When Those Hats Came Full Circle

/ Jessica

What brought you to live in your current town or city?

Seems like there are several reasons why we live where we do:

  • a job
  • college
  • location- skiers may choose a mountain town, while surfers may choose the beach town
  • love the town we grew up in and stayed put
  • moved to be closer to family
  • good schools for the kiddos
  • love the land outside of the town
  • the hats

Whoa, wait a minute. The hats?

Believe it or not, the very first time I visited this rural Missouri town, I knew I loved it. My sister and I traveled several hours from our big town to photograph a high school graduation in this small town. At the end of the outdoor ceremony, the seniors threw their cowboy hats way up in the air at the same time. That was it, I was hooked.

After the photo shoot was over, we went back to our big town. Life adventures led me to living in other towns and even in some huge cities. But, I never forgot about the image of all those hats in the air.

Several years later, my husband and I were house hunting within about a 50 mile radius of that fateful, long gone, graduation photo assignment. Any guesses where we bought our very first home? You got it! The town with the hats.

Now, I guess that may seem like a silly reason to live somewhere, but to me, cowboy hats are symbols. Similar to farm trucks or barns, cowboy hats tend to represent farming, ranching, families, early risers, hard workers, an abundance of faith, and kind hearts.

I grew up in a small farming town and my family’s roots run deep in the Iowa farmland. Even though we don’t farm ourselves, farming is a big part of who I am.

I “fit” here. No one even thinks twice that I drive a pick up, because most of the gals around here drive one, too. I feel just fine wearing my coveralls into the grocery store on days the wind is bitter cold. I’ve worked in this town and volunteered in this town. We choose to raise our son here. We bank here, eat here, and shop here.

In fact, a couple days ago I heard about a family owned store in town that I’ve never been to, so yesterday I went to have a look. As soon as I parked, I almost felt my heart expand a little.

The building is old and quaint. You know that “homey” feeling you get when you visit an old friend’s house after you haven’t seen them in a while? It was like that. Welcome at a place I’d never even been.

After stepping in the door, I noticed it was a really nice home decor shop. I started to look around, when I heard the greeting from a kind gentleman behind the counter.

When I turned to look his way to answer, I nearly fell over. He was wearing a beautiful,  black cowboy hat. In that moment, I knew we are exactly where we are meant to be, when those hats came full circle.

16 thoughts on “When Those Hats Came Full Circle”

  2. It sure did.. “Hats off” to your Mom 😄

    You can send a link anytime.. actually I would appreciate it.. I miss a lot of articles my favorite people write because I’ll get an alert but not have time at the moment and then forget later.. Some good reads get lost, like this one..

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. I found the post ! And glad I did.. Nice read !
    I feel pity for those who never experience the “belonging” of small town and rural living.. And I know some people just really have no interest with being close to nature.. I just can’t help but believe that they are missing out..
    The picture is one of those 1,000 word pics.. Great post 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • You’re always so kind! Thank you. I thought about giving you a link, but didn’t want to come off as “giving you a link” implying you had to read it. Ha!

      I’ve lived in rural areas, small towns, and huge cities. There’s just comfort in the small, hometown-ness for me. Thanks for what you said about the picture. My mom bought that hat for Little Bit. It made the perfect picture for that story. :)

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.