This town, not so bad

By Staff
Nathan Strickland
Columnist
I have heard lots of people between the ages of 18-27 who say they are stuck in this town and may never get out. I am 25 and I use to experience those feelings too when I was younger, around 18 and 21.
I have since come to realize that this town isn’t so bad to live in. I can’t say that I have much experience though outside of Russellville.
I was born in Russellville Hospital then moved up the hill behind the old Wal-Mart building, which is now Peebles, not far from the Ralph C. Bishop Community Center. I lived in that same house with my parents for almost 24 years. My then girlfriend and I decided to get married on April 4, 2009 then I moved for the first time out past the Russellville schools on John Tyler Street. I have moved one other time since then and now live at my current address in Russellville. My whole life has been lived within a 10-mile circumference area. So I don’t have much experience outside Russellville, but I truly believe it is not as bad as everyone seems to think. If I can stand to live here for 25 years then others can do the same.
What is there really to complain about? It is a cheap place to live once bills start rolling in, your 20 to 45 minutes away from dining choices and a mall, depending on how you drive and we have one of the premier school systems in North Alabama.
Believe me I complain all the time about things here in town, but I think I have earned the right to since I have been here my entire life. There are a lot of complaints I hear like “There are too many Mexican restaurants in town.” and “I wish we had more fast-food restaurants to choose from.” I understand there are things we can improve on, but people should realize that this town is still in the process of growing. Russellville can’t just snap its fingers and bring all these restaurants and shopping centers into town. Things take time.
But in all honesty, my parents obviously thought it to be a nice place to raise my sister and me and we turned out to be pretty cool people, so I figure the same can go for lots of families here in town.
I don’t know where the future will take my family and me but I know that no matter where I end up. I will always call Russellville my hometown and I’m proud of that fact. There I have said my peace. Until next time, Later Dayz…