Part of my heart lives in downtown Demopolis. I have always loved downtown Demopolis, from the time I was a kid participating in the Heritage program as an elementary student to more recently when I gave walking tours as part of my previous job as the Chamber Director. There’s something about these old buildings that warms my heart. From the details to the names still on the buildings (think George or McGrath) hinting at the former life of the building.

 Occasionally, I will take my son to the park to see the fish underneath the fountain at the Public Square. If I have a little bit of cash on hand, we stroll over to the Bigbee Humane Society for William Michael to find a toy. Supporting a good cause and making a small child happy equates for a pretty good day. When we cross Walnut Street and walk down Washington Street, I envision what downtown might have looked like when it was booming. Ladies dressed in their very best (in my mind they all look like Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s) with gloves on their hands holding their children’s hands as they visit shop to shop. If it’s anything like going to Wal-Mart on a Sunday, I imagine shopping downtown Demopolis was quite a social event.

The holidays are always magical time, and I am sure downtown Demopolis at Christmas was no different. I can almost picture children peering into stores downtown with their breath fogging up the windows. I am not sure what it is about downtown Demopolis that tugs at my heart but I imagine part of it is the yearning of a simpler time, before cell phones, internet, and social media.

Yet, I know that this was not a simpler time for everyone. My grandmother would always disagree with someone if they referenced “the good old days”.  The good old days were quite harder in terms of living. However, what I believe the “good old days” to be and what downtown Demopolis represents for me is a time in which we spent more time having conversations with each other face to face. Now, as I write this, I can hear my inner voice saying “But you are on social media Ashley.” Yes, I am and have found being on social media can be valuable in doing my job and as a way to share this story, but I guess what I crave is more face to face interaction.

Today, I got to attend a grand opening of a business in downtown Demopolis. It was wonderful. It gave me two things: a new place to visit downtown and face to face human interaction. For an hour, I got to visit with old friends, hug, and have meaningful conversations face to face. Not for a minute did I miss my cell phone or social media.

I guess for me downtown Demopolis for me will always be a place I can forget all my troubles and my cares.