Lauren Denton Headline
This September will mark 14 years since I moved into a little house in Homewood a few months after college graduation. I didn’t know a thing about this town when I arrived, but after living here for 14 out of the last almost 14 years, it truly has become a home to me. So, in the spirit of We Love Homewood Day, I thought I’d give my own reasons for why I love Homewood.
1. The Homewood Public Library. Rarely a week goes by when we don’t go to the library at least once, if not two or three times. The big tables in the adult section allow me to spread out with my computer and notebooks, and the children’s department is like a second home to my daughters, Kate and Sela.
2. The hill behind Sam’s Deli. Yes, the Dentons are creatures of habit, and we eat at Sam’s most Friday nights when the weather is nice. Friendships are furthered and new ones are built over countless cheeseburgers, chicken salads, skinned knees and tree-climbing contests.
3. The friendly, familiar faces at both “The Pig” and Publix. I love that I can go to either of my usual grocery stores, and someone will ask how my girls are or offer them a lollipop.
4. The firemen who wave to kids on the playground. I hope they know what a treat it is when a firetruck roars by and a fireman pauses to wave to the wide-eyed kids.
5. The We Love Homewood Day Parade and the Christmas Parade. Caught in the chaos of flying candy, hearing the beat of the marching bands, watching my oldest daughter’s eyes light up when she sees the sparkle of the Star Spangled girls — a mama can get a little choked up with small town pride!
6. People here really get behind causes they care about — case in point, the recent digital sign debacle. I love that neighbors in Homewood (and neighboring cities) stood their ground and made their case heard.
7. All Saints Preschool. Love resides behind those red doors. I’m confident that everyone in that school loves my kids and wants the best for them. I’m sad it’s Kate’s last year there, but I’m thankful we have a couple more years there with Sela before we have to say good-bye.
8. The “Buy Local” idea. It’s is so easy in Homewood — you can purchase almost anything you need within a few square miles.
9. The Homewood City Council. They are receptive to hearing neighbors’ concerns, and I’m certain they love Homewood and want what’s best for it.
10. Mayor McBrayer. He is so visible and well-known, even to my 5 year old. This morning, I asked Kate who the boss is and she replied without hesitation, “Mayor McBrayer.”
11. A health-conscious town. Everywhere you look, you see cyclists, runners, walkers, kids on scooters, or families on the Lakeshore Trail.
12. La Concoccion at Little Donkey. O’Henry’s blueberry muffins. Chocolate Peanut Butter popsicles at Steel City Pops. Nabeel’s chicken salad. I think I’m getting hungry…
13. The cycle of life. It makes me smile to think Kate and Sela could grow up in this town and turn into people who, like so many adults I know, can look back and say, “I used to climb on that red caterpillar when I was a kid!”
Lauren can be reached at LaurenKDenton@gmail.com. You can also find her on Twitter @LaurenKDenton.
