It's Not What You Think

 By Melissa Hart

News isn’t news anymore, it’s drama used as a weapon to stir up emotions and fuel our hatred for the opposite, polarizing point of view.

I used to watch it religiously, but now I rarely spend my time or energy on it. If I were to believe what they tell me, every convenience store would be in a state of robbery, every country leader would qualify to be institutionalized and race would be the basis of every decision from friendship to farm loans.

I just got back from a trip to Texas and witnessed the opposite of what you see on any media source.  I saw vast farm fields full of fertile soil getting ready to grow cotton, rice, corn and beans. Vibrant farm towns were still in existence with pick-up trucks parked outside of local diners packed full on a Saturday night. I drove thru Clear Fork Coffee Company in Albany, Texas for a great cup of coffee and a Texas Cheater that hit the spot.

Kind people were the trend not the exception. I missed the trash can with my empty water bottle while filling up at a gas station, the guy on the other side of the pump picked it up for me.

The desk clerk at the Days Inn in Cabot, Arkansas was concerned for our safety, warning us about the bad weather coming across Texas and she wanted to make sure I knew about it.

There was a trucker who stopped his semi in rush hour traffic in Dallas to rescue a stopped motorist who was having some sort of issue. He could have just called 911 from his truck and kept on going, but instead he noticed the struggling man, pulled over and raced back to the car to offer his help while waiting for the paramedics.

In a hotel lobby in Springfield, Missouri there was a group of friends playing scrabble in the breakfast area while watching The American Rodeo on TV.  

When I hear a British social media influencer talk about how great American is and that every state is like going to a different country I have to agree.  Each state has it’s own look, feel and natural wonders to enjoy. There are different accents, customs, food and slang phrases that mean different things in different parts of the country.

In the north we like our sugar in our cornbread and not in our tea and in the south, they want loads of sugar in their tea but don’t you dare put it in cornbread. And when you enjoy BBQ in the south, it doesn’t mean pulled pork with a few chips, it means a pile of pulled pork, with a side of Brunswick Stew, baked beans, slaw and cornbread to sop it all up.

Don’t take my word for it, discover the beauty of our country on your own. Find those open fields, or the sweet cashier who calls you ‘Hun’ when she asks if you want your receipt or that drive thru attendant who is happy to make a fresh pot of coffee for you and then apologize for the wait. You won’t find them on the screen in your living room—but you will find them on the rural routes of the greatest country on earth—‘Merica.