Character Development: Meet Dixie Black

Hi y'all, its me, Dixie Black.  Since I moved back here last year, I've noticed that not too much has changed in this burg, even the faces seem the same. But that can't be true, can it?

Some guy on the radio once said " You can't go home again", or maybe it was in a book. Who knows?  My memory ain't what it used to be, ya know? But he had a point.

The town seems almost identical to the one I left right after high school, thirty years ago. With the exception of a few more stores and a Starbucks on every other corner now, its the same. Everyone knows everyone's business, and if you ain't got a kid in a school sport, you ain't nothin'.

I suppose its me that has changed, not that it is a bad thing, mind you. Its worked for me, especially in the last few years.

When I went off to college I had every intention of getting my degree and moving right back here and giving myself back to the town I grew up in. Billy and I would be married, raise a family and live "The American Dream". I would be the best nurse this town has ever seen, and my sweet Billy would own the best Steakhouse this place has ever had.

Then I got the letter.  The letter that changed everything. I still have it packed away in a box somewhere. I'll have to dig it out one of these days, and give it another look, but I think I know it by heart.

Dear Dix,

A lot has happened since I last saw you at Christmas. I did something really stupid last January, and now I need to be a man. I met a girl at a party, and well, she's pregnant. Know that I will love you till my dying day, but I have to do whats right. We're getting married. The folks, you know how they are,  would just up and die if they had their first Grandchild out of wedlock, so I'm kind of stuck.
Please don't come home, or try to change my mind, I have to do this.

Love Always,
Bill


Needless to say, I was devastated, but I took his words to heart. I didn't come back, for thirty years.  

Not too many people even recognized me when I came back, not even Mommy, although Alzheimer's will do that to a person. I guess the years have changed me more than I even realized.

I'm no longer the lithe little brunette who left here. Yeah, I've put on a few pounds, but from what I see on the men's faces, its not a bad thing, considering I'm in my fifties.  Voluptuous is the term I'd choose if I had to describe myself. I'm a red-head now too, and have been for about ten years, since the Hubby died.

"Change it up, you're too young to be an old frump.", my daughter said after seeing me in my sweats one time too many. She was right. After Jack up and kicked the bucket, it was time for ME. I had had enough of being the dutiful wife, and  Mom. Hell, the kids were grown and on their own, and I was on my own. Alone. For the first time since college.  

And change I did. I worked out, and lost about thirty pounds, which went perfectly with my 5'6' frame and ample bosom,  went red in the head, and bought some fabulous new clothes. I was pretty snazzy, for a forty something, especially with the azure blue contact lenses I wear now.

The only thing I haven't been able to change is this hillbilly twang of mine. Oh, its faded a bit over the years, but its just grown stronger than ever since I've come home. I've long said that this accent makes people automatically drop my IQ by ten points, but they don't know me very well, do they? I may be a hillbilly, but I'm no hick. I've certainly been around the block a time or two, or three.

I have to admit,I had a ball. If I had known then, what I know now, maybe I wouldn't have married the first guy who showed a little interest after Billy dumped me. Then again, the Internet wasn't even invented back then. Thank God for Al Gore.

Then Mommy had to be placed in a nursing home. Damn! Its just like her to throw a monkey-wrench in the works, just when my life was getting interesting.

Now here I am, working in the same Nursing Home Mommy resides in, and living in the house I grew up in. I head into the city when I can for a little fun and games with my 'net fellas.   

I haven't made too many friends since I've been back. Most of my high school pals have moved away, and the ones who stayed were of the "cliquey" sort any ways. No great loss.  

One thing I have done is volunteered to be the field nurse for the High School teams. Even I know that in this town, if you're not involved in high school sports in one way or another, you really don't exist.

While I am way more outgoing and assertive than I was in high school, I still haven't found the nerve to have dinner at the Steakhouse on Route 4.