Advice from a small town girl

There’s that song again. My unwanted, inadvertent, unloved theme song.

“I’m just a girl who cain’t say no . . .”

Well, wait a minute now.

Yes, I can. Or is that “cain?”

I do.

Say no, that is.

I’m saying no to the voice that says I’m crazy to try to continue Odessa’s tradition of having a quilt shop.

I’m saying no to the voice that says Old Town Hall is past redemption, or that its future is unalterably linked to the success of existing organizations.

I’m saying no to the voice that says I will never, ever learn that putting food or drink in my mouth will not make my life less stressful, winter...