Thoughtful reader Susan Hoffman, who writes for the Armour (S.D.) Chronicle, sent me a couple of her newspapers earlier this year. She had written a small article about online diaries and included me in it which was much appreciated. At the time I found the article, read it, and set the rest of the paper aside to look at later. While moving three bookcases in preparation for the imminent arrival of The Sofa I found the newspaper again, and sat down to have a look.
Wow. I have never read a small country newspaper before. It's an amazing item. I did not realize how personal such newspapers are. When you have all of 2,274 voters in a county you fill up the columns with local happenings like who entertained out of town visitors, the list of activities at one of the nursing homes, and who the casketbearers were for such and such funeral. It's so detailed and some of it seems more like gossip than news reporting. I was much taken by the request for "card showers" for people on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversaries or their 80th birthdays. Card showers! I presume people are invited to send the celebrants a card, a very nice idea indeed but not one I have previously seen in a public newpaper.
It clarifies for me how intently small towns keep their eyes on their neighbors. I'd hate having that much scrutiny turned on my every move. The newspaper covers every incident of possible interest, including the declared majors of all the college kids, who went where on vacation, who had surgery, and so forth. Yipes. I like my big city anonymity. I barely see my neighbors. I can come and go in peace. I have a strong desire to be left alone. I believe I would feel stifled, not safe, in a small community. But I love reading about it. It's such a different way of life.
And now I know the best way to graze stressed forage, too.
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