Daughter Allie spent one of her days at home over the Christmas break visiting local businesses. First came lunch at Orozco’s, followed by stops at Robson’s Card & Gift Shop, Classy Lady Boutique and other downtown Ellsworth shops. I asked her about her day that night after we arrived home. For the next hour, Allie talked about the friends and neighbors she saw. It was wonderful to catch up, she said. That experience started me thinking about the benefits of living in a small town. There’s something comforting — satisfying even — about walking into a store and not being a stranger. Call it the “Cheers Effect,” where everybody knows your name. Yes, I know there are sometimes drawbacks, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. I recently used a food delivery service in a larger city to order dinner. After taking the time to order and tend to several other details, the service notified me the restaurant had canceled my order. Huh? Of course, there was no one to call because the service only communicates via e-mail or text. So, instead of a full stomach, I went to bed with a frustrated promise never to do business with the delivery service again. Bad service happens in Ellsworth County, including at the Independent-Reporter, but not nearly as often and when it does — there’s always someone to answer your questions or say, “We’re sorry.” They’ll probably also want to know how your kids are doing. Allie works in Washington, D.C., but my sense is that as she get older, the desire to return home grows stronger. If that happens, it will be a choice she made because of her years in a place where everybody knows your name. ***

Most nights when I work late, my final stop is at Sonic for a vanilla cherry Coke. This is a shout-out to the young man who handled my most recent order. As I rounded the drive-thru lane and stopped at the window to collect my Coke, my Sonic waiter handed me my drink and refused payment. “I make enough in tips that I can afford to pay for one drink a night. It’s my way of giving back,” he said. Thank you. It was the perfect way to end a long day.