I wrote about the infamous Nacho Rebellion of 2008 a week or so ago. Caving in to my base instinct and love of hot peppers, Mel and I made our way to the Common Cents store that sold the mountains of cholesterol-laden loveliness. I had no idea that a simple nacho could be so, well, delightful. Sure, they will never win a culinary prize because, frankly, they look heinous - like something out of a horror movie - you know, the blob that ate Texas or something. And there is no question you cannot eat them while driving. Nope, not these cheese bombs. They have to be sorted through to find the "clean" chips to dip into the lake of cheese, sour cream, and hot - really hot - pickled peppers. Yum-o-rama.
There is no meat on them, so it is a cheese-fest anyone from Wisconsin will appreciate. Oh yes, I do understand why so many freaked out when their supply of these lovely culinary nightmares was abruptly terminated. For shame, nacho terminator.
But, being us of course, we could not have a basic nacho nirvana experience. Nope. You see we had a bunch of stuff to do that day. So Mel bought them while I paid our insurance bill. They were packed in a box bottom because, well, as I said, you can't eat them and drive. They drip and ooze cheese. Ach, damned good. Anyway, then I had to pay my registration fee. I went into the building and came out and Mel's portion was half gone. Dripped on his shirt (of course) and that is when I had my first bite. Oh my God they were awesome.
So we sat in front of the courthouse chowing for a few minutes before I realized everyone was leaving for the day; and we really didn't want to be known as "those weirdos who eat nachos in front of the courthouse." Whatever. SO we drove by the park and...parked. Well, once you start on these nachos you can't stop until they're gone. Eeek. It was as if the nacho fairy cast a spell on us and we were enchanted. Sigh.
Once finished, I said, "let's check out town for foreclosure notices." I was interested in seeing how many properties were going under. Within a block, there was the awful notice stuck on the entryway of what appeared to be a now-empty home. We also noticed the same "FOR SALE" signs that had been in the same yards for at least six months. Those homes, too, were empty.
So it seems the mortgage crisis has hit home, quite literally. For a town with a permanent population of around 5500, the number of sale signs and foreclosure notices seemed excessively-high. But the school assessment had increased on our property tax bill. So I wondered how many people had tanked because they couldn't make the payment due to increased taxes or because their mortgage adjusted. Obviously, there's no way to tell.
Yes, living in the middle of nowhere has its benefits. But it likewise has significant drawbacks in the lack of viable jobs for people with our education and experience. I suspect this issue is extant throughout the United States and, really, in any rural area.
Towns in this part of the world are literally dying. You see empty buildings and"FOR SALE" signs everywhere...it's sad, really. Chadron, Nebraska is a beautiful corner of this country; and the local College provides an influx of kids that is refreshing. I have no idea where the path we are now on will lead. but it is disheartening.
Panic sets in, then a weird sense of calm when you realize, "Hey, there's nothing you can do except the best you can do." I suspect a lot of people like us feel about like this right now. It's liberating, but frightening, all at once. And now, we shall see what happens. But if we have to leave, I will be damned sure to have one more order of nachos on the way out of town...for sure.
