By Abe Villarreal

At the end of the movie classic “The Wizard of Oz,” little Dorothy Gale has an a-ha moment. She realizes that what she longs for the most was not found in a far away, Emerald City, but right in her own backyard.

Her journey took her through a winding yellow brick road and a frightening forest filled with flying monkeys. She met some interesting characters that felt a lot like the people back on the farm.

She couldn’t see what she was looking for because her eyes were focused on a magical world where life was filled with artificial happiness and perfection.

It’s hard to see something that’s right in front of you.

When was the last time you thought of the majesty of the hills and mountains that surround our humble home? Just a short drive away, they wrap around us, bringing us amazing sunsets and cool breezes.

How about the many colorful mosaics of clay that tell the stories of our people and events? They form our bridges and walls. The infrastructure that keeps us connected.

Even better are the strangers that sit next to you at our downtown benches. They don’t just say hello, they tell you about their day and wonder how yours was spent.

You don’t need to go far to find nature’s paradise. Millions of acres of wilderness, seemingly untouched, quietly provide the serenity and peace that we all need during weekend getaways.

No boat or plane is needed to whisk us away to taste exotic meals that give moments of delicious memories lasting for a lifetime. Outsiders come to us because they hear about what our mothers and grandmothers have passed down and served up through generations.

There are times that we do go away. We tell ourselves that we need a vacation, that we need to get away from it all. A few days in and we long for the comfort of our own bed and pillow. There’s no place like home.

When we hear that help is just around the corner, it’s true. Neighbors are more than just the people living next door. They open doors for us and live to the old adage “mi casa es su casa.”

When we open the newspaper, we still read about our favorite childhood teacher and her recognition by the local civic group. We don’t mind showing that we value each other because that’s what makes a community.

Most of what we need is within arm’s reach. If we focus on each other, we won’t be in a constant search for something we think we can’t find.

What Dorothy sang about, that place over the rainbow where happy little bluebirds fly, was a place of imagination. What we have in real life, right here at home, is so much better.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.