Two years ago this week, I started writing a little column in my brand-new hometown newspaper. OK, the newspaper wasn’t brand new, but my hometown was!
After being widowed, I sold the family home and moved to Taylor, and immediately fell in love – with the people, the town and my new life.
My first year in Taylor was terrific, the perfect place to absorb the lockdown, even the first snow I’ve seen in a while.
I have met what are now going to be lifelong friends and have found my way into groups and organizations that I love. And yes, I even include those Facebook groups that love to whine about potholes and politics.
After a while, I was so involved with all the new ventures that my ability to sit and write kept me away from the paper faded. However, now I am hitting my stride, and this is the start of yet another new chapter in my life.
It’s new for Taylor, too.
We’re moving in Samsung, Tesla and even Starbucks.
Here’s the thing, there’s room for all of it. If you prefer your local coffee, you keep buying your local coffee, and I can give you great local recommendations. If you choose the convenience of the drivethrough at Starbucks, then, by all means, hit it up.
Progress is progress, and it’s going to happen whether we want to or not. We will be dealing with changes just like we do in every other aspect of our lives.
Our jobs never stay the same, our families flex and change, so why would we expect our town to be immovable?
Taylor was founded on the railroads that allowed people from other groups to connect with each other across the miles – that’s the crux of movement and change. Taylor is a hub of communication and people, and it should be celebrated as such.
We have so much to offer, it is no surprise that others want in on it.
I, myself being a transplant, I am very aware of the footprint I leave in Taylor, making sure that I am not expecting Taylor to be anything like a big city or even a suburb of the big city that I was escaping. I joined groups and organizations, I shop local and to try to focus on how I can help it be better.
My mama taught me the Girl Scouts’ Creed which was to leave things better than they were when I found it.
I was so impressed that we were the first ever Williamson County pride event, so I became a sponsor and was so honored to emcee the car show we had this year. I’ve been producing comedy shows in town and have big plans to volunteer at the animal shelter.
Are you doing what you can? I’m certainly trying. I hope that I still have something to give my little town, and still be able to drive through Starbucks with no guilt.
