Bucktown
2 posts in one day. I'm inspired by the music...
My friends from high school
Married their high school boyfriends
Moved into houses
In the same ZIP codes where their parents lived
Some background... My last year of highschool I went to a new school. You can imagine the insanity of trying to be a new student your Senior year. I was lucky because I had Julie and Cole there to give me an instant friend-group. I was luckier still to discover another group of friends who treated me like they had known me forever and welcomed me in despite my antics. They are affectionately known as "Seniority", and they were, to a fault, incredibly fun and genuine people. I've met a LOT of people, all over the country, and this still holds true. Two of my best friends came from that group - Kyle and Mellott. Mellott and I kept in touch throughout college and afterwards, since he also joined the military and did the flight school thing. Kyle and I kept in touch in the beginning, but out-of-sight, out-of-mind, and I rarely stay put for long.... Mellott has of course fallen off the face of the earth into his own private world, but we all knew that would happen. :)
The present.... In honor of 10 years since gradumication, Seniority reunited at Kyle's place for a small gathering. Aside from Mellott and Will (military types), most of the crew was present. For the most part they did their college-thing and then decided to return to Bucktown for some good ol' fashioned rootsy living. They still hang out all the time. They're still awesome people (the word "wholesome" keeps coming to mind. But they're not like cows at all.) and I'm still the random stranger that shows up and expects to be loved. :) It just so happened that Matt and I were both sick that night and left early, but I wish we could have stayed. I'm hopeful that someday I can reunite and they will once again welcome me back...
The point I'm getting slowly to is this... there is a stigma against returning to your hometown (or staying there) and living happily ever after. That you are somehow less educated or intelligent if you don't leave your family support structure and struggle to make your own way in the big open world. I think that this economic downturn has taught me that we need our support structures, our roots, more than ever. I'm glad that my old friends are still there, hanging out, making the homeland a fun place to be.
I've been a long time gone now
Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down
But I've always found my way somehow
My friends from high school
Married their high school boyfriends
Moved into houses
In the same ZIP codes where their parents lived
Some background... My last year of highschool I went to a new school. You can imagine the insanity of trying to be a new student your Senior year. I was lucky because I had Julie and Cole there to give me an instant friend-group. I was luckier still to discover another group of friends who treated me like they had known me forever and welcomed me in despite my antics. They are affectionately known as "Seniority", and they were, to a fault, incredibly fun and genuine people. I've met a LOT of people, all over the country, and this still holds true. Two of my best friends came from that group - Kyle and Mellott. Mellott and I kept in touch throughout college and afterwards, since he also joined the military and did the flight school thing. Kyle and I kept in touch in the beginning, but out-of-sight, out-of-mind, and I rarely stay put for long.... Mellott has of course fallen off the face of the earth into his own private world, but we all knew that would happen. :)
The present.... In honor of 10 years since gradumication, Seniority reunited at Kyle's place for a small gathering. Aside from Mellott and Will (military types), most of the crew was present. For the most part they did their college-thing and then decided to return to Bucktown for some good ol' fashioned rootsy living. They still hang out all the time. They're still awesome people (the word "wholesome" keeps coming to mind. But they're not like cows at all.) and I'm still the random stranger that shows up and expects to be loved. :) It just so happened that Matt and I were both sick that night and left early, but I wish we could have stayed. I'm hopeful that someday I can reunite and they will once again welcome me back...
The point I'm getting slowly to is this... there is a stigma against returning to your hometown (or staying there) and living happily ever after. That you are somehow less educated or intelligent if you don't leave your family support structure and struggle to make your own way in the big open world. I think that this economic downturn has taught me that we need our support structures, our roots, more than ever. I'm glad that my old friends are still there, hanging out, making the homeland a fun place to be.
I've been a long time gone now
Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down
But I've always found my way somehow
this post, along with your previous post touching on the stress issue (i hit my limit at work today) along with a sappy movie scene in the background brought me to quivering lip tears. so thank you, i actually need this release tonight. miss ya!
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