"Back in Line" with Dr. Mosier: The Gift of a Small Town

Sometimes a different perspective helps you appreciate what you have.

“Dad, do you have to stop and talk to everyone?”

That was the question Isaiah and Isaac asked me while we were walking through the fair.

Truthfully, one of my favorite parts of our county fair is catching up with people I haven't seen in a while. I enjoy hearing how life is going, seeing how much their kids have grown, and reconnecting with friends old and new. It's also a great place to meet people and build new relationships.

Ellen and I both grew up in Bloomington, and going to the Monroe County Fair was always a big event. The difference was that you could spend an entire day walking around and never run into someone you knew. For those of you who have lived in this area your whole lives, that might be hard to imagine. In Bloomington, you could walk through Walmart—even after living there for years—and not recognize a single person.

Moving to Washington County was a major culture shock for us, but in the best possible way.

Sure, a quick trip to Walmart now takes a little longer because you're likely to stop and talk with several people along the way. But that's one of the things I love most about living in a small town. Community matters here.

When we opened our new facility, Ellen and I were overwhelmed by the support we received. Seeing so many people come out for our grand opening reminded us just how special this community truly is.

As someone who wasn't born here, I can honestly say there is no other place I'd rather call home. We may not have mountain views or oceanfront sunsets, but we have something just as valuable: people. People who genuinely care about one another. People who show up. People who support their neighbors.

Because this has always been their hometown, my boys may not fully appreciate what makes a small town special just yet.

But sometimes all it takes is a different perspective to help you see what you've had all along.

Your friend,

Dr. Mosier

P.S. After extensive research conducted by myself, Dr. Voyles, Ryan, Isaiah, and Isaac, we unanimously concluded that when comparing funnel cakes and elephant ears, the elephant ear is the clear winner.