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Aug 31, 2004 Being born in a small town is simplicity personified. No screeching ambulances, no traffic jams, no waiting in line, no huge hospital bills, nada. Just a mid-wife, a pot of boiling water, a mom (and, preferably a baby of some sort). Believe me, I hardly knew what was happening at the time. But, there are some drawbacks to small town living. For example, it is almost impossible to vent one's spleen when there is always a parking space right in front of the store where you were headed, and there isn't even a meter in which to place your loose change. Of course, you seldom have loose change when you live in a small town. Another set-back is finding facts about any subject. All conversations in a small town start with, "Ya know, that reminds me of..." and end with "...he's dead, ya know." Words in between have absolutely nothing to do with your question. And, because there is no college in a small town, and the library is usually open ten to two and closes promptly at two, which gives you about ten minutes to research any topic because, as we all know, you cannot check out a research book even if you have a library card; the result is you are still wondering what your question was in the first place. Still, curiousity remains, even though it may not be satisfied. If you have driven through or even past small towns, you will undoubtedly have noticed what is called the town's 'water tower'. For those of you who have never experienced this exhilirating moment, forget it. But for those who have, please explain (in big city talk, please) just what the heck it is. Yes, I know there is a very large, round tank at the top of a tall, narrow stem, and a very small building at the base. The entire complex is surrounded by a tall, wire fence. But what is the water tower's function? Do they pump water (from whatever source) up to the bubble and when it's full save it? For what? How long does it stay fresh? If the water source was shut off and we had to rely on the good ole water tower, it would be bone dry if only half the people in a one-mile radius flushed their toilets at the same time. Hey, it could happen. Please don't advise me to ask at the site. That may be the real puzzle. The big, iron gate is always locked (usually showing a lot of rust), and there is never, never, never anyone in the little building at the base of the tower. Sure, I asked at the so-called water department and the guy there said, "Ya know, that reminds me of..." ------------ About the author: Harry Highstreet earned an MA and a BJ from the University of Missouri. He has written for radio, television and newspapers. He is currently writing a series of novels exploring the adventures of people on the Astral Level. The first, "The OOBE File" is in pre-production. He has three other books in print, "Tall Tales of the Maine Coast", "An Uneven Dozen", and "RiverAce...Cold Warrior". All are available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, and in bookstores. Email: highstreetharry@sbcglobal.net Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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