In this town

In this town, we grow up together, we play together, we learn together. We win together, we lose together, we work together. We pray together, we celebrate together, we grieve together. Most importantly however, we ARE together.

In this town, you either went to Prospect Elementary or you broke into it. Hoff and CCA had a rivalry but us kids all played together in Hawks or Little Rebels. Everyone knew that they would get stickers in their feet or shoes at the baseball fields in Prospect and that the best part about having practice at Hoff was playing on the playground afterwards.

In this town, we all remember going to Shey park with our parents but there was that exciting day where we all faced “K-town” by ourselves and walked there. For the kids that grew up in the country, this was a big deal but luckily when we made it back to the legion where our parents were meeting, there was a Shirley Temple waiting for us.

In this town, the gas station is the biggest hot spot to see someone you know just like the Korner Kitchen who obviously sell the best burritos out there. Whether you dined in or took it to go, they always have room or have the food ready with a peppermint as a nice dessert. As kids, no one knew what Simpler Times and Country Cuts & Curls was…they were simply “Tara’s” and “Tasia’s.” Of course when your mom had to run errands on Main Street, you hit all of the shops in one day including the post office and the grocery store.

In this town, the best time of the year is summer. Hopefully, the lake is full to last until Labor Day so it can accommodate tubing, boating, bonfires, barbecuing, and sunburns. Farmers have wheat to harvest and cows to check. The second weekend in August hosts the town’s biggest collaboration. If you’re trying to avoid someone, don’t go to the Friday night rodeo or the parade on Saturday morning. The beef, corn on the cob, beans and that pickle tops every other meal during the year. What makes this event so special? Well, God made a Keenesburg Fair kid.

In this town, we are all Rebels. Most of our T-shirts are red and blue starting at a young age. The boys make a tunnel for the volleyball team and the girls do the same for the football team. Friday night lights bring everyone together whether it is cheering on the boys or waiting in line for nachos at the concession stand. Homecoming, prom, We Care, and graduation are the big events where the teachers out do themselves for the sake of their students and our parents can reminisce about their days at the WC. Mr. Shea taught us more than English…He showed us what pride was about in “Rebel Country” and how to be successful in life. Mrs. Wafel showed us how to be a model citizen of a small town. For most subs, kids would mess around but everyone respected her because of her support in drama, band, choir, FFA, sports and more. Whether you got touchdowns, kills, baskets, goals, hits, pins, or runs a common chant for every athlete started with “We believe.”

In this town, graduation isn’t really a “goodbye” but more of a “see you later.” There’s enough events to keep everyone busy and to keep up with one another. You’ll see your friends at Bingo Night, Relay for Life, Trick or Treat Street, Casino Night, the FFA Slave Auction, or the Alumni Basketball tournament. There are 4H meetings, Christmas programs, tournaments, Cajun boils, church, weddings, funerals, banquets, and graduation parties.

In this town, we laugh together and we cry together. We support each other, together. I thank God that we are in this crazy life together. This community stays together, lives together, and are blessed to be together.

#tradition #smalltown #family #fair