Well, I decided it was high time I ranted about the town I live in, Brownsville, Oregon. Brownsville is small. The population is only about 1400 people. However, it has a lot of stores and services you wouldn’t expect such a small town to have. I could list them all, but the list would be too long so I’ll just point out what we don’t have—Walmart, a fast foods chain, or a hospital (there is a medical center).

Brownsville sports a number of events that keep our calendars full and a newspaper to alert us to them. Besides the regular holiday celebrations, there’s “Stand by Me,” Day, Pioneer picnic and parade, free community dinners in the park in summer, city-wide yard sale, Antique Fair, Thursday Market, and on and on…Many of the events are held at the city park that’s almost as large as Brownsville.

I’ve lived in many towns and cities. Most places, I didn’t know my neighbors. In Brownsville, I know and talk with all my neighbors. I take my two dogs for walks almost every day. People stop and talk to me and to pet my dogs. There are a couple of places where one of my neighbors will come out and hand them a treat. My dogs love it here!

I love those walks and talks. The scenery here is nice with beautiful flowers, bushes, and magnificent trees all around town. The winters are not too harsh and the summers not too hot. The people are what really make this town. There is tolerance for differences and a willingness to help out neighbors. For instance, when I was sick and couldn’t get around, one of my neighbors mowed my lawn for me and later on, another piled up my leaves. The people and their willingness to share make this town a great place to live.