Posts
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| Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York
( A suburb of Buffalo, N.Y.)
and has worked in the ophthalmology
field of medicine for nearly 40 years
|
Small towns have a lot to offer
I must admit, my husband and I like to frequent local restaurants at least once or twice a week; whether it be for breakfast or dinner, we prefer locally owned and operated places.
One of our favorite local places near the flight #3407 plane crash several years ago, Mardees' is still owned and run by the same family along with the same waitress staff.
They provided free meals for all the emergency help during the plane crash that no one will ever forget.
In our neighborhood alone are several restaurants, dinners and small mom and pop places that are all a treasure to the area. The food is always home cooked and the staff are familiar and friendly.
Don't get me wrong, there is a place for chain restaurants as well and in Buffalo there are quite a few. Buffalo is known for its variety of eating restaurants and choices to pick from, but it is always great to see new growth in the area; now more than ever new small eateries are springing up in all parts of towns including beer and “small plate” choices.
These great places are “putting Buffalo back on the map” so to speak. For many years we had many young people leaving the area for opportunity in other cities but now I see people returning and preferring the small town living and comforts of a small yet renewing community. The cost of living here is still a bargain compared to other cities and if you can make a living here, you have it made.
A few years ago my son and his wife bought a craftsman home set in a park like setting with character and charm for an affordable price. Young couples can own property here in Buffalo and in the suburbs now. Several years ago my younger son moved to a large city on the West Coast and returns home a few times a year to enjoy the “smallness” of Buffalo along with the “real” people that still live here.
We complain of traffic here which pales in comparison to the hours of wasted life sitting on a freeway every day. A small town offers genuine people and improved quality of life.
We like to travel a few times a year – check out new sites, and visit with family across the country but do enjoy after a time returning to our routine we have developed here in Buffalo.
I guess with familiarity comes comfort and after beginning the second half of our lives, we place a greater importance on family and friends than we used to.
I still have distant family and friends that I am now able to reconnect with as I have cut down to a 4 day work week and greatly enjoying reminiscing with them about the “good ole days”. Facebook has a page for all those who grew up in the old neighborhood and reminds all of us about how simple those times really were before technology took over our lives.
So...whenever I feel like moving to a larger town such as Los Angeles – I pay them a visit and after a week of spending $3.50 for a cup of Joe and $15.00 for a small chicken, sitting in traffic for an hour to get to a place that should take 20 minutes, and feeling drained after a long day, I am cured until my next trip.
Spending time in a warmer climate is always an appreciated distraction but living their full time probably won't ever happen. - and I return to my small town of Buffalo.
Hana Hou, (Encore)
One of our favorite local places near the flight #3407 plane crash several years ago, Mardees' is still owned and run by the same family along with the same waitress staff.
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| Mardees Restaurtant |
They provided free meals for all the emergency help during the plane crash that no one will ever forget.
In our neighborhood alone are several restaurants, dinners and small mom and pop places that are all a treasure to the area. The food is always home cooked and the staff are familiar and friendly.
 |
| Judy and son Jacob enjoy some grindz at Mardees |
Don't get me wrong, there is a place for chain restaurants as well and in Buffalo there are quite a few. Buffalo is known for its variety of eating restaurants and choices to pick from, but it is always great to see new growth in the area; now more than ever new small eateries are springing up in all parts of towns including beer and “small plate” choices.
These great places are “putting Buffalo back on the map” so to speak. For many years we had many young people leaving the area for opportunity in other cities but now I see people returning and preferring the small town living and comforts of a small yet renewing community. The cost of living here is still a bargain compared to other cities and if you can make a living here, you have it made.
A few years ago my son and his wife bought a craftsman home set in a park like setting with character and charm for an affordable price. Young couples can own property here in Buffalo and in the suburbs now. Several years ago my younger son moved to a large city on the West Coast and returns home a few times a year to enjoy the “smallness” of Buffalo along with the “real” people that still live here.
We complain of traffic here which pales in comparison to the hours of wasted life sitting on a freeway every day. A small town offers genuine people and improved quality of life.
We like to travel a few times a year – check out new sites, and visit with family across the country but do enjoy after a time returning to our routine we have developed here in Buffalo.
I guess with familiarity comes comfort and after beginning the second half of our lives, we place a greater importance on family and friends than we used to.
I still have distant family and friends that I am now able to reconnect with as I have cut down to a 4 day work week and greatly enjoying reminiscing with them about the “good ole days”. Facebook has a page for all those who grew up in the old neighborhood and reminds all of us about how simple those times really were before technology took over our lives.
So...whenever I feel like moving to a larger town such as Los Angeles – I pay them a visit and after a week of spending $3.50 for a cup of Joe and $15.00 for a small chicken, sitting in traffic for an hour to get to a place that should take 20 minutes, and feeling drained after a long day, I am cured until my next trip.
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| Judy enjoying time in warmer climate LA |
Spending time in a warmer climate is always an appreciated distraction but living their full time probably won't ever happen. - and I return to my small town of Buffalo.
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| Home sweet home! |
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