10 Reasons to Make Ruby Your New Home Town

Recently I shared with my friend Ann Gabhart how my Ozarkian roots influenced my début novel Her Hope Discovered.

Here’s a snippet of what I said:

You might guess that family is very important to me. So is my heritage and the region where I was born and raised. The Ozarks are where “my people” are.

When we’re children, I don’t know that we can fully appreciate our roots. In fact, I’m sure we can’t.

Things like culture, heritage, family history, and geographic locale aren’t on our “live in the moment” radar.

Children live in the now.

A child’s world is immediacy. It’s Mama’s smile at breakfast. Daddy’s hug as he leaves for work. It’s macaroni and cheese, crayons and coloring books, and stinky socks on a summer day. (Click-to-Tweet)

Little ones don’t think about tomorrow. They understand the concrete—the tangible. The things that adults so often take for granted.

I once heard it said, “I loved being a child. Though I didn’t realize it then, those years were the best years of my life.”

In a way, fictional Ruby, Missouri lets us revisit our childhood. It introduces us to a gentler way of living. It reinforces our belief that goodness still exists. (Click-to-Tweet)

Though the quirky, lovable folks who live there carry some baggage, our new friends and neighbors are people just like us. They muddle through the good and the bad and they learn a few life-lessons along the way, too.

There’s no need to “put on airs,” wax eloquently, or dine with your pinky extended. A receptive heart, a kind word, and good manners trump closed mindsets and ugly attitudes. And grace with a side of donuts on our off days is always welcome!

Still need convinced?

Here are 10 reasons to make Ruby your new home town.

1. Fancy duds not necessary. Save your Sunday best for church.
2. Speaking of church—come on down! We’ll pound you! Er…that is, we’ll shower you with a pound of this and a pound of that. Coffee, sugar, a side of bacon—it’s how we welcome you to our fold!
3. Did I just mention food? Well then, your first order of business is Miss Sugar’s Pucker-Up-Buttercup Gooseberry Pie served fresh at the Come and Get It Diner.
4. No one is a stranger. Town transplants are welcomed with open arms and an invite to supper. Hope you like country fried chicken and mashed taters and gravy!
5. Lively conversation and grin-worthy witticisms like this gem. It’s okay to sit on your pity pot now and then, just be sure to flush when you are done.
6. Don’t feel like shopping? No worries! Nora and Ned’s General Market still delivers and they carry everything from A to Z.
7. Life in the fast lane is a nap in the hammock on a warm summer day. We’ll wake you when dinner’s done.
8. If you enjoy the changing seasons, you’ll love Ruby, Missouri. Every day is different. From sweltering heat to bone-chilling cold, the Ozarks region has you covered.
9.  Have a few faults and imperfections? Great! You’ll fit right in! Sainthood is just over the rise and two streets beyond Halo Hill. (Read Her Hope Discovered to understand that reference.) 😉
10.  Respites in Ruby don’t cost a fortune. A pot of hot coffee shared between friends is a better investment than that trip to the tropics. And—no bikini required! Well…you know what I mean.

Now, that I’ve whet your appetite for your new home town, maybe you understand how my roots and experiences led me to create fictional Ruby, Missouri.

I’ve grown from where I’ve been and I’m thankful for the journey. 

Life in the Ozarks is an interesting mix of old and new. In some niches off the beaten path, we still meander along at a steady, but snail-like pace. Change in some areas arrives slowly, while in larger towns, transformation is more obvious. (Click-to-Tweet)

We appreciate progress, yet we cling to these century-old hills and hollows still so lush and green and scented with honeysuckle—the very spots where our ancestors marked time and raised families. We honor heritage and tradition while understanding, too, our respect for the past needn’t stagnate our future. Perspective is everything.

I hope you’ll get acquainted with a few of the Ruby, Missouri locals in this behind-the-scenes peek. (If you’ve read Her Hope Discovered, it’s a refresher. And if you haven’t, I hope you’ll enjoy meeting your new friends and neighbors.)

There’s always room at the table for “just one more,” and to make you feel really at home, we’ll even let you wash a dish or two.

We won’t judge you by the car you drive, the clothes you wear, or the baggage you carry.

Just come as you are and limber up those arms for a big, ol’ bear hug!

Welcome to Ruby—your new home town!

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SHARING IS CARING

 

Ready to make new friends? Grab your coffee mug and hurry on down! 10 reasons to make Ruby, Missouri your new home town.

(Click-to-Tweet)

 

Come visit the town where no one is a stranger! And to make you feel really at home, we’ll even let you wash a dish or two! Why you should pack your bags NOW.

(Click-to-Tweet)

 

Original Image Credit: R Mac Wheeler/ Unsplash

What do you like best about your home town?

 

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Welcome to Ruby! 

See you soon!

Much Love and Many Blessings,