UK clubbing mag. seeks contributors

[dawn_w]

Hi Pudding, nice to have you back in here.

Well, we had a wild night last night. With the temp being over 100* for over 2 weeks straight and no rain, it's been very dry. Some storm clouds came up and lightning caused several grass fires. We have a volunteer fire dept, which Kevin is on. No one mans the firehouse, so the phone rings in all the firemen's houses. They were all out on fires, so I got to play dispatcher. The phone rang about 20 times in an hour or less, and I had to tell people that they'd have to wait because the trucks were all out. I don't know how many fires in all, but there are 4 surrounding towns and everyone was busy and calling each other for backup. It finally started to rain and helped to put some of them out. It was almost 1am when Kevin got in. The rain didn't amount to much, but at least it was something. We could even smell smoke here in town, but I don't know where it was coming from.

[Willy]

Dawn, I think that is one of the very cool things about living in small towns. It really takes community involvement and a willingness to chip in to get things done. I too believe that these close knit societies are oftentimes more condusive for children to learn that they "belong" to a much broader "family" which is their community.

A few years back when we had the fires in La Costa which burned over 200 homes to the ground, the firefighters worked furiously through devastating dry windy conditions.
These firefighters were truly heroic! Well, what do you suppose happens but a woman SUES the fire department for turning her car away and not letting her into her home which was in one of the worst fire zones. (Some people! I swear!)

Pudding, I'm certainly no hero but I do find that the teachers and social workers etc, that see kids similar to Jackson's plight are. I often think about just this one kid and yet these professionals, like Robin, deal with several children simultaneously year in and year out. Now that's heroic!

[dawn_w]

There are some people who would sue over anything. It's a real shame.

There were more fires Mon night and 1 tonight, a really big one about 20 miles from here that our firemen are on. We sure do need some rain. It's cooled off some though, it's just been about 100* instead of 108*.

Another thing about small towns like this one making kids feel more like part of a group, they don't have to try out for sports or any plays or anything like that, everyone is needed. Some get better parts or get to play more ball than others, but everyone is included.

[Robin]

Dawn, what is the population of your town? I think I read before that it is only a few hundered? My parents are from a town of 500. It is an interesting place to go to watch the way everyone interacts with everyone else. They all know each other and their business. They know how everyone is related. It is funny, but when I go there they ask me questions like, "Are you related to the _____ family?" They don't know me but know just by looking at me who my kin are!

I was oustide the other day and smelled smoke. The air was hazy too. I wondered what was burning. The news said it was from fires in other parts of the country, so I thought it was interesting to hear about the fires in your area Dawn. I hope no one lost any property from the fires.

[dawn_w]

I haven't heard that there were any damages except just grass. One of the fires Sun night was fairly close to someone's house and they called about 3 times, but our trucks were elsewhere. Luckily some trucks from another town went and helped them out.

This town has about 300 people. So it's just like you described, we all know everyone's business and if there's someone new in town, you always know about it. With the storefronts having the old west facade, we get quite a few people passing through just to look. When someone new moves in, you have to wonder why! But it's home and a great place to raise kids, except for the fact that they're a little naive when it comes to the outside world. But as you know, my kids are exposed to Wichita occasionally. They're very privledged.

Just to let you know, I was asked to be a mentor for the VISTA program. I don't know when I'll start, it's for 30 minutes a week. You go to the school and help with homework, read or just color with your kid. They've been doing this here for a couple of years and it's worked out great. It's good for those lonely widows and widowers to interact with kids too.

[Willy]

The Vista Program should be great fun Dawn!
They had a program here where Sr. Citizens would volunteer time in the elementary schools, (whether reading, working in the library, helping students in math or writing skills, etc.)

One boy who was so taken by the Seniors, suggested in 7th grade that the Junior High allow the students to open a workshop for Seniors wanting to improve their computer skills, as a way to "give back" to their Sr. volunteers. The workshops were a huge success and the Junior High students were so sweet and patient with helping the adults learn the "new" technology. The school still offers workshops throughout the year. It was just kind of cool that the whole idea came up from one little boy who was just so grateful for the assistance he received and remembered how much it meant to him.

[jinmich]

Where did everyone go?