May 31, 2019

Paper Hearts for Small Towns

What’s on my mind? Our small-town newspaper. I love this paper! Honest, I do. Stuffed with as many flyers as Big City papers once had, this nugget of news arrives on the step twice a week, free of charge. Small-town newspapers are the glue that binds small communities.

Page 1 of yesterday’s paper features a photo of a 69-year-old skydiver at the local airport (a common sight, here), a neighboring town’s approval of four non-medical cannabis shops (the phrase “hell in a hand basket” comes to mind), and a link to the sad demise of three sheep-killing cougars.

As usual, the paper's stuffed with ads.

We read these ads because we want to support local merchants. So! I’ve just read an ad for one of these bathtub-refit places in which a new tub is placed over the old one.

Well! The ad has the usual BEFORE and AFTER shots. The BEFORE photo shows a sleek, pristine, beautiful tub. The AFTER shot is of an indistinct, fuzzy, dirty, and possibly cracked tub. Reread that. Yep ... That’s what the photos and their captions show.

The ad also says“Your Bathroom Will Be the Envy of the Neighborhood.” Uh-huh ...

I’m not poking fun at the newspaper, or at the bathtub company (locally and independently owned and operated”), or at our beautiful little community. Stuff happens, and it can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

The newspaper is my morning smile. I wouldn’t trade this charming place for city living under any circumstances. Oh, how I love small towns!

© Nicole Parton, 2019

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