Christmas Walk

May I share, this afternoon, what makes Small Town USA so great? This is the season of Christmas walks and in every small town Santa is arriving by horse and buggy, police cruiser or fire truck. He sounded the beginning of my hometown’s Christmas Walk this afternoon, arriving by fire truck.

A donation of canned goods secured a spot on Santa’s lap and a picture to take home to Mom. The canned goods will find their way into Christmas baskets delivered to families by the fire department.

Down by the bandstand, two fire pits surrounded by straw bales struggled to warm the chilly afternoon. Kids roasted marshmallows, ate too many cookies and adults clutched steaming cups of apple cider. The local crooner (Eileen Quest, who is such a dear and loves to sing) serenaded passersby with Christmas carols and hymns. In Small Town USA a church hymn can be sung on Main Street.

Then dancers from Starlight Dance Studio performed as best they could on broken concrete and gravel. The studio’s director tells her dancers that giving back to the community is important and that is why they brave the cold in the winter and the heat in the summer performing at community events. She is teaching our youngest the value of community investment. She is one reason our community works.

Reindeer Games were set up in the downtown park area; crafters sold their wares from the restored schoolhouse and the Depot Museum was open for visitors. An old fashioned wagon pulled by two gentle Belgians circled the block with their riders.

The high school choral group dressed as Victorian carolers stopped at each storefront to sing folks in and out. Then a small group from the high school band played the event to its end.

So, here’s to the volunteers who make Small Town USA tick. And an extra special thanks to the volunteers of Amboy, IL for today’s Christmas Walk. Thank you for expending your time, money and creative thinking to ensure that something is happening in a place where the complaint, “there’s nothing to do” is too often heard.

Read more 30 Day blogs starting with My Generation. And follow more of my 30 Days of the Not So Glamorous Life of this Farm Wife: