I might be a snob

I went to the book sale at the library last night despite the fact that Leo told me it would likely be a waste of time, and I had my own misgivings and thoughts that he might be correct.

I do not mean to judge my sweet little town of 1700 residents who for the most part drive pick up trucks and are a mix of locals who have never left, and others who migrated as fishing, hunting, boating or ski bums and stayed because the land is stunning…

……but I do confess that I have on occasion.

When we moved here a little over a year ago, naturally we researched the demographics a little and interviewed folks we met to get a temperature read on our new neighbors and friends to be.

We were told that the town was heavily Republican with little diversity and a touch of a Mafioso Machismo, and we heard grumblings about the weekenders (which we had just graduated from being) and second home owners.

In the past year we have watched as many of our neighbors have fought amongst each other, a long time local tried to cut down new development signs with his chainsaw (where I used to work)… (FYI, his conversation of his plans to do so were overheard, so I know that someone knows who he, is, but that person will not say who he is)…

… and when you follow the news, some of the nearby towns have stories of folks bulldozing their town, electing and then overthrowing an x-stripper as mayor, and hosting a yearly testicle festival.

Not that any of that gives you the full picture of course, but it does paint an interesting backdrop, give me good writing material, and it may affect the books you think that you will find at the local book sale.

I thought that I would find books on fixing your truck or tractor, unimaginative cookbooks focusing on fried foods, old frontier and anti-change stories of how things were better back in the day, books on motor boating, brewing your own beer, and a few hunting, fishing and crafting books….

…But what I found instead made me take a step back and smile with pride feeling redeemed by my fellow man and townsmen.

I saw classics by Hemmingway, biographies by past politicians and policy makers on both sides of the political fence, HGTV books on interior design, modern healthy cooking, US and World history books, numerous books in other languages, national geographic videos and documentaries on interesting subjects, writing instruction books, and even a few on the new ‘safe occult topics’ these days. (Yummy for my taste)….And the women whose cart I was raiding unknowingly was even extremely kind when she shooed me away.

I have to say that as each day goes by, the snob in me continues to be put in its place as I continue to explore, find and meet more jewels and interesting folks, and discover the true essence of our town rather than read a few stale facts on an online demographics website, and listen to a few folks who probably complain about everything anyway.