A Place With an Easy Pace

I watched with amusement as the red tractor slowly made its way up the street and immediately thought to myself, "That's something you just don't see in New York City."

And, it quickly came to my attention that I routinely pass by or go into places that would definitely be considered an oddity to any New Yorker.

The Oma's Jiffy Burger cafe cooks up a fresh breakfast taquito for only one dollar, and while you wait at the counter, you're welcome to catch up on today's news by reading yesterday's newspaper. The coffee's so strong, it takes a gallon of milk to soften its punch. And soft drinks only come in glass bottles.

If we walked anywhere, which Texans never do, we'd just go a couple of blocks to J.C. Freeman's furniture store. They've got a decent array of sofas and such, but their claim to fame is the county's best selection of recliners. And by the time you're finished writing a check (no identification required), your purchase is already loaded onto their delivery truck so they can follow you home.

Clerks at our local grocery stores aren't trained to be "express checkers" because that tends to insult the patrons. While we certainly understand what it means to be in a hurry, we don't let it stand in our way of a friendly visit while in the checkout line.

Like New York, we have taxis ... two, to be exact. No need to flag one down, though, because they're already booked well in advance. Yes, reservations required.

For live entertainment, simply find 1390 on the AM dial and listen to our daily "Flea Market." It's intended as a sort of "swap shop" for local listeners, but regular "Flea Marketers" are known to liven up the program with improvisations. Yep, just like in New York City.

It's nothing to pass a group of cows grazing next door to one of our public schools and "Cattle X'ing" signs are far from rare in these parts ... for now, that is.

Folks here really do drive friendly, and seem pretty forgiving if you make a wrong turn or pull out in front of them. We usually just smile and wave as if to say, "That's OK, I did that very thing just yesterday!" All of this is true -- unless you happen to get in the way of a Baptist who's running late for Sunday School.

While there's no invasion by New Yorkers as yet, it seems our hometown area is attracting all sorts of city dwellers searching for some semblance of the good life. Try as we may to run them off, it seems our friendly, easygoing ways keep them coming back for more.

Just as long as they don't get in a hurry, they're more than welcome to stay.

  
Oma's Jiffy Burger, a longtime favorite, sits on Water Street just off Highway 77,
on the edge of downtown Waxahachie

Copyright ©2001 Jeanne Moseley