Christmas in a Small Town

If you’ve ever travelled out of our town, people often ask – how do you live there? How many did you graduate with? Do you know anyone?

Such things are often taken as a negative aspect of growing up in a small town. Because of the season, I decided to take a look at one of the positives in our small town – the undying holiday spirit.

For many Williamsburg residents – and I have written about it over the last year – arguably, Williamsburg is a dying town. I can sit here writing about all the negative things that have happened to Williamsburg over the last year but I have chosen not to. It’s time to look at some of the things in Williamsburg that are very much alive and well. This never really hit me until I was driving home to one of my many weekly trips to Williamsburg about how much spirit we have in this town.

Most of us are proud to have been raised a Blue Pirate. Even though many of us graduate and move away, that Blue Pirate spirit will always reside in us.

What moved me was the Christmas parade this past weekend. Sure, the weather was cold and it was rainy – but that little parade showed that the holiday spirit was and is alive and well in our small town.

We saw churches, businesses, civic groups and the boy scouts – each of these groups making up what we all know as our community.

Instead of complaining about the weather, we need to take a closer look at each of the individuals and groups involved in the parade and those that wanted to be a part but couldn’t – that’s who WE are.

We are the little boy walking with the Boy Scouts, we are the pastor of the church and we are even the mayor riding on one of the fire trucks.

Our town, small but mighty, packs a powerful punch even in the midst of one of the toughest years of Williamsburg. We have our holiday spirit and the sense of home. Happiest of holidays from our town to yours!