The World According To Chris Brewer

Yesterday was cool. Mom and I ran into Springfield and I explored the place for the second time. Before that, though, we went to Aunt Benita’s house in Diggins (about 25 miles east of Springfield). When we got into Springfield we went to the Battlefield Mall, which is a pretty decent-sized mall for a town of Springfield’s size. Last night we really didn’t do much…I don’t remember half of it because I was so tired. Oh yeah, that’s right, I ran to Wal-Mart to get some cheese for Mom. Then we sat around for a bit, talked, watched TV, relaxed, etc.

Today was better. I went to town by myself and ventured around. First off, I stopped at a car wash in Rogersville to get rid of the road grime and dirt on my car, and lo and behold there was this elderly guy there. He hosed down my car with this green soap and made conversation for awhile. We talked about the area, how he’d been living here for years and loved it, how he’s trying to convince voters to say no to an increase in county taxes this coming election….and suddenly he spotted my Langley AFB decal on my car and asked if I was in the military. I told him I was a broadcaster in the Air Force and he immediately stopped what he was doing, walked over to me, shook my hand and told me “thank you for serving.” It was amazing…it touched me to hear that and it made me feel even better about going to Iraq.

It only gets better from here. I went to the Brentwood Barber Shop in Springfield to get some of my hair chopped off. Really neat place with an old motif inside a new shopping center. The barbers there were cool….one of them was agonizing over last night’s Cardinals loss with a patron, and the one who helped me asked if I was in college. I told him my story, about being in the Air Force, going to Iraq soon and just being in the area to visit my parents. He proceeded to tell me that the area to him had a kind of charm to it — it didn’t matter that there were 150,000 people in Springfield, it still felt like a large town instead of a city. We talked back and forth for awhile and when the haircut was over, I paid him and he shook my hand and told me he’d be praying for me.

Folks, people don’t get much friendlier than that. It’s a breath of fresh air to see that people somewhere in this country still honor and respect their neighbors and those they come in contact with. Seriously. Even all the attractive women I passed by in the Battlefield Mall today (yeah I went back there today) struck up some conversations when they saw my Oregon basketball shirt. “My, you’re a long way from home.” “You should check out Missouri State.” “You gonna move here sometime?” Absolutely amazing. Wonderful people. I was seriously so shocked by the fact they stopped me to talk to me about small stuff like where I’m from, that I forgot to get phone numbers.

So after a long time of driving around Springfield, I passed by the church. It’s near a hospital and homeless shelter. Again, perfect neighborhood for a church to be in. I looked over toward Crimson House and prayed for it, and prayed to God that my future would please include it in there.

Springfield reminds me of how much Newport News/Hampton sucks. It’s the exact opposite of that area. Scenic, friendly, small-town feel…awesome place. I’m gonna hate leaving here Monday.

Oh, I would like to say happy birthday to Omar & Misty’s son Treyton. He turned 4 today and we all helped him celebrate. I’ll post some of the photos in the MediaCenter soon.

For now, bedtime. I’d love to say that my days in Newport News are numbered. Amen.