Hometown Highlights: Lewisville, NC

By Chloe Snow

There is a wonderful scene from Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird that replays in my mind. The scene goes like this: “It is clear you love Sacramento,” the nun says. To this comment, Lady Bird is surprised. Lady Bird says “I guess I pay attention.” The nun, reflectively, says not only to Lady Bird but to the general audience, “Don’t you think they are the same thing? Love and attention?” 

While I am not from Sacramento, the nun’s question strikes a cord. Not only do I see the merit in this statement, but I understand it. Home and being “home” is a feeling of being present and paying attention to small details. 

In Lewisville, North Carolina, the inflatable penguin in my neighbor’s yard waves at me every evening when he’s blown up to full size, the candles in our windows—whose batteries are dying—flicker off every thirty minutes, thus we have to continuously reset them, the Christmas trees in our neighborhood are placed strategically near windows to be seen at night, and my personal favorite, the sassy, southern conversations between my mother and I about church politics, the news, and our Christmas plans makes the season much more homey. 

While I am on break, the conversations with my eccentric, upbeat southern mother are nothing short of enlightening and usually occur over cups of coffee. Our best talks occur in the kitchen. One morning, I sat with my laptop and typed each topic of discussion at breakfast. One conversation is as follows: 

Me: What stands out to you as the best children’s book of all time? 

Mom: Maybe Go Dog Go. Well, I don’t know, why? 

Me: Why Go Dog Go?

Mom: First thing that popped into my head. I always enjoyed reading Amelia Bedelia, Fancy Nancy, and Junie B. Jones to you. 

Me: Anything else?
Mom: Definitely Chrysanthemum. 

Me: Oh that’s a great one. 

Me: What was your favorite book as a child? 

Mom: The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes. I just thought, first of all, I didn’t have a lot of books and that was one that I had. I loved the pictures because it was watercolor, and the eggs looked so real, especially when she goes to the palace. And that she had a house, and she was a sweet little mama bunny with all her children and it looked fun. And she could run just as fast as the men could!

Me: A feminist icon for sure. 

Mom: Yes, I guess in modern language she was a feminist, but I didn’t realize that at the time. 

Me: Did you see that woman and man in Costco yesterday with that hulking buggy full of food?

Mom: She must be feeding an army. 

Me: Maybe they have all boys, and they all play football because that was more carbs and cake than I’ve ever seen. 

Mom: Could very well be.

Me: Maybe they lead a youth group or something at church?

Mom: Maybe. Who do you think they’ll get as a replacement at church? 

Me: Probably someone old and quaint. 

The  transition of power within our church makes for very insightful conversation. Discussions also centered around how to get hot chocolate stains off of white tee shirts. Mom says to use Dawn dish detergent, put it on the stain and then put the shirt in the washing machine with regular washing powder. I swear this works. 

The Christmas Eve brunch menu has been a hot topic as well. Currently, we are going to make three types of quiche—I suggested only two until mom reminded me that I have one brother, one brother-in-law, and two nephews, all with large appetites—a batch of apple muffins, fruit, breaded chicken tenders, and coffee. We have certainly entered, what I like to call, the Christmas nesting phase, a time of cleaning, preparation, and anticipation for the holiday. 

Each element of the Christmas season is given attention, from the food to the windowsill candles. I asked mom why she enjoys home making, and why at Christmas. She says that home making is meaningful to her because she is fixing her home for her family. 

She says “You want your home to be a special place, so taking care of your home is taking care of your family.” 

It is evident that she loves her home and family, seen in her attention. This is what I am meditating on: being present and paying attention to enjoy the preciousness of our current moment.