Historic Downtowns

It was today that I tried the infamous City Cafe, a delicious meat-and-three in the heart of Historic Downtown Northport. City Cafe is your classic Southern restaurant, preserving many photos from decades past and pouring more glasses of sweet tea and half-and-half (lemonade and tea) than anywhere else. It wasn't just the fried chicken or mashed potatoes and gravy that did it for me; the entire surrounding area looked like it was straight out of a book. There was the bakery, and the florist shop... the general store and barber shop. The only thing missing was a 50's Chevy truck backfiring down Main Street. This place has been preserved-- a jewel in the not so attractive Tuscaloosa area. Much like downtown Helena, places like these are a nice getaway from everyday life-- a breathe of sanity in the midst of the bustle. During lunch Jon mentioned when he was in college he wanted to find some escape from the dorm-- something I can relate to. The noise can become overwhelming, especially for the type of person who thrives off silence and time alone. He told me he used to take his mom's car on days he wasn't busy and drive until he was in the woods, far away from anything with room to think. There are so many days I want to just drive, to get away from any responsibility or noise. For the sake of my mind not overloading, I need to make time to do this soon. I want to go hiking, play music in some random place, jump into a lake fully clothed, take pictures, walk downtown, talk to strangers... anything to get my mind out of its routine.

So, here's my resolution: Break the pattern.