Welcome to Hicksville

Sometimes the husband and I are out driving, visiting relatives in Ohio or whatever, and we run into interesting towns, interesting people.

The other night we had occasion to visit Hicksville, Ohio, specifically. I'm not kidding. And on your way to Hicksville, you see lots of farm animals, and tractors, and silos. That kind of thing. And a lot of open fields filled with crops. It's very middle America.

One thing I noticed in the town of Hicksville proper is a business called "Ethics Automotive." Out there in Hicksville they want everyone to know they'll shoot straight when they fix their cars. No messing around like those city-slickers. Just good old-fashioned service. 

But the thing that caught me by surprise, and pleasantly so, were the number of Amish buggies we skirted past on our way to the big town of Hicksville. Four, in fact. They are common in these parts and it must have been a progressive sect--they had open buggies instead of the closed-in kind.

So with hats and full-length clothing, the works, I noticed these Amish moms and dads with a few kids tucked into the backseat of the buggy. (Did you know they are required by law to use battery-powered lights in the back of the carriage when it's dark out? Did you also know many Amish men carry cell phones, but are not allowed to have a land line--a link to their house from the "outside world?")

Well, as we lumbered along down the road to Hicksville, we came upon a young Amish man alone in his buggy. Listen in to how the conversation in the car went next. 

Suzie:

"Hmmm, honey. There's a single one. He needs a wife. It's not right when all the rest of them have their buggies full."

David:

"Yeah."

The conversation continued when we saw what we believe was the same young man alone in his buggy on our way out of Hicksville.

Suzie:

"There he is again."

David:

"Still alone."

Suzie:

"You know, we could fix that. All my single friends....do you think they would mind if we found them an Amish husband...you know, the simple life and all that..."

This conversation reveals a newfound preoccupation the husband and I have with matchmaking in general. We simply adore marriage. So we feel a personal yearning to match up every available friend we have. Never mind that we waited for decades for our mate. We want to match, and match now! We've already been scheming, but have waylaid our plans for now. After years of living single, we realize that our friends may not appreciate well-meaning, but hasty matchups. Will it help if I promise that all of our future matchmaking efforts will be covered with hours of prayer?? :) 

So back to Hicksville. It was quiet there. Even though it has a McDonald's and all, the residents take pride in their town and their way of life. Simpler. Kinder. Countrified. Nothing wrong with that.

Today, we again found ourselves driving through the fields of Ohio, when I spotted a sign: "Worstville --------->." We weren't headed that way, but if we ever do, I'll be sure to report on it. After all, exactly how bad can "Worstville" be--and a better question, where in the world do Ohioans come up with all these interesting names?

Can you sound off on some other unusual city names? Please post--you can do it anonymously now, and it's easy.  And, yeah, it would be great if you at least signed your first name. :)