The Perks of the Middle of
Nowhere-
Jessica Smith
August 2014
The
stranger placed a 24 oz. soda on the counter to buy. “Why DO you live in the
middle of nowhere?” The man looked in his late 40s, with a surfer tee shirt and
wavy combed back hair. He lowered his rose colored glasses and gave a smug
grin, “This IS the middle of nowhere isn’t it?”
From
behind the cash register I couldn’t help but grimace as I scanned the soda. The
dank musty smell of his cologne was drifting towards my side of the counter; it didn’t do much to appease my situation. Bleh,
I was doing just fine up until about 10 seconds ago. Why did this man have to
stop here? And then I remembered, oh yes; because we are the only gas station
and restaurant for miles. Most wayward tourists did stop here. Any person
driving from the south of Nevada to the north going into Oregon and Idaho were
undoubtedly forced to travel North on Highway 95. The stretch of road was
typically long and lonely. When people pass the little town of Orovada, a
significant number of them almost always had to use the restroom or needed to
stop and stretch their legs.
“I
suppose…” and I diverted my eyes to look at the view of the Sawtooth Mountain
outside the window of the store. “…it’s for the wide open spaces and the mountains…and
the smell of the sage after a good rain…”
Not
wanting to wait for me to finish, the man rolled his eyes. He acted like
someone trapped in an annoying situation. I suppose he was wondering, ‘Why
would I even justify living here? Who would want to live in a place like this?’
Most people could never possibly understand, because they had never experienced
the joy of a small town like this. They were merely passing through; on their
way to and from a better place (in their opinion). What could possibly be in it
for them?
I
realized my manager was watching the whole situation. Steve, normally a quiet
man of solid disposition, was getting just as annoyed by this man as I was. He
turned his back and pushed his tuft of graying hair over his brow. I saw him
cross his arms as I went on. “That will be $1.10. You know, I suppose it’s all
a matter of opinion. We think this place is wonderful.”
The
man shrugged his shoulders as he swiped his credit card. After it went through
he took the tea and left the store.
The
bell dinged as the man exited and Steve, still with his back towards me said, “When
I left Oregon all those years ago, I told myself that I was going to take off
and find a peaceful place. I wanted a place where I could watch the sun set
every night and grow a garden. I wanted a place where I could grow old, have a
dog and be happy. A place where…the people were kind and there were farms all
around… and by golly! I found it!” He turned around and grinned. “And you know,
it takes people like that to make me remember my perspective. Most people don’t
realize how good they have it. Or how good they could have it if they just made
the choice to be happy.” His blue eyes were shining as he shared his
conviction.
And
then I realized that the Middle of Nowhere really was a matter of perspective
and opinion. To the man that came in the store, it was a place where he never
wanted to be, but for us, it was just the opposite. I don’t know where he had
come from or what he knew, but I know that most people don’t like these small
towns. Driving through a place where there is not so many amenities or luxuries
can be daunting to those who are not used to it, but to those who are, it is liberating.
Waking up each morning to the sun over the mountains and the hum of tractors in
the fields and the smell of sage right after the rain- that’s what Steve and I
like best. And we will tell you all about it on your next trip to the Sawtooth
Station in Orovada, NV. Come for lunch, it’s delicious!
