I alluded to this last week, but I will be leaving Greenwood in just three short weeks.
There aren't enough words to describe what a wonderful time I've had with you all. I've loved becoming a part of this community, and being embraced by all of you as a surrogate family has meant so much to both me and my parents. They were nervous for their "little girl" to go away.
This week, as it is my last Sunday to write your front page lifestyles story, I wanted to share a little personal story. Although it is cheesy, I think it sums up Greenwood and the feelings I have developed pretty well.
For those of you who don't know, I love ice cream. From Florida and Pennsylvania to Denmark and Hungary, I have eaten the frozen treat all over the world. I typically seek it out when I go places.
If there is one thing I have learned from all of that ice cream, it is that its quality can really speak to the quality of a location.
During a mission trip to the Appalachian region of Kentucky, in a small coal mining town, I encountered what I like to call "dollar ice cream." It's not high quality or expensive. And, you could probably assume, it's also not that good.
That ice cream and the town in Floyd County where I was working had a lot in common.
As I made my way to Greenwood for the first time two years ago, I was reminded of that Kentucky ice cream when my mom and I made a bathroom and snack stop.
A small gas station on U.S. 82 advertised the creamy dessert, so we were excited to cool off on the warm (read: hot) June afternoon with some ice cream.
They didn't have "sizes." Instead, the young woman just piled it in the styrofoam cup until we were satisfied.
A good deal at just over $2 but disappointing flavor-wise.
It was also a bummer because we had passed numerous of our favorite ice cream shops.
First was the Gatlinburg, Tenn., exit, where you can find Ben and Jerry's - fudge brownie is a personal favorite, then Knoxville with its Cold Stone Creamery and closely followed by Bruster's Real Ice Cream in Chattanooga.
Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Ala., both had frozen yogurt, which is all the rage these days, along with a few other popular ice cream brands. I believe I even passed a Dairy Queen or two in some smaller towns on the border of Alabama and Mississippi.
As I am sure you know, by the time I made it to Greenwood and drove around, I quickly discovered what is more tragic than "dollar ice cream" - no ice cream.
I didn't think there could be anything worse than "dollar ice cream."
But as I became a part of this community, I quickly learned that Greenwood was not a barren land of no frozen treats. And I am not talking about Sonic and McDonald's.
There was something even better than Ben and Jerry's and Cold Stone.
In Greenwood, I have had some of the best ice cream of my life thanks to friends and church members because it is homemade - just for you.
Not only does the ice cream taste good, especially when made by Donny Whitehead, it is nice to eat something made with love and intended to be enjoyed together. It is a hidden jewel.
That is the way I see Greenwood, too - a hidden jewel.
When people look at this town from the outside, I know they don't see much. I didn't.
We know that is not true. It may be small, but the town has great people with big hearts.
As far as my plans, I am moving to Columbia, Mo., to pursue a master's degree in journalism at the University of Missouri.
•Contact Andrea Hall at ahall@gwcommonwealth.com.
