Last day of May – a beautiful spring day in North Dakota.  On a road trip with hubby who had business in Minot.  I went along for the ride and to be company for him as he drove across the vast plains of that state.  (And, oh my gosh are those farm fields huge!) On the way back to Minnesota, we drove a not-so-traveled highway (scenic route??) from Minot to Jamestown where we caught Interstate 94.

Every few miles we passed through another small town.  Drinking coffee (him) and tea (me) we found need to stop and use the restroom in these small town convenience store/gas stations.  We encountered more than one place where we saw guys enjoying a sweet roll with their coffee and morning paper.  In one town we greeted a couple of store clerks who were standing outside enjoying an early morning smoke, and teasing a patron who was trying to clean the bugs off the front of his truck.  No one seemed to be in a hurry, all seemed to be in good moods.  Maybe it was too early in the day, or maybe it was because the population of these places is only 300-some, but there was no traffic noise, no lawn mower noise, or any people scurrying about.

I was struck by the silence and simplicity of life in these small towns – at least at that time of day on a weekend.  Being an introvert, I find the quiet very appealing.  I can experience this serenity in my own backyard in the city on an early spring morning also; but, soon it is disturbed by the hustle and bustle of neighbors out doing yard work or starting up their cars to speed off to do Saturday morning errands.  Everyone is busy and in a hurry.  Of course, I’d have to move alone if I ever decided to relocate to a small town – my husband, the extrovert, would never go for it.  He thrives on hustle and bustle.

So, for now, I’ll just have to relish these moments during travel when I can imagine the simple life in small town USA.  My dream would include a light yellow, two-story house with a beautiful wrap around porch.  The yard would be full of lilacs, irises and peonies.   I would be sitting on the porch with a lovely cup of tea, just relaxing!  It’s likely just an illusion, but it seems to me I could really be able to “ignore the wind” and find peace living in such a place.