Eskridge, Kansas. You have probably never heard of this town. Most people, even those who only live a mere 30 miles away, haven’t either. So don’t feel too bad. It’s a town where a person could jog from the north edge to the south edge, and back again in under five minutes. When driving through on the major highway that runs along the western side of town, you could blink and miss it all. Eskridge, Kansas. My small (bordering-on-nonexistent) town.
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Picture this: You’re in a big city that you’ve lived in your whole entire life. One day as you are walking down the street you are in a really happy mood. So you smile at the oncoming pedestrians and say “Hello!” or wave. Most likely, you would get a lot of “What is this person doing?” looks, or “I don’t have time for weird people wanting to have a conversation” looks.
However in Eskridge, this is what will happen: You are in a small town that you’ve lived in your whole entire life. In a good mood, you smile and wave at people on the streets. They smile back and say something along the lines of “I heard you won your softball game last night, great job!” In a small town, behavior like that is welcomed, expected even. Eskridge is place where everyone treats you like family. It’s a place where everyone accepts you regardless of race, income, mental capacities or religion. Everyone knows you, and if they don’t, then they are overjoyed when they do meet you.
In spite of it being so small, there are several businesses and attractions that are definitely unique to our little town. From a gas station to a pool, a lumber yard to a bank, a park to a car repair service; every business is locally owned with local friendly employees, who strive to support the school in any way possible. Whether it’s donating money or cheering on the sports teams, we can always rely on our community members.
Most tourists are initially attracted to my bordering on nonexistent town because of the breathtaking beauty of the nature surrounding it. Being in the middle of nowhere has it perks when it comes to feeling close to the environment. There are a vast variety of birds and wildlife to see around and in Eskridge. Countless motorcyclists come through this town because of it. The awe-inspiring scenery attracts the tourists and the friendly, welcoming atmosphere of the businesses keeps them coming back for years to come.
The Coffee Cup Café is where I waitress at in Eskridge. After working there for two months, I still marvel at how pleasant every customer is. I only work on Sundays, and even with being so new to the business, I have come to know every single one on a personal level. The food served at this small town restaurant is simply mouth watering and the coffee is delicious!
There is a certain atmosphere that can be felt in small towns; the feeling of familiarity, of home. When you come to this town, it’s not simply you waving and saying “Hello!” to a random person. It’s waving to a person that cares about you, whether you’re a lifelong friend or just someone passing through. This is what makes my small (bordering-on-nonexistent) town a place I love.
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