Country Roads, Take Me Home

Internet access has been pretty hit or miss over the past couple of days.  I am back in Princeton, West Virginia, visiting family and friends, and staying with my parents.  It's odd.  I remember this town as being much more vibrant than it is now.  To put it bluntly, the place seems a bit dead.  The population is a bit older, and the people I do see don't seem very happy.  Maybe it's just me, or maybe it's something systemic.

I remember growing up in this town, there were always kids to play with.  In summer, we would stay out late, playing tin can alley.  Whole hordes of kids running through yards, hiding in bushes, and generally making nuisances of themselves.  The way this town seems now, I honestly believe we might have been shot by someone.  In winter, we would build snow forts and snowmen, and have sled runs in the park.  There's been snow on the ground since I got here, and I've spent a lot of time in the park walking my parents' dog.  I have yet to see a single sled run or child.  It's a bit discouraging.  Maybe it's just me, but the town feels like it's dying.  If you're in Princeton, and you disagree, please, state your case.

Nevertheless, I still have friends and family here.  My cousins, Ryan and Paige Flanigan, have started The Flanigan Law Firm.  They're right down from the courthouse in Princeton, by the tree with the green lights.  (That might be changing after St. Patrick's Day.  You'll have to ask them.).  They're very excited about their new venture, and I wish them all the best.

While I was here, I also got to have dinner with my friends, Vicki and Ben, and their brood of children.  I actually had a bit of a shock when I saw their sons.  It was literally like looking at Ben when we played U-11 soccer.  It was uncanny.  It also made me realize just how much grey I have in my hair and my goatee.  I'll never again be that child playing soccer without a care in the world.  Still, there are compensations to getting older, and I'm actually glad to be where I am now.  No regrets.  No looking back.

To finish things off, I thought I'd give you all some pictures of the snow and Chloe in the park.  Who doesn't like pictures of a dog?