Small town ....USA

Only in Small Town USA

Just a few miles from us is the little town of Cottonwood.It is a beautiful little town, great people live there, and lots of history. The fire department needed a new building for the fire trucks, and everyone pitched in to make their dream a reality. This little town really worked. They had everyone, people, businesses, who ever could or would, donate something to be auctioned off for a huge benefit. They sold tickets in freezing weather, they had bake sales, you name it, and finally the big night all the towns around had waited for....the prizes would be given away. They had a catering service do all the meals, catfish,chicken strips, french fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, ice tea, and at $6  a plate, there was standing room only. Then after we ate, we all went into the big room they have set up for musicals and other programs. There were so many tickets sold, they could not fit them into the drum, so one of the local firemen brought his patriotic red, white, and blue cement mixer up on stage and all the tickets were put into it and turned on to mix them up. Another drum held the ninety prizes to be given away, and a wonderful young marine made our night by calling out all the numbers. It was a joyous time, full of laughter, yells, and as each number was called, the name, number of the ticket, and gift, was posted on a huge piece of paper. There were at least 6 or 7 sheets by the time they were through. Only in little town USA could a guy named Lamb win the prize of  the  registered Long Horn cow. That brought all kinds of laugher. The name of the fire chief is so hard to pronounce, every time the prize he donated was called, it was referred to as the fire chief. He had at least six cooked briskets and his little daughter won one of them. There was a registered Boar goat given away, a youngster won that, a computer with children's games was won by an oldster like us, and everybody laughed. There were flashlights, radios, a set of new tires, oil changes, a beautiful tiled table, and for those who had little money, they donated four hours of handy man work, or four hours of back hoe work, a load of sand, cords of wood, a beautiful homemade quilt, pillows, a John Wayne Pocket Knife, four hours of fishing at Roland's fish tank, Trees were donated, to be planted, and won as prizes,Restraunts offered meals for four, Hair stylists offered haircuts as prizes, even the barber had haircuts (10) as a prize...and the best prize was the last....it was for all of us who bought tickets but did not win a prize...we were told we were encapsulted ....our tickets would be put in a box and sealed over with cement at the new fire station...who could wish for anything better than that !  I can tell everyone I have been covered in cement.  I just don't have a star !  But I can wish upon one, and ask God to bless every one of these wonderful firemen, to keep them safe when fighting all these fires, and keep them in the Palm of His Hand. 

Update...the local newspaper stated that $22,223.00 was raised for the new fire station .

Gaynelle
2-4-09