[Teresa Ford]

I love this thread, it is interesting to put a place and person in a mind picture. I am a small city lady. As a child I grew up in the country on a small farm. It was there that my love for nature, and animals took root. Imagine my shock when I went away to the big city and OSU. Campus life, people from all walks of life, strange ideas, music and life styles. Innocents and assumption of good vanished and sadly never returned. The Pill, make love not war, Vietnam and music at midnight. Big City Life wasn't right for me. When I married, we moved to his home town. A tiny place in rural Fl. I lived there for 26 years and raised my children , on a small farm.
Now I live in the county seat Bartow, Fl. I love it ! I have a tiny 1940s cottage house, on a big double lot. I have sidewalks, a lovely park, library, civic center and lakes all within walking distance. I can stroll down town and browse the shops, admire the historical churches and homes. I can visit Stafford Inn Bed and Breakfast and have afternoon tea, stop by the court house, museum, postoffice, tailor and dry cleaner shop and day spa. I can chat with the vet, wave to my florist, get a hair cut, nails done and have an ice cream cone at an outside cafe. On weekends we have flea market and antique dealers set up. Art shows and other things always going on. The hospital and mall shopping is less than 5 miles away. I am proud of my little city, not only is it a great place to visit it is a great place to live.