The Middle of Somewhere

How often have we said a certain place is “in the middle of nowhere”? When we use that term we are generally talking about a very rural area. I have visited several schools in the process marketing my book I Can’t See, But…I Can Imagine. During my visit with the kids, I attempt to help them understand that writing is an adventure they might enjoy. I want them to know they can live anywhere and be a successful author. I love to visit schools ‘out in the country’. Recently I took my presentation to a place I considered to be in the “middle of nowhere” but to my pleasant surprise it was in the “middle of somewhere”!
Fort Rock, Christmas Valley, and Silver Lake are three small towns in southeast Oregon… high desert country. The school I visited was North Lake School. The towns have pooled their resources and build a school that was every bit as nice as any of the 44 schools I have visited! The camaraderie between the children and teachers is something to see. We found everyone to be very friendly. They are proud of their little towns and the school. They have a writers group, a thespian group and many volunteer in the school to help coach sports, etc. Hearing some of the stories I learned about their rich history. There are huge hay ranches all over that country with modern pivot irritation everywhere. A person cannot learn much about that area just driving through. It is worth staying a spell….and learning what a town in the ‘middle of somewhere’ is like.