpings of homestyle recipes.
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