There are some of us who know exactly what it is like to come from a tiny village no one over 40 minutes away from it has ever heard of. They know how it feels to know just about everything about everybody within the village limits. These people don't think it is absurd to have only one lonely road running through the middle of the town, and a graduating class of under 100 people. The village of Shepherd, Mich., otherwise known as the sweetest town around, is so small passersby will miss it if they blink. The home of the Fighting Bluejays is a tiny blip on the map about an eight-minute drive from the busy CMU college town of Mt. Pleasant, but it is a tiny blip that the people living in it truly tend to love, even if most of them do claim to want to leave the first chance they get. If you hail from Shepherd, you have the whole run-down on the place, and can probably pick out fellow Shepherdians based on the following criteria.
1. Maple Syrup has a whole new meaning
Strangers come to our village and are dumbfounded to see metal buckets attached to all of our trees. They think we must have gone crazy out here in the middle of nowhere, but we know what those glorious buckets mean. They symbolize one of the greatest events created by man: the Maple Syrup Festival. Yes, it is true, a whole weekend to celebrate this sweet addition to the perfect breakfast. We hold a parade, complete with candy throwing, fire truck horns, and parents attempting to keep their kids out of the street. There are rides and food vendors that you can make use of to your heart's desire. We hold pancake breakfasts and lunches for everyone craving some cafeteria tables and a taste of our renowned syrup, and no one can forget the roughly 500
garage sales that pop up during this time. While no one would dare try to park in town during this weekend, we all have a deep appreciation for maple syrup.
2. Everyone must have a Jenny's Diner cinnamon roll
This quaint little diner off of the one and only road is one of the most beloved spots we have (along with the bar of course, everyone loves those cheese sticks!). When you are in the mood for that nice small-town feel, Jenny's is the perfect stop, and everyone knows about the cinnamon rolls, trust me. These lovely and massive creations are the perfect pick-me-up before sitting in classrooms all day and stressing yourself out about what to do for the weekend. If you have not taken the time out of your hectic life to try one of these beauties, find the time, you certainly won't regret it. Perhaps you will be lucky, like I was, and your teacher will treat the whole class by showing up with one for everybody (thank you again Mr. Gross!).
3. 45 Seconds or 5 Farms
When you live in or near a village with such a limited radius, you generally have one of two options. First, you live so close to the school you walk there and can make it there without batting an eye. Or second, you live six dirt roads away out in the middle of nowhere (seriously) and pass about five farms on your way into school every morning. As farming is one of Shepherd's most beloved lifestyles, it is easy to spot quite a few in the surrounding area. The slight smell this may cause from time to time is simply part of the charm we all associate with our tiny, smelly, village.
4. The Casino is the adventure of a lifetime
In Shepherd, your options for a crazy night are basically limited to just hanging out in a friend's garage with a few beers you snuck, or driving 10 miles out to attend the bonfire everyone has been discussing in whispers throughout the hallways. For those who decide they want a bit more excitement on their Friday night, the well-known Soaring Eagle Casino is the place to be. We take our time getting dolled up (even though this doesn't mean much of a change from everyday attire), and head out on the highway towards bustling Mt. Pleasant. This night out may even include a stop at Applebee's (because who can pass up two for 20), or might just include a rendezvous at the Wayside, for the people who are looking for something a bit more lively, or sketchy if we are being honest. Either way, venturing into the city can be quite a night in comparison to simply gathering on someone's porch at three in the morning.
5. Big talk of wanting to leave
For many of the people residing in Shepherd, leaving the tiny village for something bigger and more exciting is oftentimes one of their greatest dreams. They plan to move away for college, get a job in the city or maybe by the water, or hope to find themselves studying abroad in the near future. Many of us are able to do this, we move away from our small home and experience the world around us. Some though, no matter how much they claimed they wanted to leave, remain in the sweetest town around. They realize they are happy going to the Maple Syrup Festival and getting cinnamon rolls from the diner. They decide they love the remoteness and love the ability to take a short drive into a city even more. The small-town life is not for everyone, but some native Shepherdians have grown utterly attached to their roots, and choose to build a life of their own in the village they have always known.
Whether you are from Shepherd, or another one-road town, it is nearly impossible not to grow at least a little attached to that quaint feel they come with. Even if you move on from your home one day, enjoy it while you are there, nothing else will feel quite the same.
