Life in a Small Town

Before we get started let me just say i in no way refer to anyone specifically in this article and the things described have several sources. 

     I know people always say that they hate living in a small town because no one knows how to mind their own business and other things to that nature; no one ever really goes into detail about it.

     I live in a small southern town located in Mississippi, which is also right in the middle of the Bible belt. The town where i live has an area of probably about 9 square miles ( that is in town not the county).

     LET me tell  you something about my small town. 

     We like to call this little town of ours "Mayberry" because we only have 3 police officers, no jail, a park, a library, a grocery store, 3 churches, a building store, 3 gas stations, a motel, a flower shop, post office, a general store, and a restaurant... OH WAIT... i forgot we recently aquired a gym. I am sure i left out two or three small businesses somewhere along the line and before any of you read this blog, i apologize for any inconvenience. 

     This is a place where everyone knows everyone, and if they don't know everyone personally they have heard stories (rumors) about everyone. 

     There are two "groups" of people in my town. there are the "upper class" citizens and the "lower class" citizens. This is what i will refer to them as even if no one's income in this entire town could EVER be referred to as UPPER class; at best, SOME people MIGHT reach upper middle class... but very few.

     Since we live in the Bible belt, let me start there.... HA HA HA HA HA.... WHAT A JOKE.

     I am a Christian, I believe in God. I believe Jesus is God's son, was born of the virgin Mary, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again 3 days later. I believe that we will all answer to him when we pass from this life. 

     THAT BEING SAID..... Do you have any idea how many Bible thumping "holier than thou" people live in a tiny town in the Bible belt?? lets just say that is exactly what the "UPPER" class is identified by. 

   Here in this town, it isn't money that separates your class from someone else. It is how far you can stick your nose up and how much of your dirty laundry you can cover up. 

  Here are just a few things that i know about my town.

    We have call girls.... a few... these are lower class women who go out and spend time with OLDER upper class men. 

     Half of the upper class men and women only associate with the lower class when they need something done for them, or if they need drugs. 

     Up until 2 months ago there was a man who used to sleep with young teenage girls ... but never got caught...now he lives in the next town over. 

     Very few men get charged with sexual assault or statutory rape in this town... mostly because they are drug addicts and the girls they are sleeping with are being turned into drug addicts, and if you are a drug addict then you have information on a drug DEALER.. so the police let you do whatever you want for information.

     There was a woman who lived here that has had 4 marriages and has a low class income and a high class personality. I am not sure which way she is looked at in the class division, but everyone says she is a b****. She thought everyone around her owed her something and would PHYSICALLY wrinkle her nose at someone she thought wasn't as good as she was.... she now lives in the next town over. 

     The Sheriff here is a "good ole guy" I have never personally had any problems with him, and he has on occasion been cordial to me when i see him in public. His deputy though.... **giggle** for all intensive purposes we will just call him "no neck Shrek". He thinks this is "HIS" town, and tries to run over the town and the people here. No reason... just that he obviously has some sort of confidence problem or lacking in some "area" **cough cough**

     We have a restaurant that has been around for years where everyone, high and low class, work together. Let me just say that the Owner of the restaurant is, and has for a while, been sleeping with his female staff (or that is the rumor anyway). 

     Over half of the people here are addicted to something. many have an alcohol problem, many others are addicted to prescription narcotics, and the rest are addicted to marijuana. Does anyone care? No... well... not until there is a fight or an argument and everyone spews everyone else's business to the entire town. THAT is when people start to care. 

     If you have not lived here for years, chances are when you move in, the UPPER class will sniff around and sense you out to see if you are worth being a part of their "image" ... and if that doesn't work out, even with only one person... SORRY... get lost.. you are then and forevermore a lower class citizen. BAM.. just like that.... **yes it is that easy**

     When you move here and attempt to start a life, the UPPER class citizens can make it extremely hard for you to succeed in any of the goals you set in place for yourself, especially if they know someone related to you.. or know someone that doesn't like you.. etc etc etc.... 

     Jobs are given based on what football team you like, who you associate with, what rumors have been going around about you, whether or not you live in an opposing high school football teams territory, ,whether you have mid cost name brand clothes on, where you get your hair done, how many times you have been divorced, how many kids you have, if you split a marriage because
of adultery... on either side, and you just so HAPPEN to be a woman.... good luck finding a job. 

     No... these questions aren't asked at the interview, but "insinuations" are made throughout the entire thing.

     You come to this town and you think "this place is nice, i want to move here" and then very soon after realize that it was a nightmare waiting to take its turn in your life. This has been the situation for many MANY people that i have met that have been prospective new citizens who ended up "just passing through" after they stayed for only a few months.

     No need in describing the two east and west adjoining towns, they are around the same size, and the exact same problems. The next town to the west of our town, employed a police officer who was asked to "step down" from his position because he was sleeping with the sheriff's married daughter. The old sheriff there was partnering with drug addicts. With a town as small as these are ... I can not for the life of me figure out WHY... they can not find the main source of the incoming drugs into their town. EVERYONE knows where to go to buy them... and the police don't know? HAHAHAHA what a joke. 

     Then, you have people like my husband and I. We have a middle class income, live in a middle class home, drive a middle class vehicle... and almost all "upper" class society deems us "lower" class. why? Let me explain the reasons that are of the present....

1. We are covered in tattoos
2. Our children are allowed to be children
3. I am a recovering addict, my husband, a recovering alcoholic. (for some reason the word "recovering" is a disgrace but an active addict is deemed acceptable as long as they aren't out in the open with it) **?????**
4. Even with a middle class income we can not afford for our children or our selves to be "decked" in the latest fashions.
5. We speak our mind
6. We are pro gay rights
7... AND THIS IS THE KICKER.... WE HAVE NO SECRETS

Almost everyone around here puts on a facade like they are better than everyone that crosses their path, which isn't true by any means. If given the chance, I or a hundred others could ruin ANYONE'S "reputation" with the good citizens of this small town. 

Liars, adulterers, drug addicts, thieves, crooked police, child abusers, hookers, child molesters, and so many other types of people live behind the idea of being able to  hide it from everyone. And they are right next to us, day in, day out. 

Before you move to a small town, do your research. You think you are moving yourself toward a slower paced life style, and a more quiet environment, or a safer place to raise your children when in all actuality you are moving where all of these things are not only present, but even more concentrated. If the statistics on child molesters are 1:4... then you do the math.... with less population, how many predators are traipsing around in a small town?

If this blog has offended anyone, or if my english is not up to "par", or if you just simply don't like it... I DO NOT CARE... write your own blog.... write a post on Facebook.... hell... go tell everyone i'm going to hell, it might make you feel better. The thing is, if you are one of these types of people i mentioned... you have your secrets too, and sitting on a church pew on sunday doesn't make you any better than anyone else.