thankful for my town

It's funny that I live where I live. It's funny that I like living where I live, in a small town in Ohio. They call it a "city" here, but it's not. I grew up a few towns to the east, and Medina was just this place we drove through to get to the fair. When Chad and I first moved here nine years ago, I never thought it would become my "home-town," the place I mention when people ask me where I'm from. Somehow, it has become that place for me.

I am thankful that I can walk two blocks up the street to the library and the farmer's market and the square. That many of our dearest friends live less than a mile and a half away. I'm thankful for the free community concerts in the summer and the Christmas tree in the gazebo in December. I am thankful for Dan's Dogs and Sully's Pub. I'm thankful for the pretty little Episcopalian church with the red door, where I vote. I'm thankful for the county fair every hot, sticky July. For the parades with all the little scouts and old veterans and the happy golden retriever therapy dogs. For the new traffic signals that talk to you and tell you to "wait, wait for walk signal." I'm thankful that I get to watch the same kids walk past my house every morning on their way to school, and I listen for them on the way home. I'm thankful for my cranky old man neighbor across the street and his sweet wife and their naughty kitty who is always escaping into our yard. I'm thankful for the train, blowing its horn on lonely, sleepless nights.

Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of things I DON'T like about Medina. The big truck traffic from the industrial park on the west side of the city, the rental property next door that the police have busted at least TWICE as a drug house, the uneven sidewalks, the crazy traffic on our street around rush hour, the strip malls and shopping centers up on 42. But for the most part, I live in a great little town! And I'm thankful for all the blessings we enjoy here. I am trying to not take them for granted.