I grew up in the type of small town you’d see in movies. Everyone knows everyone, there is one local grocery store, parades and fireworks on holidays, and a park. I often compare it to Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls. It’s a tight-knit community where everyone attends the same elementary school then graduates with the same fifty kids they’ve known their entire life. When you walk through the hallways at school, it’s normal to know everyone you see even if they are grades above or below you. It’s even common that some of the teachers may have taught your parents when they were young.
While I often view the closeness of my town as a blessing, there are certain instances where living somewhere larger may be easier. Information travels fast though a small town, it doesn’t take long before everyone knows if something has happened. Whether it’s good or bad, people are bound to know in a short amount of time.
This past week, two high school boys were involved in a single car accident. The boy who was driving was a senior and the passenger was a sophomore, the same age as my little brother. Tragically, the passenger did not survive and the driver has been in the hospital since the accident. The town is truly heartbroken. There was a viewing and funeral at the local church, where the sanctuary was filled with classmates, family members, teachers, and friends; who together, paid their respects and mourned the loss. In the school itself, the boy’s desk was turned into a memorial and extra guidance counselors were brought in for support.
Through the heartbreak of this situation, the town has truly come together. GoFundMe pages have been created for both families and even local businesses have offered to raffle products in order to raise money. The girls’ volleyball playoff game dedicated a moment of silence to the boys while the stands were filled with students dressed in their favorite colors of purple and blue. Even surrounding school districts have been providing support for the families.
While in a big city this loss may not have been as impactful or heavily focused on, my small town is grieving the loss of a boy they watched grow up. They are simultaneously praying for another boy who is fighting for his life in the hospital. Despite all of this, the community is standing strong for each other. Our town itself may be small, but their love is by no means little.