thoughtful thursday

this week, while in downtown with mom and dad, i looked around at familiar sights and thought of all that was wonderful about the area.  growing up in a small southern town so many years ago had advantages.  the freedom to be able to roam or travel to a destination alone was special.  downtown was just about my favorite destination.  my bicycle would take me to the public library where i would spend many hours reading whatever caught my attention before checking out a few books to take home.  the drug store across the street from the library featured an old fashioned soda fountain.  but before enjoying a cherry soda, a walk along one side of main street from the library and then along the other side to the drug store was mandatory.  only a few blocks in length, main street bustled with shops and services, the court house square and people.  while slurping the cherry soda through a straw and taking bites of the vanille ice cream at the bottom of the tall, frosty glass with a long handled spoon, one of the newly checked out library books was eagerly read.  then it was back on my bike and home again.