The Lure of Smalltown America

i seem to recognize your face
haunting, familiar, yet i can't seem to place it
cannot find the candle of thought to light your name
lifetimes are catching up with me
all these changes taking place, i wish i'd seen the place
but no one's ever taken me
hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away...
hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away...
i swear i recognize your breath
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising
me, you wouldn't recall, for i'm not my father
it's hard when, you're stuck upon the shelf
i changed by not changing at all, small town predicts my fate
perhaps that's what no one wants to see
i just want to scream...hello...
my god its been to long, never dreamed you'd return
but now here you are, and here i am
hearts and thoughts they fade...away...
hearts and thoughts they fade...away...
hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away...
hearts and thoughts they fade...

"Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town," Pearl Jam

Earlier this week I went to New Albany, IN to help my mother clean out my late grandfather's house. New Albany is right across the Ohio River from Louisville, KY and is often overlooked by the home of Papa Johns and the Kentucky Derby. In the afternoon I met my uncle at a local watering hole called Richo's- home of the New Albany Brewing Company. Not many people occupied the bar, but every single one of them knew my uncle- a local attorney. One was a high school buddy and another asked if he was running for "office" again. Even the bar owner had a picture of my uncle on the wall (I'll leave out the description of the photo in case other family members have not seen it).

I was surrounded by complete strangers yet I felt a comfort and feeling of protection that I have not felt in some time. I cannot explain the phenomena. My whole life I planned to escape away to the exciting big city, but once I arrived there- I hated it. I now find myself in Eureka, MO just outside St. Louis and once again I yearn for those city limits. I still cannot explain it.