Sullivan County. No Resume Needed.

This blog is simply an experiment.

It’s not a cry for help or attention.

It’s a risk.

A hope for growth and self-discovery.

Cheap therapy, in other words.

I didn’t grow up here, in Sullivan County.

But, most people who know anything about me,

(And, this is easy because I am not overly shy...

Obviously,

Or else I wouldn't be plastering my life,

Maybe like a fool,

On the Internet)

Know that I believe there was a larger force involved when I decided to make a commitment to stay and put my roots down.

Back story.

I’ll try to paint a picture with words.

These are the things you won’t find here: strip malls, Wal-Marts, or fast-food joints.

A single red light hangs within the entire county.

The chance of snow exists virtually any month of the year.

Well, almost.

That’s a bit of a hyperbole...

Unless you live in Lopez, "The Ice Box of Pennsylvania."

Let's just say that last year it snowed before Halloween and after April Fool's Day.

Moving on...

We are graced by not one, but two breathtaking state parks.

Oodles of campsites and camps.

No, those two words are not necessarily synonymous.

Multiple tracts of state game lands.

Numerous lakes…some spring fed, some man-made.

Curious geological formations.

My favorite, Ticklish Rock, must have been named by a wordsmith.

Tumbling waterfalls.

Crystal clear streams.

Swimming holes.

Plenty of overlooks to enjoy a sunset or sunrise.

Hence, the nickname, “Endless Mountains.”

Covered bridges.

Vaulted bridges to plunge from into the cold, clean mountain runoff.

Historical landmarks.

Ghost towns.

Mining, logging, and train-track scars.

Plenty of wildlife.

Five kinds of roads: paved roads, dirt roads, winding roads, back roads, and off-roads.

Trails of every hue: hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, fourwheeling, and horseback riding.

A few farms.

Lots of trees.

Some wineries.

A dinner theatre.

Founder's Day.

Heritage Day.

Fairs and Carnivals.

Hunting festivals.

Winterfest rituals involving “Polar Bear Plunges.”

An ice-chute, toboggan slide, that will pelt you out onto a frozen lake.

Victorian Teas.

Art shows.

Plenty of restaurants, delis, roadhouses, cafes, general stores, inns, shoppes, taverns, and diners that serve delicious cuisine and offer handmade treasures.

Sounds like culture to me.

And, the people here are just as special.

For your enlightenment, there exists a plethora of educational programs via 4-H, The Penn State Extension Office, Conservation District, State Park Specialists, and seasoned community members.

Many people are shocked to learn that there is only ONE school district here.

Kindergarten through Twelfth grades consisted of fewer than 700 students in 2009.

My bias will surely shine through in the next anecdote.

I once unintentionally eavesdropped on two gentleman,

From a swanky suberb near Philadelphia,

At a local eatery,

During hunting season.

I heard them say, "The school district here isn't very good."

I instantly cringed, but bit my tongue.

A million defenses brewed like fire in my mind, but I am a peacekeeper.

I prefer to avoid conflict, unless it is absolutely necessary.

In my limited experience, it usually isn't (necessary, that is).

Back to the lighthearted nature of this post...

What makes Sullivan County so superb!

Creative minds have invented and preserved peculiar traditions, such as “ The Turtle Races,” “Outhouse Races,” “Keg-a-Roll Races,” and floating rubber duck races.

I guess the natives sure do like their races!

Even though I cannot be coined a “local,” I love these traditions just the same.

Who wouldn’t?

The legacy is rich here.

These people harbor family-values, work ethic, humility, pride, loyalty, humor, and generosity.

Many people would “give the shirts off their backs,” for a friend or even a stranger.

This means something because most of the indigenous people are not wealthy.

I know there are always exceptions to these statements.

But, I feel somewhat legitimate in making these generalizations.

Not just because I am an eternal optimist.

But, also because I have lived in urban areas, and taught in other school districts, and I have NEVER felt the way I feel here.

I don't think I can properly credit the inhabitants that have welcomed and embraced me,

Even though I am technically an outsider.

My theory is that the residents understand how important it is to have a sense of community.

And, they don’t sit back on their haunches.

How many people are able to live full-time in a place of their dreams?

I’m not really sure of the answer to my own question.

My hypothesis is "not very many."

So, I know I am LUCKY!!

And, yet, this place, that refers to itself as “SULCO” (an abbreviated version of Sullivan County), and of which I now call “home” is not that dichotomously different than my own neighboring land of upbringing.

Maybe that’s why I appreciate it so much.

I mean, how many other places, maybe even in this country, refer to themselves as a “county” versus a town or city?

That was bizarre to me, at first.

Now it’s just another endearing idiosyncrasy.

But, mostly what I love about this tremendous wedge of land,

Is the peace and quiet.

Serenity.

Heaven on Earth.

I hope, no pray, that the essence of this land can remain intact.