What's In A Look?

I walk through the streets of Brazil, a stranger in a small town, the reactions I am able to record by simply smiling and waving to someone for no other reason than just to see what I will get in return. Some look right through me with hardened eyes and other skitter about like roaches exposed to bright light, quick to hide away from the fear of the "it might happen" crime. Then, there are those who eagerly smile and even find your wave an invitation to chat. Why I have even been invited for an impromptu coffee at the Sunshine or even the Brazil Coffee Shop (they do marvelous wedding cakes by the way).

Let me explain, I am what you call an "urban dweller." I have never lived in a small town and certainly was not prepared to move here. The first time we drove into this town and my now husband looked at me beaming and said, "Honey, isn't this going to be great?!!" I just about swallowed my tongue when I replied, "You bet honey, and it's going to be quite a change for us all." I was used to 24-hour everything, and I do mean everything all the time.

I wrote my first e-mail out of the Brazil Coffee Shop via my wireless laptop and said to my friend back in the "urban world" about how I was looking for zippers in the streets to see if that is where they rolled them up every night at 9 p.m. "I just don't think I can stay in a town where Macy's is not open all night for that cappuccino/espresso filter I might need." Then it hit me; there is NO MALL in Brazil at all! Fear crept into my stomach and I begin to feel dizzy and weak in the knees. How would I survive this town? How could I ever make friends? How can I live in a town where there isn't constant traffic flowing on an interstate and the sounds of sirens, now foreign, no longer a normal noise that would lull me to sleep at night?

I now have that answer. I sleep very well. I don't think I have ever slept so well in my life. For those of you who have lived here your whole life and perhaps felt you have somehow missed out on something, this is the blog for you. I have fallen in love with this town rapidly. From the moment my Husband and I sat down in the Sunshine Café and two retired farmers sat across from us staring and then finally said, "I've never seen you all before." Then proceeded to let us know the best place to look for a home and the best places to shop, do business and even recommended to us our breakfast that day which turned out to be our new family favorite. The owner of the Sunshine who came out that morning and had coffee with us and talked about starting his business here and why he choose this town. The smiles (genuine smiles!) that people gave each other and they actually CARED about the people they spoke with. People made eye contact, not only that, they make contact ... period.

Stick with me as I continue my journey in this town and I hope you will enjoy my observations and I am eager to hear of yours. You know the old cliché' that "Good things come in small packages"? Up until about 5 months ago, I still would have thought you were talking about Hershey's Kisses, but not now.

Hello Brazil, Ind.! It's a lifesaver to be here with you all!!

Stay tuned…..