As I’ve said before, my writing ranges from entertaining to informative. And anywhere in between. Today’s article is right in the middle, and I hope it makes you think.
My neighbor (because he lives within two miles of my house) told me a story. Oh, and I see him every Sunday at church and he’s on the water system board with John, and he does projects for the farm, and his wife loves my books. In small towns we have so many connections, but that’s a topic for a different time.
My neighbor/fellow church goer/man who takes care of my water/contractor/husband of an avid reader of my books told me that his cousin came to visit, and they ran a few errands. When they got home the cousin exclaimed, “Wow, you know a lot of people!” My friend replied, “What? What are you talking about?” The cousin commented, “Everywhere we went today, the people smiled and waved and said ‘hello’. Everyone around here obviously knows you.” My friend replied, “Oh no, that’s just small town friendliness.” Hmmm, maybe so, but when does it cross the line?
A couple years ago Nathan deployed with the Texas National Guard to Egypt for a year. When he returned, he stayed with us a few weeks until he secured an apartment and started his job on base in Lufkin, TX. He encouraged me to get up at 6 a.m. every morning and go walking while he ran three miles. The things we do for our children! I endured this labor of love, and after a couple of weeks people began to comment. At the post office I heard, “Hey, good job girl! Saw you walking this morning.” At the coffee shop strangers told me, “Way to go! Keep up the walking—we’re proud of you.”
I never asked who the mysterious “we” was—I was afraid to find out, since most of my public admirers were total strangers. I’ll admit the accolades were inspiring, and I didn’t turn them down. But Nathan moved back to Lufkin and I soon switched off the alarm and slept in. That’s when my troubles began.
“Hey, girl! I haven’t seen you walking in a while. What’s going on? Are you sick?” On and on it went, until everyone concluded I was just lazy and had given up. I felt guilty, although not guilty enough to start walking again. But it definitely made me think.
Do I live in a square mile of stalkers? What about those people who tell me, “I saw you at the post office last week. You rarely go, because you have your mail delivered. Were you picking up a certified letter? Is everything okay?”
Or at the coffee shop. “I saw you at the Dollar General buying a lot of paper plates and napkins. Are you having a party? How did it go?” Suddenly the small town friendly felt a lot of stalking.
The definition of stalking is “the crime of following or harassing another person with the intent to cause fear or harm.” I don’t know the intentions of my small town neighbors, but I’ll go out on a limb and say they’re not planning any fear or harm. Perhaps I’m being too dramatic? If John was reading over my shoulder right now, he’d be nodding his head and laughing. But he’d ponder my statements. Just think about what I’m saying the next time you wave to someone at the gas station.
Jann Goar Franklin graduated Russellville High School in 1989. You can reach her at jann@jannfranklin.com
Or at the coffee shop. “I saw you at the Dollar General buying a lot of paper plates and napkins. Are you having a party? How did it go?” Suddenly the small town friendly felt a lot of stalking.
The definition of stalking is “the crime of following or harassing another person with the intent to cause fear or harm.” I don’t know the intentions of my small town neighbors, but I’ll go out on a limb and say they’re not planning any fear or harm. Perhaps I’m being too dramatic? If John was reading over my shoulder right now, he’d be nodding his head and laughing. But he’d ponder my statements. Just think about what I’m saying the next time you wave to someone at the gas station.
Jann Goar Franklin graduated Russellville High School in 1989. You can reach her at jann@jannfranklin.com