Decatur does not suffer from the typical economic challenges being faced by stand-alone towns. It is “sub” urban in the sense that it “forms a subdivision or subordinate part of a whole.”

That said, the ‘burbs still blow.

suburb

c.1340 (implied in suburban ), “residential area outside a town or city,” from O.Fr. suburbe, from L. suburbium “an outlying part of a city,” from sub “below, near” + urbs (gen. urbis ) “city.” Close to crowds but just beyond the reach of municipal jurisdiction, suburbs in 17c., especially those of London, had a sense of “inferior, debased, and licentious habits or life” (e.g. suburban sinner, slang for “loose woman, prostitute”). By 1817, the tinge had shifted to “inferior manners and narrow views.” Compare also Fr. equivalent faubourg . Suburbanite formed 1890; suburbia first attested 1896, probably influenced by utopia , originally in England with ref. to London.

She also complains about an open letter from a reader that, as it turns out, was gracious, informative, and empathetic — anything BUT “condemning.” I give Ms. Severson credit for supplying the link to the open letter, which compares well to her NYT piece.

And so the long day wore on.

I liked the word “nestled”, but only because its a better descriptor than “suburb”. Gives you a better sense for Decatur’s location in relation to Atlanta. Not sure about “love child” though.