I'm about to make a statement that may well make me one of the least popular people in this town, but bare with me. ... I'm not found of this town. At least not in an aesthetic sense. It's just never seemed pretty.
Let's be honest, for many of us who didn't really grow up here or are young enough that we don't remember "the good ol' days," this place can seem really rundown. Abandoned buildings, store fronts, storage facilities, churches and houses line most streets, and if you drive through town as regularly as I do, you get really tired of seeing the same old broken-down, boarded-up four-walls-and-a-roof structures.
But this isn't a secret, and apparently I'm not alone. I've worked at the CN for nearly three years, and in that time I've sat in countless meetings oriented around addressing the city's curb appeal.
And to be fair, in certain parts of town, progress has been made. This is especially true with many of the areas tackled by those volunteering for the Cleaner Safer Blytheville weekend cleanups held from time to time. In that same amount of time, I've also had numerous letters to the editor hit my desk in which the sender's sole purpose was to complain about particular eyesores in town.
Despite all of this, I think I've had a recent change of heart, sort of. I drive everywhere I go, and I go a lot of places each day. A majority of those places are regular stops on most days, so I see the same things day in and day out.
This week, however, I took the opportunity to experience my everyday routine a little differently than normal. And to be completely honest, I quite enjoyed it.
On Wednesday, I had my Jeep in the shop getting the seatbelt replaced. Typically, I would just use Ashley's car for the day, but as I looked at my schedule and where I had to go, I decided I would make my way around on foot for the day. So I spent the day walking the routes I usually drive several times a day.
Up and down Broadway. Back and forth across Main Street. Second Street. Fifth Street. Walnut. I walked everywhere I went. And I had a good time. Such a good time that I decided to do the same thing again on Friday.
Here's the catch though. I feel my enjoyment for those days depended heavily on the conditions surrounding my outing. But I had such a good time that I felt it would be wrong of me not to share these conditions with all of you so you can have an equally enjoyable day and maybe see a new, more vibrant side to this city just as I did.
The weather has to be perfect for an activity like this. Anyone can take a quick stroll to the store in less than ideal conditions, but I covered a pretty big area so good weather is key. On both Wednesday and Friday, temperatures were in the 50s with a slight breeze and some decent sunshine -- something I'm not a fan of when driving because it makes the car hot.
An added bonus for the fellas out there, get a fresh hair cut. Ever since I was a kid one of my favorite feelings has been a nice, cool breeze blowing through the sides of a nice, clean hair cut. In fact I've been in the habit of parking a little ways ways from the barber shop for years because there's just nothing like that walk back to the car.
For the ladies, I don't know, try a ponytail maybe?
Music plays such a huge role in our daily lives, and there's a playlist for almost every event. When I'm at the gym (don't laugh, I go to the gym) I'm likely to be blasting Jay Z or Madball while hitting the weights and trudging along on the treadmill.
But for walking around to these artists just didn't cut it.
Instead, I went with something much more laid-back, Band of Horses. Now I hate to pigeonhole a band, but for reference purposes only, the band is kind of a mix of folk and indie rock (wow, that was hard to make myself type). The band is often thrown around with bands such as Death Cab for Cutie, Bon Iver, The Shins, Sufjan Stevens, Coldplay and the like -- which make them perfect for a stroll through the streets.
In our cars we're confined to the amount of space the manufacturer has allotted us. Rolling the windows down can help, but you're still inside a predetermined amount of space. But when you're out for a walk the space around you goes on forever and ever. It allows you, or it at least allowed me, to feel connected on some level to the nearly endless universe that we are a part of.
The Music helps with this too. Blocking out the sound of cars and construction and the people standing in front of whatever store it happens to be yelling at one another makes you feel alone, but in a good way.
As I walked up and down the various streets I felt like I was the only thing that existed, the only thing that mattered. While I think most people would agree that it's not a very good thing to have that kind of self-centered attitude all the time I don't think we take enough time to feel like we really matter in the grand scheme of things.
After all, there are seven billion people on this planet which makes it really easy to get lost in the mix.
Finally, and I can't stress this enough, make sure you're wearing the right shoes. I just happen to have an old pair of Reeboks on both days, which wasn't my intention but it worked out well. These shoes were perfect. Lightweight, breezy, and well-worn.
So go for something like that, because I imagine a blister will quickly end your good mood. Fellas skip the giant boots that everyone seems so bent on tuck their pant legs into. Ladies leave the heals in the office. And everyone, avoid flip-flops. (Actually, as a personal favor to me, can you just all stop wearing flip-flops? I don't want to see your feet.)
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So wherever you are, the next time you get a little bummed about where you live and about the things you see everyday, go for a walk. These same buildings and signs trees look different as a pedestrian.
For more, follow me on Twitter at @CN_ChrisP. May the force be with you.
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PS: Can we get some more sidewalks in this town? We have, like, nine sidewalks that will just abruptly end in the middle of a block.
cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com