By Michael Baughman

If you’ve ever flown into or out of Philadelphia, you may have experienced the “Philly-Factor.” Ask any commercial airline pilot and I suspect they will confirm this phenomenon. It works something like this: if your travel plans have you flying through Philadelphia in any way, it’s best to factor in an additional half-day or day as you are almost guaranteed a delay or problem of some kind. I think things are improving but anything bad that’s happened to me in an airplane, happened in Philadelphia.

 

In Tryon, we have a similar phenomenon. I call it the “Tryon Factor.” Let me explain.

 

Remember what it was like to go somewhere and not bump into someone you knew? For those of us who have lived in or around Tryon for any period of time, those days are long gone. To quote my four-year old son, “They’re gone-gone.”

 

After just a few months here, I started bumping into more and more people I knew. Any excursion out in public almost guarantees a 15 to 30 minute conversation with someone. In Atlanta, it takes you 30 minutes to do anything because of the traffic. In Tryon, we don’t have traffic, but we do have people who are glad to see you. It takes some getting used to.

 

I’m a people person, but if there is any kind of errand or shopping to do, I’m a man on mission. Not anymore. That quick run to the IGA for bread, might as well be a full-on dinner party. If I ever tell you I’m “running across the street for a few minutes,” assume I’ll be gone all day. “Running across the street,” just doesn’t happen around here. Like it or not, someone is going to recognize you and ask how you’re doing. Or maybe they’ll share some interesting news with you.

 

If you’re really lucky, you may get recruited to help plan or sponsor some upcoming event. All of this happened because you needed bread!

 

True story: One Friday night after work, I dropped by La Bouteille, our local beer and wine store. I’ve also heard it called, “La Booty.” My purpose was pretty simple in nature – I was there to buy a six-pack of my wife’s favorite adult beverage. Not for me, of course.

 

Upon entering the place, it was like I just stumbled into a secret society, only it was open to the public and the people were friendly. As I made my way to the cooler, I kept bumping into people I knew. They would introduce me to someone else and before I knew it, I’m in some really interesting conversation with someone I just met.

About 45 minutes later, I make it out of the store and while I’m getting back in my car I realize that I forgot to buy the adult beverage! Grrrrrr! Dang all those interesting and fun people! Do I chance it and go back in there or do I go home empty handed? Remember, I’m a father of two young children and husband to the woman of my dreams. I’d rather be home hanging out with them. What would you do?

 

So, of course I went back into La Booty, put my head down and tried to bulldoze my way through the crowd only to see another good friend who invited me to taste something he had just bought. So I tasted, I talked, I listened and I made some new friends. And you know what, it was fantastic!

 

The next time you go anywhere around here, make sure you allow some time for the “Tryon Factor.” It’s one of the many things that make this place so special.

 

Now excuse me while I run across the street for a few minutes.