LETTERS: Friendly residents welcome Boston visitors
To the Editor:
I thought she was exaggerating when Gretchen Berns described her hometown. One blinking red light? Come on. Did she honestly call her former teachers on their cell phones at night? No way.
This past week my roommate, Kristen, and I traveled from Boston to Peabody to visit Gretchen, our good friend from school. As we drove through town for the first time, I thought I was in a movie or had warped back in time. We headed down Main Street and I knew it was going to be a memorable four days.
As soon as I took my eyes from Vogue magazine and into Korner Kitchen's menu, my world was changed. I switched from my stilettos into beat-up sneakers and soaked it up. The cattle were nerve-racking at first, the land extremely flat, the sunsets beautiful, and the stars amazing (we're lucky to see a few in the night sky), but the best part of the trip was by far the people.
I just wanted to thank the town of Peabody for being so friendly and welcoming to us Bostonians. It didn't take long for me to feel comfortable and know my way around town (not that it's really that hard). I got a glance at small town life, an inside view of a tight-knit community.
I witnessed the genuine care you each have for neighbors and appreciated the sense of family that shone through every interaction.
Besides what a silo is and the "Who's call? Our ball!" cheer, the Peabody community taught me to step back and appreciate life's little pleasures.
It's definitely great to be home, but I know Kristen and I never will forget the few days we spent in Peabody. Merry Christmas to you all and "go Jayhawks."
Becky Paskievich
Swampscott, Mass.
