Roots Run Deep in Small Town Life

April 26th, 2008 | webmaster | Life in a Small Town

By Courtney Danielle’ White

I am the 16 year-old daughter of Carey White of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, and Andrea B. Ivey of Lumberton, North Carolina. My paternal grandparents are Dean and Patti White of Bladenboro, and my maternal grandparents are John and Brenda Blackmon of Bladenboro. I attend West Bladen High School as a Junior. I’m currently a member of the Beta, Spanish, Shag, Varsity and HOSA Clubs. I play Varsity Volleyball, which happens to be my favorite sport. I truly enjoy every minute of every game. The two most comfortable places for me is on a volleyball court or on a stage singing. I don’t claim to be a “great” singer—I just enjoy singing! I sing specials at my church on a monthly basis.

Now that I’ve already named my two passions, I will list a few of my hobbies. I really like fishing. My step-dad has a pond full of bass and brim. I find it very relaxing and a great place to unwind. I have my own “brim-buster” which stays hidden behind my bedroom door. Everyone knows its there, they’re just not allowed to use it. I also enjoy hunting and shooting skeet with my brother, Corey. When summer comes, I get my tan from mowing the field behind our house on my step-dad’s tractor. And yes, I like mowing grass. That is another place I can get away and think. Last but not least, my favorite hobby is, you guessed it, working at Bladenboro Hardware. I love my job.

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As a local hometown girl in Bladenboro, my name is Courtney White and I’m a Junior at West Bladen High School. I am 16 years old now, but when I was 14, I must admit that it was hard trying to find a part time job. Limited by such a small town and my age, the chances of finding a job after school and for the summer were bleak. But Tom Lancaster afforded me the opportunity. An opportunity that has proven to be a major stepping stone in my life. This particular job has great benefits—the life lessons type. I am rewarded daily with some basic helpful tips from some very skilled tradesmen and local clientele.

Mr. Lancaster, “Tom”, had reopened a hardware store that was a town staple for decades. He restored a lot of the old days era by filling the store with antique tools and memorabilia of a time that had slipped away. He took a dream of his and turned it into a reality. He has recaptured a look and feel of a slower, more friendlier time. A time when people respected one another, family values were intact, and life was lived at a much slower pace.

I felt at home as soon as I got the job. I’ve enjoyed getting to learn new faces and receiving all sorts of wisdom from the veteran farmers and retired tradesmen. Although I must admit, they all did not receive the idea of a “girl” working in a hardware store at first. Some didn’t even want me to wait on them. There were times I felt inferior and under qualified, but I’ve never been a quitter. With Tom’s patience, the guidance of Darlene, my superior, and my determination, I made every effort to learn more about the trades of the locals.

My age and gender were against me, but after some time passed, I was making strides with the customers. Their confidence in me was rising, which fueled my ambition to succeed. In between customers, I would pick up plumbing parts and try to familiarize myself with the different sizes and types. I went around to each section of the store and spent time reading and tinkering with the merchandise. I became more and more interested in pleasing the customers by pointing them right to the parts they needed. I have a lot of gratitude for the customers that gave me a chance and let me grow in my job.

After the first year I became more settled in my job. You could even say I could probably get a job with Tom’s electrical business, IRS. Or maybe even Roy West would hire me as a plumber’s helper. Just kidding!

I feel very fortunate for the privilege Bladenboro Hardware has afforded me. Most of my friends think its odd that a girl would know anything about electrical or plumbing or feed and seed, but I think I’m building a foundation for a more grounded life. To me, that’s what living in a small town offers. I never want to forget my roots and the place where I grew up.