I live in a small town. The same small town where I was born and raised. I know all the families in the town at least all the ones that have been around for as long as I have. My house is on family property. My family has been here, for what seems like forever. I raised my children in this small town where they became professionals that have now moved to neighboring towns to raise their families, but still call this home.   As in most small towns, we are blessed to have what most would consider to be the local diner. We call it a restaurant.  It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has been around since the 1980s.  Regardless of what time of day you venture into it, you will always know somebody there. It doesn’t have a bar, but it’s very much like cheers: where everybody knows your name.  Small town diners are the hub of the community. It’s where stories are exchanged, grief is comforted, children become adult, business deals are made, and good food is served. It is always the best place to be. Regardless of what’s going on in the world around us every morning you can go there and have a great conversation and generally leave feeling much better than when you arrived.
Small towns are blessed with the local gathering spot. Unlike big cities where there are lots of options, in small towns, there’s only one. This scarcity provides an opportunity for people of different views to gather in one place and converse. You don’t have the luxury of going where everybody’s like you because there’s no other place to go!. Which makes the conversation so fascinating. The viewpoints of those conversing makes you pause and think, sometimes makes you angry and often makes you laugh. And regardless of which one it is by the next morning, you can’t wait to go and enjoy it again.  Often there’s 12 conversations going on at the same time, sometimes it goes from table to table, sometimes half the building. sometimes there’s not enough staff and some of the patrons pitch in and serve coffee. It’s a real treat that I would dare to say is only enjoyed by the privileged folks who live in small towns.
The emptiness is palatable on the two days the diner closes. Many of the patrons substitute a Waffle House in the neighboring town, but it’s just not the same.
The local diner celebrates all the towns activities: It’s the place to be after the biddy basketball game, or after the afternoon recreation baseball game, or after the local school awards banquet, or after Saturday evening church service.
The political prowess of the local diner is fascinating. I often wonder why there’s not more interviews within the small town obscure local diner. Most of the world’s troubles, political polling, and national issues are resolved every morning within the local diner. It is especially insightful if you can witness a fiery debate amongst the patrons!! What a treat!!! It’s a shame the rest of the world doesn’t use the local diner format to solve the problems they face:  Brutally honest, open debate.
If you’re a city dweller take a road trip to the nearest small town find the local diner and eat breakfast. It will be a life-changing experience. If you live in a small town that has a local diner, support it, and know that you are blessed with a National Treasure.