05/18/2024
This month we are celebrating the best part of LaFayette: Our Community!
We asked you to tell us what LaFayette means to you, and we have two winning submissions. Today's submission is from Haren Desai. We felt this submission really captures the genuine hospitality, kindness and curiosity of our community. What do you think?
MY ADOPTED HOMETOWN: LAFAYETTE, GA
A quote attributed to Egyptian author Omar Tater states, "Home is not where you were born, home is where all your attempts to escape cease." The first time I read this, I realized that I never had a desire to escape from our humble and unpretentious town of LaFayette.
While living in the Northeast, I had heard the term "Deep South" on radio or TV. It conjured images of mystical, far-away place, which was nothing like I had ever known or could imagine. It never occurred to me then that I would one day be living in the "Deep South" Now, thirty years later, LaFayette is our adopted hometown.
I came to LaFayette in July of 1992 for a new career opportunity. To become familiar with the area, I drove all over the surrounding area. Everywhere I went, I saw kids playing in their yards, people caring for their lawn or families tending their farms and gardens. Every one of them waved at me. And in the beginning, every time was a surprise. "They don't even know who I am," I thought to myself. "Probably they never will." Yet the friendly wave, nod or smile became a welcome sight I looked forward to during every drive.
I did have some experiences that seemed odd to me, but in a good way. I had to shake off my "northern" arrogance and attitude and replace it with what seemed like overwhelming politeness and courtesy. Most of my fellow LaFayette residents addressed me as sir or mister, which impressed me greatly. In time, I realized this warm and respectful behavior was not feigned. It is genuine amity for others.
Not all the experiences were "peachy" (pun intended) but as I have experienced since my very first day on American soil, there were more good experiences than bad. My favorite stories are those where wary folks who weren't so sure about us, have later admitted as much while apologizing. No offense taken. We are happy to have earned your trust, respect and friendship.
So after thirty years, I have more than acclimated to this little town of Northwest Georgia. I have become ingrained in it as part of the community. I am a local business owner. I pride myself on knowing my regular customers by name, and always look forward to catching up with them when they patronize our business. We support local schools, law enforcement officers and community organizations. And we look forward to many more years in our LaFayette.
My story in this country started very close to Plymouth Rock, the place where the first Americans landed. It's where I began my journey to embrace this land. But my story ends right here in my adopted hometown, and I am glad for it. I don't know whether LaFayette will ever make it to Reader's Digest's "Nicest Places to Live in America" but we love it. To us, there is no nicer place on Earth.
I proudly call LaFayette my adopted hometown.
