My Mayberry

I always tell people we live in Jewett but, if you have been reading my blog you now know that isn't the truth. We work in Jewett and live in Marquez. We love Jewett like it is our town too. Marquez and Jewett are 13 miles apart and the school is almost right in the middle of the two towns. The population of Jewett is 1,174. I am sure it is smaller than that now since the oil/gas field crash.

There are many things in this town I love and one is that everyone still has such big dreams for the community. Some of the building and store fronts look like the life has been sucked out of them, but when you're sitting around the café and diner and hear the talk around town people still have big dreams for this sleepy little town. I hear so many high school kids say we are going to college or trade school to come right back here to open businesses such as bakeries, hair salons, or to take over the family business. When you ask most of the kids why do they want to come back to Jewett they say, "Because it is our home." I have been to a few Economic Development Corporation meetings and they are working on a master plan to clean up Hwy. 79 store fronts and bring more business into town. City officials and citizens working together with the same goals to make what was once bright and shiny new once again. Did you know the JEDC hosts an Art Trail? There are over 30 sculptures displayed around town. That means we really are 21st century in this sleepy old town, right? They have big dreams and love it.

Kristy is the Executive Director of the Jewett Chamber. I call her the Crown Jewel of Jewett. I'm so amazed at the knowledge and love she has for this town and the people. She loves to make this town a beautiful, fun place for all. Jewett is very lucky to have her. The Jewett Chamber is always busy coming up with new ways to get tourists to come to our city including quilt shows, pageants, kid's events, dog shows, parades, fall and spring festivals, geocaching scavenger hunt. Tomorrow is actually the 4th Annual Flea Festival that is in conjunction with the monthly Flea Market. The Jewett Flea Market was established in 1975.

Everyone in Jewett is so kind. I call it my real life 20th century Mayberry. Kids are out playing in the front yard and you know everyone and their mother. One day I ran out of gas and three people stopped by to help and Matt was only 10min away. They are just kind hearted people wanting to lend a helping hand. Secretly one of my favorite things in this town is the railroad train. It seems like it runs through every three hours with the horn a honking and sometimes you are stuck waiting for what seems like forever. I roll down my window and think this is just what Matt and I wanted for our kids, a slow paced life. In Jewett right in the middle of the day it all comes to a stop as you watch the train go down a track that was built in 1871 by the International Railroad Company. History standing still.

Ever since we made the move (you know the move to here from Bastrop) I have always been asked the same two questions, "Who are you and where do you live?" I use to say my name is Diana and I live in Marquez and that would lead to 1000 other questions. So now my response is "You know my husband Matt, the Public Works Director of Jewett. The one that replaced Rudy when he retired?" They either start talking about Rudy and how much they miss him or start talking about Matt. My next step is to always encourage them to stop by his office and visit with him. Two percent of the people say, "And what was your name?" To which I reply, "I'm Diana from the Jewett Chamber." Why do I need a title? Why is Kay not good enough for me anymore?

I write this blog through out the day and try to post by 8pm. I just write what is on my heart or mind and move on. Every morning before the kids wake up I read the blog all the way through with no interruptions and I have seen Jewett Public Works Director come up a lot. Have I taken that on as my identity? Is that what I have became, a woman of the 19th century? I'm not saying that is a bad thing. I'm very proud of Matt for following his dreams but I have always been a strong independent woman. As I was writing this I felt so weak and thought how did I let this happen? How did I let my title become "You know the Jewett Public Work's Director Matt." As I thought this I started crying at the Chamber and Kristy suggested I drive around Jewett and get some air and come back.

As I was driving around Jewett I realized that I can't even begin to tell you how much I love it here. People waving, young kids and their parents hanging out at the local snow cone stand, and a group of high school kids sitting in a parking lot with their tailgates down watching the cars and trains roll by and it hit me, I need to take back ownership of my name and accomplishments in life. I need to remember that I know, that I know, that I know being JUST KAY is OK!