Fredericksburg

They say Virgnia is for lovers. I say, Virginia is for convenience. Need bait? Ammo? Get it while you fuel up; every gas station sells it. Even if they don't advertise, just go inside and ask for Earl. One way another, you'll leave with bait and/or ammo. What's weird is that this rule holds firm even at the Marine Corps Exchange at Quantico.

Fredericksburg claims to be "America's Friendliest and Most Historic City." "America's Friendliest and Most Historic City that is Mostly Closed by 6pm" might be more appropriate. Strolling through downtown, I mostly just got to window shop. There's a children's toy store that had a sign proudly advertising that it was a Case knife distributor (!), a miscellaneous-memorabilia store right out of Pulp Fiction with an umbrella-stand full of swords for "$69 each!", and a gem store that was "Usually Open 12-6 Friday, Saturday, & Sunday".

To be fair, "Sorry Mom Tattoo" seemed to be doing a brisk business. The skate shop had a couple of people in the back kneeling on the floor, apparently awaiting instructions from their alien overload. Somewhat more disconcerting was that just a couple minutes before I'd been thinking, "You know what would shake up this town? A sktate shop." Well, Fredericksburg does have a skate shop: This is as shaken up as it gets.

Confederate flags are used here as a shorthand representation of an edgy, rebellious appreciation for history. Display the Stars & Bars and you too can make your hardware store and antique doll shop a living part of our heritage. Occasionally, the Confederate & American flags are put on equal footing. However, there was exactly one store that displayed the Stars & Stripes alone: The post office.

MV claimed that people in Fredericksburg weren't friendly. I decided to do my own brief, unscientific test. I walked two blocks, smiling but with otherwise neutral gestures, neither avoiding nor seeking eye contact, and never initiating verbal contact on my own. Of the 3 out of 4 people I passed, 3 initiated a greeting. The 4th guy was jogging. Conclusion: People in Fredericksburg are friendly.