Released in 1985, the year I turned 14 and yes, I did live in a small town, the same small town I couldn’t wait to escape after I graduated high school and the same small town I now live in. Back in 1985 I did enjoy the song, I just sang it a little more sarcastically than was intended.
This write up is not about that time in my life though, it is about the time when we lived in our first house. It wasn’t ours because we were renting but it was a house none the less. The boys each had their own bedroom, we had a separate area for a playroom and the boys had a backyard to play in. Our friend Jon had a friend who was looking for renters for their house and we were more than happy to be those renters. This was also our test house to see if we were ready for the expense and the responsibility of our own house. Turns out in less than a year we would have our first real house all our own.
While we were renting this house in Westerville, Ohio the boys and I made so many happy memories. Larry and I were still on separate shifts and I had lost my brother earlier that year but overall, I think we were very happy in this house and I have so many fond memories of our time there. This is when the boys and I would listen to a mix tape Larry had made me and this was one of the songs on that tape. Connor and Gabriel especially liked this song and I would always have to stop what I was doing and pick one of them up to dance with while the other one was clinging to my leg waiting for their turn to dance with mommy. We would just dance and sing at the top of our lungs and have ourselves a little party. This is the first memory that comes to mind when I hear this song and I hope it always is.
P.S. Larry may not be an LA doll and he is the one who brought me back to this small town but after five years here he is definitely “small town just like me”.
LB notes:
Reading Shannon's notes, I agree with it all. We did have a great time in that rental house and being able to afford that it gave me confidence that we could afford our own home.
I come from the small town of Sunbury, Ohio. Back when I was growing up, it would have qualified as small town - in Ohio. Honestly, it has nothing on small town Kansas. Plus Sunbury has exploded since I lived there.
Small town Kansas has a graduating classes of, on average, I'm guessing 15 kids. My wife's was ~30 and the town has lost some population since the late 80's - so that's what brings the average down.
Small town Kansans know the last four digits of everyone's cell number.
Small town Kansans know each other's vehicles. Shannon is greatly impressed that I now know more vehicle owners than she does at this point!
I could go on and on, but you get it. There are a ton of things that I love about being here, but I'm not going to sugarcoat it either.
If you love going to Best Buy - forget it. If you love watching IMAX movies - forget it. If you love going out to eat at various places - forget it.
Essentially, if you like doing anything at all, forget it. Kansas small town isn't for you. Think carefully before you make the decision to move here.
Also - I take offense at Shannon stating I'm not an LA doll...
P.S. Look at all those great songs on that mix tape - some of which we have already covered!
Ghost of a Chance 