Small town living is grand.

When I was growing up it seemed like my mom and stepdad knew everyone. Anywhere we would go we’d run into people they knew.

A few weekends ago I was getting cabin fever because of all of the rain. I decided it was time to get out of the house.

My husband was working, so I called my daughter and son-in-law and asked if they wanted to grab some Chinese food.

After we ate, we decided to drive out to the cemetery where my grandfather is buried, Union Baptist Church in the East Lincoln community.

Although it was cloudy, the rain seemed to be holding off for later in the day.

We got out of the car and decided to walk around a bit in the cemetery. I pointed out a few monuments with the names of our relatives to my daughter Liana, which included her great-great-grandparents, a few cousins, a great-great-aunt and great-great-uncle.

My son-in-law Zane pointed out that there were many headstones with the last name Boyte on them. Since Zane isn’t native to Lincoln County, I explained to him that a lot of Boytes were reared in the East Lincoln community.

As we headed back to the car, I decided to take the “scenic” route home and headed farther east from Union Baptist.

It had been a while since I’d driven around in the country. I forgot how friendly most people out in the country are.

You know what I’m talking about.

Many times when you pass a vehicle on the small winding roads in Lincoln County, you receive some type of acknowledgement. Usually it’s a short wave or at least a couple of fingers raised off the steering wheel as you pass by. I call those country salutes. Some folks just nod and continue on.

Even folks out in their yards wave as you pass by. Lincoln Countians are just friendly folks.

We passed by the Dickerson Place run by the Mississippi Baptist Association. As we drove by I told Zane and Liana the history of the place and all the good things they do for children.

We passed by several Fair River bridges. I told them about the summers I spent lying out on the white sandbars of the small river that is really more like a creek.

As we neared Highway 84, we happened up on the Fair River ball field. I played many, many summer evenings of church softball there.

It was good to reminisce, even if the day was hazy and cloudy.

It also reminded me of the days before I got my driver’s license, and my stepdad would let me practice driving on the county roads on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Back then a lot of the county roads were still overlaid with orange gravel with lots of rocks and ruts. Most of the roads today have been paved.

Now that we have GPS in the car, it’s hard to feel lost on those lazy Sunday afternoon drives, which takes some of the fun out of a casual afternoon of driving around.

This particular afternoon, I kind of felt like a tour guide, especially since Zane had never been down these roads.

I kept threatening to stop and let him out and see how long it would take him to get home.

I wonder if he’s ever been snipe hunting?

And how was your week?

Lifestyles Editor Tammie Brewer can be reached at The DAILY LEADER at 601-833-6961 ext. 134, by email at tammie.brewer@dailyleader.com or you can write to her at P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven MS 39602.