Blanding, oh Blanding

I have been thinking a lot lately why I have come to love this little town as much as I do. So today, as I sit in my classroom chaperoning lunch detention and eating orange slices, I thought I would share them with you.

1. Foremost, I love the people in Blanding. There are so many good, good people. They have open hearts and friendly smiles. No matter where I go, people smile and wave at me. They stop me in the grocery story or pop their heads into my classroom. Their cookies end up on my doorstep and they lean over to chat with me during a high school softball game. They invite me over for Sunday dinner, stop in the church hallway to see how I'm doing.
   
2. I love the teenagers in Blanding. There are good kids in Blanding. They are funny and energetic and thoughtful. They take joy in shooting things and building big fires. They are aware of the goings-on in the world and in each others lives. And they often think I am funny (and I am always a sucker for that!)
3. I love the landscape in Blanding. Granted, I also love mountains and beaches and trees, but that does not detract from the magnitude of mesas and red rock and wide open spaces that I love about this corner of the universe. I love the stars that hang low and bright. I love the little purple flowers of the spring, the black-eyed-susans of summer, the relentless wind, the watching eye of the Blue Mountain. I love the variety of the houses and lawns. I love the raw open feeling of this beautiful but desolate land.
4. I love the quiet of Blanding. When I sit in my rocking chair at night, I do not hear rushing traffic or honking horns. Only the soft hum of a street light or the conversation of passing pedestrians outside my window.
5. I love the church in Blanding. I have never really experienced Utah church life before. There are members everywhere. I love institute and primary kids in the street waving and my home teacher two blocks down.
6. I love the high school in Blanding. I love how small it is--just 384 students. I love going to activities and knowing their faces and names. I love the trust of the administration and the ease of the discipline. I love my classroom-despite having no windows. I love the newly arrived OED. I love the secretaries in the office and the teachers down the all, around the corner, and next door.
7. I love the opportunities in Blanding. Like no other place, I find I am challenged to come out of my shell, to love people, to reach out and be good and kind. I love what I teach--juniors and seniors and AP--and know I could not teach it anywhere else. I love ways I am learning and growing with that new boy in my life. I love the opportunities I have to speak in church, develop my talents, have to time to read or sew or serve.
   

I am so constantly grateful to be here right now. I know it is silly perhaps, but I really do love this little town with all my heart.