Day 13

Just when I thought I could fairly label Berea, KY as a small town, I learned that there are towns even smaller that can be identified by the following characteristics…

You know you are in a small town when…

-people identify you by the vehicle you drive.
Ok, so the Berea mobile does stand out!
-people recognize you by your sneeze.
This really happened to Eric! A stranger, who saw him twice, remembered his sneeze!
-you know the complete layout of the town after being there for a day…
...or so we THOUGHT we knew they complete layout of Pulaski, TN! We did get turned around a couple times!
-5 bugs splat against your window simultaneously while driving a main road, and this is normal.
As gross as it is, you know it happened.
-the county Mayor schedules future appointments for you to attend.

Yes, this is the truth! What we thought would be our last relay stop of the day at County Mayor, Janet Vansant’s office, actually led us to another appointment! With Mayor Vansant’s assistance, Eric and I stopped by the local high school to visit with three prospective Berea College students. They currently are involved in an after school program that assists students in the college application process. They expressed a great interest in Berea College as we shared our personal stories and talked to them about the many opportunities at the College! As many prospective students are, they enjoyed hearing that the college offered free tuition as well as a solid liberal arts education. I am overwhelmed with joy that the relay helped introduce Berea College to three potential students!


Finally, you really know you are in a small town when…
-you feel welcome by all who greet you, and many greet you!
-you’d just hate to leave it…and we did.

But unfortunately for us, we had to leave the small town of Pulaski, TN to keep the relay going. Fortunately for us, in the large city of Decatur, AL, we found many small town qualities!

Day 13 began with a warm hospitable welcome to the state of Alabama, and more importantly, the city of Decatur. The relay met up with Sonja Williams, also in College Relations at Berea College, to deliver a proclamation to the mayor’s assistant and the city clerk at the city hall! Lydia Beck, ’86, and her daughter joined us as the city pleasantly surprised us by giving Berea College a key to the city! Ladies and gentlemen, I am enthused to report that this relay continues to get better and better! I am moved by the friendly, cordial hospitality of the city officials of Decatur, AL. Thank you for showing me that large cities can be equally as amiable, accepting, and generous as small towns!

Please continue to follow the relay through the state of Alabama with Sonja Williams as your blogger!

Signing off from Decatur, AL.
-Crystal