first thing need know about phrase this town this that must accompanied visual hold your thumb index finger about half inch apart squint your eyes ever-so-slightly you're straining something quite small other thing should know about saying that it's inextricably tied best friend ellen it's saying whenever rest says it's known accepted fact that we're borrowing from phrase coined reasons that obvious anyone lives champaign-urbana although there nearly people here town feeling about quarter size everyone knows everyone somehow tied another's business usually convoluted rather than obvious ties here aren't one-dimensional either quintessential knot must have several layers examples this heart many halfway normal tales future i'll simply refer this phenomenon first most important this story i'll tell fittingly about ellen ellen very distinctive only tall beautiful coloring curly hair often prompt rude people what record ellen's african-american white ellen could easily latina caribbean from number other exotic locales harmlessly envious mention ellen's looks point that she's noticeable which root noticed everywhere cafe then another park pool grocery store began wonder trailing guess noticeable because ellen tells same story about seeing everywhere finally after seeing cafe paradiso morning aroma cafe afternoon swimming pool evening marched right demanded friendship actually said something like think we're living parallel lives it's time meet within week were together time with without kids ellen's husband gabriel it's been that ever since ellen during difficult on-the-upturn time life four years after moving here years after ended marriage couple months after ended first post-divorce relationship full throes single parenthood keeping freelance writing business thriving frequently found myself some not-advisable dating scenarios also recently decided that going root myself east-central illinois happy about more feeling sorry myself about being stuck here because ex-husband's career span month ellen bought myself house which marked beginning upswing also changed churches months later jason who's husband weeks i've been upheld supported many wonderful people since moving here ellen single-handedly rescued more times more consistently than anyone else jason course obvious super hero ellen different roles jason essentially relocated entire home speak higher ground ellen came paddling when flailing dragging sometimes just treading water with while keeping company still does although need glad much less frequent 