Hometown Beauty

now playing: Poison & Wine - Civil Wars

After class let out today, I had to run some errands around town. I just want to take a second and describe to you my afternoon. Clouds hung low and thin in the air. The temperature was nice, so I rolled down the windows. I drove through downtown with the civil wars playing in the background. It reminded me of a scene in a heart-warming film.

Main street. I drive past Junior's market and see a teenage couple holding hands. probably going to get popsicles. I pass the church and see the doors wide open. A sign in the lawn reads: "chapel open for prayer." While at the stoplight, I think seriously about going in. I drive through the town square. City workers coming out of the court house, worn out from the day. A father and son are on the sidewalk. Either going to the hardware store or the music store. I walk to city hall where I greet my mother and her coworkers. only coming to get money, I leave with a donut and many good feelings from all of the smiles. a lady stops me to tell me that my mom is a sweet lady. This makes my heart smile. I take the tiny back streets home. A business man swaps smiles and laugh with me as he cross the street at a stop sign. He says something to me, but I cannot hear him because my music is too loud. "hooligan!" he probably thought. but I wouldn't care if he thought that. because as I drove through down town with my windows rolled down and the civil wars providing the most perfect sound track, I realized how much I love my town. How I love the people and roads, the houses, and the melancholy atmosphere on cloudy days. this is my home. I will look back on the days of my childhood and have fond memories of this town. I will remember the christmas parades, the MTSU games, the jazz fest, and all of the other things that define this beautiful place. and I think somewhere down the line I will miss this place. When I am off galavanting across the world, I will think back to my time here and, with misty eyes, smile and say, "i miss you murfreesboro." I will miss donut country, and the down town doctors office that treats you like family. i will miss riding my bike down main street and, when i felt like a rebel, riding down Middle TN blvd. Back then, I owned these streets. and some time in the future, these streets will lead me right out of here. but for now, I will revel in the beauty of my hometown and everything it means to me.

here's to beautiful days. and here's to home. may my heart never leave this place.

-em