2014-07-30: Day 35 Small Town Kindness, Buhler to Larned, KS

Today as we passed through the small town of Nickerson, KS, we stopped at the local grocery store to hunt some calories. As we exited the store, we noted that it had begun rain for the first time on this trip. A car pulled in as we were eating our yogurt under the cover of the store front. Out jumped an older lady to ask us if we needed a place to stay to get out of the rain. I told her No. We planned to ride on. She said she would be glad to open up the Community Center for us. When I assured her we would be fine, she simply said, "If you change your mind, come on back to city hall. They will give you a key. You can let yourself in." I assured her we were fine. She jumped back in her car and drove away. On we went to the west into the rain.

The more I pondered this brief conversation, the more touched I became. This lady had never seen us and would never see us again. Yet she cared enough to give us a key to the city community center. Wow. I had read about small town hospitality from previous rider's logs and we have personally experienced it before on this ride. What is shocking is how frequently these small towns have reached out to ensure we were safe, comfortable, and welcomed in their community. It really makes me believe in small town America.

Perhaps the most telling aspect of this story is that I am shocked by this small town trust and the willingness to share what they have with complete strangers. I have become jaded. I'm just not used to receiving nor giving this level of trust to others in Portland. Perhaps, I need to extend this level of trust in my life more commonly.