Welcome to the South

I had the opportunity a few days ago to witness something rare and spectacular...It was a South Georgia Sunset. As I prepared to meet some friends for dinner I found myself with a few minutes to kill, and as I walked outside I noticed the sun beginning to set...so I decided to chase it. To properly "chase" a sunset you only need a few things...A sunroof, your favorite music, and an open country road. With 80's music playing just a little too loud, I departed into the western countryside of Tifton watching the sun digress into the distance, and waited for the perfect moment, and it was on the side of that country road that I found it....

Upon taking this photo I began pondering a question that had been asked of me in a class..."Why Tifton?". So, on my way back into town I thought to myself how this very moment, this time of just myself and the open road, with a beautiful, one-of-a-kind sunset, is the essence of "Why Tifton?" Where else will you find yourself with the opportunity to chase a sunset, or meet some of the friendliest people in the world, or be able to take a moment out of a crazy day to simply step outside and just breathe? While Tifton is often regarded as just a small, weird town...it is really so much more than that...It is a place where people know you by name, and know who "your people" are. It's where local fare beats out the new chain restaurant every time  and your friends are just a phone-call and a block away. It's where you can see your family doctor, and insurance agent every Sunday morning in Sunday-school. It's more than just a small town...It's home...and just not for me...for everyone that take that exit ramp, and finds themselves captivated by the town's charm.

So the next time you find yourself feeling down, I urge you to ride into the country between 7 and 8 pm and catch a sunset, or visit the local restaurant to see friends and familiar faces, or simply step outside to look into the vast blue sky, and take in some of that fresh south Georgia air...because this is what makes the south the best place to live...its what living is all about; taking in the small things.