Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat – Cheryl Williams

October 3, 2007

Something About The Old Ways

Cheryl Williams

I spent all day yesterday visiting my sister in the mountains of North Carolina, which is also where I was born and raised.  It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful it is up there.  Why is it that I never really noticed until I left?

The sister towns of Jefferson and West Jefferson, are small and quaint.  Time has transformed them somewhat over the years.  Main street in West Jefferson used to be the only place available to shop.  There was a five and dime, which carried a bit of everything.  There was the local drugstore, where you could buy the yummiest hot dogs and the creamiest milkshakes.  Then there was the Friendly Shoe Store, which is still there.  For those with more expensive tastes in clothing, there was the Jefferson House.  There was a pawn shop, a hardware store, a small movie theatre. 

Today, due to the coming of a Walmart, the town has transformed into an artsy town.  There are a lot of arts and craft stores, antique stores, and book shops.  Beautiful painted murals cover the sides of the old buildings to make them look more appealing.

Yesterday, my sister and I hung around her house for awhile....(she lives WAY out in the country), and then we had to run into town to pick up some supplies for a project we were working on together.  Our first stop was the local hardware store, which is STILL there after all these years.  I had to smile, because it was like being transformed back into another time.  Old timers were just standing around shooting the breeze together.  A couple of them were situated in rocking chairs playing a game of checkers.  The wooden floor squeaked as you walked across it, and a breeze was blowing through because the door was just left open for folks to walk in and out at their leisure.

As soon as my sister and I had picked up the couple of things we needed to get, we went and sat them down on the counter...(the only one in the store).  Well, the cashier was a little old man who looked to be about seventy years old, but he was away from the register talking to the fellows playing checkers.  He saw us standing there waiting for him, but he didn't seemed the least bit phased or in a hurry.  I was amused.  Living in Charlotte, everyone is always in such a rush, and customers are quick to curse out a cashier who is not quick to assist.  But there, in that hardware store, there seemed to be some kind of unwritten code that said, "No hurry here.  We'll get to you in our good time."  Even my sister, who would usually be very quick to say something, knew to wait.  And we did.  The little old man would look at  us and smile, and we would smile back.  "Be with you ladies in a minute," he said, as he continued to watch the checker game.  I thought it was so funny, and I was just standing there with an amused smile on my face.  He finally sauntered over to us, and was so nice and polite.  We thanked him and headed on our way, chuckling. 

There's something to be said for the old way of living. 

Cheryl Williams

politicalgirl04@aol.com