It was small town, gossipy, like a fish bowl.
It was slow paced, friendly, and loving.
It was not much to do, creative, hot in the summer, tule fog in the winter.
There was hope for the future.

It was football on Friday nights, baseball in the spring, first love, first kiss.
It was friends, family, and homemade ice cream.
It was sanity and groundedness, and insanity and drunkenness.
There was love and forgiveness.

It was Grandma Esta, aunts and uncles, and great stories.
It was the smell of new mowed alfalfa on a summer night.
It was the first day of kindergarten and graduation from high school.
There was change and growth.