Small Town Girl – American Honey

I grew up in a tiny town. I know a lot of people say that, but I honestly grew up in a TINY town. I had 21 others in my graduating class in one school that was K-12. Everyone knew everyone. I was in my tiny bubble for my first 18 years of life. As soon as I graduated, I was BEYOND excited to spread my wings and get lost in my wanderlust (as my grandma called it). I moved on to a university that seemed HUGE at the time, then to Dallas with $300 in my account and literally the smallest U-Haul trailer holding everything I owned. I found a great job, met a wonderful man, then life took us to my final base in St. Louis where his company brought him. 

My life has grown into a crazy, complicated, wonderful mess but whenever I go back home, I get the chance to reconnect with who I am. It’s almost like life leads me there occasionally…like I NEED to be centered again. 

As I get older, I am very aware that most of who I am and the values I carry with me…were from my small town roots. It took a while to realize it, but I wouldn’t trade my childhood for anything in the world. You know the song “American Honey” by Lady Antebellum? That’s my life! 

American Honey

She grew up on a side of the road

Where the church bells ring and strong love grows

She grew up good

She grew up slow

Like American honey

Steady as a preacher

Free as a weed

Couldn’t wait to get goin’

But wasn’t quite ready to leave

So innocent, pure and sweet

American honey

There’s a wild, wild whisper

Blowin’ in the wind

Callin’ out my name like a long lost friend

Oh I miss those days as the years go by

Oh nothing’s sweeter than summertime

And American honey

Get caught in the race

Of this crazy life

Tryin’ to be everything can make you lose your mind

I just wanna go back in time…

-Lady Antebellum

I was recently back in my tiny hometown in Iowa to visit my parents, my sisters, niece, nephews, Grandma Flo (she’s 90…I know! I’m so lucky!) and my neighbors that I had my entire childhood, who are quite possibly are the most simple, considerate and kind people I know. 

My 10-year-old nephew, Zach, took me on a golf cart ride around town one morning. I noticed so many things that had changed in the 25+ years since I lived there, so many things that “used to be.” However, I couldn’t help but see what still was…the kindness & waves from EVERYONE we passed, the neighbors helping neighbors, the kids riding their bikes all over town, the peacefulness of not a single car or siren around, the simple under-appreciated serenity.

As an adult, I noticed the huge hill we struggled to conquer as kids and the long walks around town that seemed so much smaller and shorter than I remember. The local businesses have changed or are now simply vacant buildings. My childhood friends are grown with families of their own. My friends’ houses belong to someone else if they even exist anymore. 

In 2008, my poor hometown was hit by one of the worst tornadoes in the history of Iowa, followed by a devastating 1000-year flood. Homes have been erased but a permanent resilience existed within the residents that replaced each lot with parks, trees and flowers that bloom beautiful each year. 

I won’t forget what was there though…the laughs until we peed (Yvette), the baby oil tanning on our black tar roof (Kim), the baseball games at the old ball field, the cruising around a few square blocks…lap after lap (Kristi). 

These shared experiences will live on in my heart and mind and have made me who I am today. These and many other memories were possible through a simple girl and her “American Honey” childhood. I now take so much pride in my roots and get there as often as I can to remind myself how to value what is important and who I truly am.