Isms: Views on life in rural America

Have you started Christmas shopping or are you one of those people who have completed the task and have everything wrapped?

I belong to the first group. While I blame my tardiness on my over-scheduled time, part of me also knows I don't need to hurry because I can get everything I need locally.

The push for shopping local hit home last week, when a 20-something year old shopped the Sidebar for holiday gifts. She told me she's "keeping it local." Her holiday gift giving will feature only items from local stores.

No big box stores. No online mega-shopping sites.

That translates to not fighting c...