I have seen the best this community has to offer, and I’ve seen the worse. I have benefited from its benevolence and have been harmed by its malfeasance. The juxtaposition, the contradictions, that’s what makes a community revolve and evolve, right?
At one point I considered moving away and never coming back. At another point I considered the possibility of not raising my son here. But I stayed. And we persevered. Through the changes, through the rumors, through the incredible highs and damaging lows. We have picked up the pieces and rebuilt something to be proud of. I leaned into the community instead of away. I found my people. We found our people.
“I love this town,” my son says as we drive through its downtown center. I sneak a peak back at him; did he just say what I think he said?
He stares at me with a sparkle in his eye and a wide smile on his face, with honesty and intention and intensity.
“I love this town!” he says again, with force and purpose.
I smile and laugh. Those four words reinforce, encourage and still my anxious heart for a moment. I did it right, I did it well.
He loves his hometown. I hope he will see the best it has to offer and will benefit from its benevolence. I hope he never loses his sparkle, his honesty, his intention to help his community evolve.
We have work to do. But it’s a start.
Jessica Williams Bricker 