We are still here

.....and there were farm fields full of potatoes and corn. There was a huge dairy farm North of the highway, it used to stink - I would look for the cows wading in the pond as we drove by. There were a few houses along the ocean but no one really wanted to live over there because it was too far from town and the power would go out anytime the wind blew. You could park on main street and get a table in a restaurant without being handed a flashing beeper and a lie about a 20 minute wait. In fact, the owner of the restaurant usually greeted us at the door and would talk to us about our family because we all went to school together. On the weekend Hildi's was the place where most people would grab brunch. A lot of kids learned to wait tables there or Conca and no one really cared if they messed up the order, you were just happy to see them trying.
The Village would be full of Ferrari's on Saturday because of the Raceway. Those people all seemed nice enough. I used to fall asleep listening to the sound of their engines carrying down off the hill to the village.
Everyone cared or didn't for their property. Not many had the help of an Arborist or a complete lawn package. Most EVEN mowed their own lawn.
Now things are different. There is more money and less wealth. Most moved away and those that stayed found their niche and are quite comfortable. There are a few of us middle class folks left here and if you listen very carefully you can still hear us mowing our lawn and talking to our neighbors over the fence and even getting together for a beer or two without starting an engine.
You know who we are when we look at you funny as you fill your driveway with contractors, advisers, lawn boys, pool boys, cleaning ladies and caterers and wonder why you are all stressed out. We are still here.