One of the upsides of living in Milwaukee my entire life – and only in a few different neighborhoods – is that I know so many people and often feel like I live in a small, tight-knit town.
This, however, is also one of the downsides of living in Milwaukee my entire life.
Whether I like or dislike my lack of anonymity really depends on my mood. If I'm feeling friendly and "on," it's great. I love the fact I know at least one person every time I walked into an Alterra or Brady Street nightspot.
However, if I'm not feeling very social butterfly-ish, it can be tough. I don't want to be rude to people, but sometimes, I just don't have it in me to strike up a conversation with an acquaintance, let alone someone I don't really know, but have seen around for decades.
After struggling with this for a while, I have finally settled on this: it's OK to just say hello and smile at someone I know, or kind of know. I have written myself a permission slip to not stop and chat if I don't feel up to it.
At the same time, I don't like it when people I know I've seen around Milwaukee for decades don't even smile or nod. I really try to at least make some outward acknowledgement to those uber-familiar faces. Well, most of the time, anyway.
I really love people, especially Milwaukee people. And much of the time, I enjoy chatting, sharing and listening to the folks that make this city so interesting. And yet, on certain days I think I need more hats and wigs and big sunglasses.
In short, it's both wonderful and exhausting living in the same town your whole life. Don't ya think?
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
