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Larry Stone's avatar

Thanks, Nicole! I'm a life-long Iowan who regrets that I wasn't there to help with your baby in that Alaskan grocery store! Also sad that our rural communities are dwindling because industrial agriculture has taken over from the small farms like the one where I grew up.

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Nicole Baart's avatar

Our small community is one of the few that’s growing… It’s a really beautiful thing! But I know there are so many that are going the opposite direction.

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Jo Reese Nelson's avatar

I’m too, grew up in an Iowa small town -- it doesn’t even have a zip code anymore! And I experienced it the way you did. But now I live in a very large Canadian city and experience supportive community around me here as well. Many people in my neighbourhood know my name -- or at least recognize and say hi to me on the street. I am very sorry you experienced such loneliness in Canada. It is not like that everywhere.

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Nicole Baart's avatar

We absolutely loved our time in BC and miss it dearly. ♥️ I fear I missed the mark if this came off as derogatory toward Canada or cities. I just feel like sometimes those small but important everyday interactions happen more easily/frequently in small towns. I’m so glad you love your community!

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Jo Reese Nelson's avatar

It didn’t come off as derogatory. I just felt your pain, and didn’t want anyone to take it as representative of Canada. Besides, Canadian culture means I say sorry a lot... 🤪

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Jo Reese Nelson's avatar

Btw, one year when I called to make sure that my family was registered to vote absentee, the person who answered the phone in the county auditor’s office recognized my voice, before I had even said who I was, I think, and said “Jo, how are you! I haven’t seen you for 40 years!” So your story is very true….

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Nicole Baart's avatar

That's so funny! And so true!

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Kathy McMahon's avatar

Beautiful 💗

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Nicole Baart's avatar

Thank you, Kathy. And hello! ❤️ It's so nice to hear from you!

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Andrea Dorn's avatar

I get comments all the time from people wondering how I can stand living in a small town. When I first moved into my neighborhood, I was the youngest resident. Most of my neighbors were retired couples. It seemed a little intrusive at the time that my older neighbors knew every move I made, critiqued every gardening action and complained if I didn't shovel snow immediately when it stopped coming down (one neighbor even started doing my driveway for me). Now they are all gone, and I miss that.

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Ardyth Gillespie's avatar

I can identify with this. Thanks for capturing the importance of small town living. No place is perfect, but we have the opportunity to make our small town community better with the help of our children, neighbors, and community members.

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Cheryl Tevis's avatar

What you describe rings true to this longtime farm/rural resident!

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