Where were you during the crazy days of covid?
I was here in Virginia.
After the initial excitement wore off and I realized I wasn’t going to die, I did what a lot of other Americans did to fill the time…
I shopped on Amazon!
My most interesting purchase was a 60 lbs kettlebell (something for exercise).
It only cost a few bucks.
The delivery was free.
The guy must have driven over an hour to get here.
And as he took it out of his truck and carried it up the stairs to the house, he remarked, “This thing is heavy!”
What a way to shop!
But things were a little different in the good old days…
General Stores
In 1973 my parents bought an old house on a hill surrounded by empty barns and empty fields.
A hundred years earlier, tobacco was growing in the fields, the barns were full of horses and cows, and there were even a few slaves in the guest house.
Farmers lived here and they grew their own food.
But for things like tools and seeds and clothes, they had to go into town.
Unfortunately for them, the closest town was 13 miles away.
About a 3-4 hour journey on a horse.
That’s a long way to go if you run out of toilet paper.
That’s why the general store was created.
It was a store that sold everything – general merchandise – but instead of being a few hours away, most were just a few minutes away.
They were also places where neighbors gathered to talk and share news.
I remember as a kid walking into general stores around here and seeing old people hanging out and talking.
And still today, scattered along the backroads of rural America you can find general stores.
Most are closed.
Some are falling down.
Others have been turned into fancy restaurants.
And a few are still selling general merchandise, just like they always have.
I’ll show you some of my favorites…
Cheers,
Mr. Vig
P.S.
Wear off…
Run out of…
Hanging out…
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Also in rural Romania there were .these General Stores and in a way I liked to visit them because you could buying in, some old or.vintage things and I’m curious for this aspect. But the world change from now…!
Hi, I was during crazy days of covid in my born town. On initial time spent at apartment and a lot of reading alternative news, information on net I often opend window and late I went to the park for walking every day. Of course without mask. This story is abot old time is beautifull ! I remmeber time when were general stor. I went to the general store in village when live my groundparents. I very glad to went, they had everything, food, tools, even toys or pencils. I love this store !! People there meeting…