He had a mind of its own. The mind would perform acts of kindness to others. The mind would touch others, radiate smells of popcorn, hear out what people had to say, and taste the bitterness of authority. Starbucks on main street would speed up this process. The mind would treat others disrespectfully. Would you call it disrespect? Or would you call it individualism? He needed to put some bop in it. Because the mind would do this, there will be no turkey on thanksgiving. In any way, he was to be sure to listen to your elders. The red car of the menace would be nothing but a spaceship for him to glide in. Sherm must make sure he proceeds with caution. He will pursue his dream and become an accountant. The color of the tree will turn pink. The tree will take a nap, walk itself home, and eat a pizza. He said “Hasta la vista!”. Soon later the mind will empathize and be there for anyone.

Adam Shine

Professor Dave Leaton
Self and Society
2019 October 4
Identity Politics
Who am I? That’s a question most people ask themselves if they’re unsure about their identity. Identity politics has been introduced in the 1960’s and it’s been a controversial topic ever since. Being open about trying to understand how people deal with this and how it’s interpreted through their eyes is key to make this controversial topic more comprehensible. Many authors have discussed this and the topic is still being discussed today. With identity politics, comes a tendency for people to move away from the conservative outlook and people react differently to this. Identity politics is a sensitive topic, identity politics is a out-of-the-norm topic, and identity politics is a topic that is here to stay.
Growing up in a conservative family, I really had no base knowledge of what identity politics actually was. I have a couple of family members who have questioned their identity and sexuality but how could I empathize with them? Then, one of my classmates in high school reached out to me to discuss their mindset on this and what they were going through. This classmate was a male and recently changed their gender to female. Her parents, from what was described to me, didn’t seem to be that thrilled about it. She grew up in a catholic family who went to church every sunday and even got confirmed in the Basilica in downtown Saint Louis. From a very young age she’s been battling with herself about who she is and she just wasn’t happy in the state she was in. She was telling me all of this information, on the verge of shedding tears, and I sat there with my ears open and my mind on the question of how to respond. Clearly she knew I had no base knowledge of this ever happening before or how to deal with it but she felt the need to share and get it off of her chest. But, she clearly also wanted to hear my perspective on things and how exactly I thought how she should handle it. Knowing her parents and how they are as humans, I told her there was no way she was going to get kicked and that there was no way they were going to stop supporting her. This was around Christmas time of 2017 so she was going to see both sides of her family and she was anxious of how they were going to handle it. I told her that her family would most definitely react shocked at first, but with time they were eventually going to have to accept her for how she is as a person and how this experience and the happy state she is with herself is the only way you can do about life. If you aren’t happy with who you are in your own skin, what’s the problem with changing your physical appearance to something that will make you comfortable for once in your life? This was my experience with identity politics and I cannot stomach the amount of stress this may cause onto another individual who deals with this everyday.
Mary Bernstein is apart of the department of sociology at the University of Connecticut and she first discusses the various approaches to define identity politics and the challenges amongst them. She shows that these approaches reflect competing theoretical understandings of the relationship between experience, culture, identity, politics, and power. This is a debatable topic and they raise theoretical issues that include how to understand the relationship between personal experience and political stance, why status identities are understood and/or portrayed as socially constructed, the dilemmas activists face when the identities around which a movement is organized are also the basis for oppression, when to attribute certain movement outcomes to status identities, and how to link collective action to specific notions of power to help explain the cultural and political goals at which identity politics is aimed. Bernstein discusses these things and at the end she includes future reference of research for identity politics. This source presented strong, backed up information that displayed her strong understanding of the topic.
Unlike Bernstein in her novel, author Mary Eberstadt presented not just her base-knowledge but included perspectives from three other novelists. Eberstadt points out how millenials have become less obliged to have a firm sense of self. And to compensate for that, they team with the ideological tribes created by identity politics and react with “frenzy” against any perceived threat. This threat is often derived from the fact that people believe this ideologically is “impure”. Eberstadt imposes the question, “how did we get here?”, to refer to the state us humans have reached to get to the mindset of the unsure “who am I?”. Eberstadt argues the rise of identity politics stems from the collapse and shortage of families and is a direct result of the fallout of the sexual revolution. She illustrates that humans have forged their kinship from birth and the influence of family or “first teacher(s)” play a pivotal role in the set-and-stone mindset of becoming comfortable with who you are. All of the perspectives share one thing in common: empathy.
In Carolyn D’Cruz’s novel, she discusses how identity politics dominate the organisation of liberation movements in today’s society. Bringing up the totally “unthinkable” ideas but totally true experiences people face, she connects it all to being an “extremist” and “disconnected”. She includes how back in the day if you were questioning your sexuality, there would be a much different reaction back then, than there would be now. Eberstadt shares how this plays a role in today’s politics and how this could be pronounced as a “post modern culture” idea. If there is one thing for certain, it’s that this topic of identity politics isn’t going anywhere. This is heavily discussed everywhere throughout today’s politics because this is such a sensitive, renowned topic people struggle with everyday. Without discussion of the topic, there will be no progress moving forward. And with discussion of the topic, this is may be introduced to people who are unsure of who they are and cause them to act upon this.
The sensitivity of this subject will always be relevant and it will always be an out-of-the-norm topic for some people. Dating back to old traditions, this would be an unthinkable concept to try and convince them that this is a controversial we are going through in today’s society. Though it may be foreign to some people, it’s a living reality for others. Identity politics aren’t going anywhere and people will have different opinions and outlooks. In the end, asking “who am I?” may be the start of decided one should start to get more comfortable in their own skin.

The cold attacks me with jagged teeth and claws.

Tall trees block the friendly sun’s sweet rays.

Though I shiver, I enjoy the snowy scene.

My face goes numb. Even my eyes are cold.

I close my eyes and will myself to warm.

A freeze comes over me as the sky opens up.

“Non est exitum” she whispers to me.

Adorned with shining lights, she controls day and night.

Her touch is ever-present, her gaze unending.

At her command rain falls and winds blow.

She is timeless and powerful, and I am nothing.

Yet I will control her, she will bow to me.

Stupid citizen, he would do better to respect her.

I open my eyes again. Still I am cold.

Emma Jameson

Mr. Dave Leaton

TRU110 Self and Society: Story 

25 October 2019

Impact of Identity Politics

Talk of identity politics has recently dominated the American political agenda. Many ask themselves why this seemingly new interpretation of politics has become such a large topic of conversation, but in reality, identity politics is nothing new. Identity politics have become a large, pressing movement as of recent, and the notion of selecting an identity is being pushed upon voters. With the recent increase in usage of identity politics, it is vital for all voters to fully understand this demanding and significant topic. Identity politics are used to highlight aspects of one’s identity that will later influence the political decisions they make. To fully grasp identity politics, one must first interpret the definition of identity. Defining identity proves to be extremely difficult because each individual has a different idea of identity unique to their beliefs and diverse backgrounds. The word identity quite possibly may even have a different definition depending on the person that you ask. The way that one chooses to identify themselves is an extremely personal matter. Most can agree that there is not simply one defining characteristic that determines a person’s identity. The question that should then be asked is “How does one determine their identity?”, or one may ask themselves, “Who am I?”. Many people often struggle to identify themselves in a general sense and have no way of constricting themselves to only one method of identification. Another issue with the idea of identification is what happens when your identities conflict with one another in the political sense, how does one choose to prioritize one identity over another. As it has been presented, there are quite a few errors and problems that arise when political parties begin to divide in the name of identity.

Initially, identity politics are often viewed in a positive light. Embracing identity as a means to find commonality between traditionally different people is seen as a positive thing, but when analyzed on a deeper level, identity politics can potentially be the cause of downfall for campaigns and political parties. The Democratic party is often blamed for using identity politics as the basis for their campaigns, and many even believe that they fell short at winning the 2016 presidential election because they could not come together to find common ground within their party, causing votes to be split due to single-issue voting. Andrew Yang, 2020 presidential hopeful, claims that “identity politics are a great way to lose elections” saying that they put walls up between people, rather than bringing them together (Dorman). Another democratic frontrunner, Pete Buttigieg reinforces Yang’s claim saying that “every person has a story that can be used to either separate —or connect— them to others” and that we must strive to build bridges between one another rather than walls (Groppe). Identity politics were initially intended as a means of bringing people together by encouraging those with different backgrounds to find a common belief or cultural similarity that could unite them, but instead, as of recent, identity politics have started to move away from inclusion and towards exclusion and division (Chua). Identities are becoming exclusive rather than inclusive because we are focusing on our differences, but instead, we should try to recognize our common humanity (Maguire). Often, many people are excluded from groups because their identity doesn’t match that of the groups. While their beliefs may align perfectly with the group, we are seeing groups turn away individuals because they are ‘out-of-group’, therefore, they would not be “capable” of understanding or possessing the knowledge that in-group members have (Chua). This creates an ‘us-versus-them’ mentality that deepens the divide that exists between different groups in society. This can be extremely destructive and is damaging to the end goal, that is, bringing people together to help make our country a united, safe place for all. 

While identity politics are traditionally seen to only be an issue within the Democratic party, it seems that identity politics influence mostly all voters no matter their party affiliation. With the current Trump administration, there has been quite an increase in popularity of white identity politics amongst some Republicans. Many Americans blame President Trump for the recent resurgence of this traditionally toxic form of white identity and Buttigieg even calls it “the most divisive form of identity politics” (Groppe). Trump’s campaign slogan is widely known as “Make America Great Again”. This presumes that America was once great and it now no longer is. This is his way of urging Americans to bring back the greatness of the white man that once dominated and held the majority. Duke political scientist Ashley Jardina says that it is projected that whites will cease to be the majority in America by the end of the century (Illing). Many white people are afraid to lose their numbers because in losing the racial majority comes losing status, control, power, and privilege that comes along with being white. This brings up the question as to are we as a country fearful of change, or fearful of the ‘other’. As a country, we must come together to find comfort in the uncomfortable. It is no secret that change can be scary at times, but change is necessary and important for growth. As a country, we must all unite to recognize our common humanity and see beyond the color of our skin. Although voters who strongly identified as white were most likely to support President Trump to help preserve their race (Lopez), not all white Americans feel comfortable adopting their racial identity. It was even found that whites who felt uneasy with Trump’s ideas and claims were very likely to abandon their racial identity, driving many away from the racial solidarity the administration was hoping for (Illing). 

Another less critical, but important way that identity politics are poorly serving voters is the intense spotlight that is shining on this method of interpreting politics. One of the major reasons that voters tend to shy away from identity politics or candidates that focus too heavily on the theories of identity is because there is typically more focus on identity and not nearly enough attention on pressing political issues that affect many people’s daily lives such as climate change and income inequality for example. Shortly after Hillary Clinton’s failed candidacy in 2016, a professor at Georgetown University noted that her students disliked identity politics, and they felt that Clinton spent too much time trying to appeal to voters based on their identity rather than ‘real’ political issues that they were worried about (Harrop). Ultimately, there is no one right answer, but we must educate voters and encourage individuals to step away from identity politics and try to unite to see the bigger picture. Once the dangers of identity politics are fully understood, it is critical to do something about it and try to merge our progressive minds to come up with another way that works.

Bibliography

Chua, Amy. “How America’s Identity Politics Went from Inclusion to Division” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 1 Mar. 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/mar/01/how-americas-identity-politics-went-from-inclusion-to-division

Dorman, Sam. “2020 Dem Rips Party’s Focus on Identity Politics: ‘Great Way to Lose Elections’.” Fox News, FOX News Network, 9 June 2019, www.foxnews.com/politics/2020-dem-rips-identity-politics-great-way-to-lose-elections.

Groppe, Maureen. “Pete Buttigieg Says Donald Trump’s White ‘Identity Politics’ Contributing to a ‘Crisis of Belonging’.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 13 May 2019, www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/05/12/pete-buttigieg-says-donald-trump-divides-white-identity-politics/1151265001/.

Harrop, Froma. “Identity Politics Are a Dead End.” RealClearPolitics, Creators.com, 22 Oct. 2019, https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2019/10/22/identity_politics_are_a_dead_end_141552.html.

Illing, Sean. “White Identity Politics Is about More than Racism.” Vox, Vox, 27 Apr. 2019, https://www.vox.com/2019/4/26/18306125/white-identity-politics-trump-racism-ashley-jardina.

Lopez, German. “The Battle over Identity Politics, Explained.” Vox, Vox, 17 Aug. 2017, https://www.vox.com/identities/2016/12/2/13718770/identity-politics.

Maguire, Laura. “Identity Politics.” Philosophy Talk, 14 July 2016, https://www.philosophytalk.org/blog/identity-politics.

he drove home differently now.
her every message distracted him
her words warming his pocket
where he felt her heart and she felt his

the aggressive daily events of distraction
could not pry his eyes from her small hands
smaller than raindrops
yet out of sight

curious seconds ticked until
his monthly trip began
rushing for her waiting
he will stay sad for never

he never used to beg for time
now he wants another fucking hour
with her golden locks
her sweet voice
Her.

he drags his pain home
along with his love
her arm stretched across the world
every night for him

he allowed himself to be taken home
fighting himself through each turn
with her time is forever
he studies the clock

the rose used to rise up to see him
now he gently bends and turns
to meet it
before its bloom

he rests in the chair
and blankly watches the wall
it is not normal
his life is not normal*®️

It didn’t hit me until yesterday

Shotgun in mom’s Toyota, coming back. 

Back then, three feet tall, the acre was the whole earth;

Mom slows down at the sign: 4 acres for sale – sold fast.

 

Traveling far enough, 

Even if it’s only for a few months,

You don’t realize how much things change.

One acre –  a mere small parking lot. 

 

I quite honestly felt as if I had stopped time within that moment-

Ironic I suppose.

It really struck me how small an acre actually is.

And the everchanging surrounding of time.

 

My grandparents’ house was always a fun time-

Never grandparents, always ‘Papa’ and ‘Nana’.

We were over there quite often.

 

They had a large, lively deck that always seemed to be buzzing.

There was always some form of lights, generally tall lamps

And the Coca-Cola cooler that was never used simply loomed in the dark corner cheerfully. 

 

And although of course we would go other places- B and B, Faubian, hell even Walmart, 

Papa and Nana’s house was always the place I loved so dearly. 

The planks of wood I enjoyed a lot of my time,

Where I felt free

In the fresh air 

Outback.

And wasn’t getting yelled at for standing too close to the TV– you could go blind you know.

 

The late nights

My small family gathered throwing thin pieces of paper at each other 

A fierce game of Phase 10-

‘Blinded By the Light” was a favorite.

 

The sunny, deadly hot, blissful summer days 

Eating whole red fruit in the shade with papa

Drizzled in the sweet, sweet taste of table salt.

 

The roaring engine of the green giant we all called ‘the tractor’

The earthy smell of the grass stains, 

And the warm, sweet feeling of water rushing down our backs 

After getting yelled at because of the black, sticky walnut shells that had accumulated on our faces. 

 

Not as bad as the green sticky balls we called ‘brains’ – hedge balls.

Slowly fly down the hill.

 

Watching the sun dance across the rippling water of the cool blue pool

Where Ash was normalized and the little girl I once knew had no clue this would be over soon.

The thick water of happiness that spewed from the little rock fountain.

I have no clue where it went. 

 

One acre is quite small when you’re 5 feet tall. 

I drove by this house the other day.

The backyard doesn’t look nearly as big as I remember.

And the gigantic creek is a small, puny stream. 

 

Saddening. 

On that fateful day I crawled into my mom’s arms sobbing.

My papa passed.

Everything changed. 

My nana no longer owns it. 

 

I’m still not sure how one nearly empty acre can mean so much,

And I hadn’t thought of this is years

But looking back, I truly miss it. 

 

I suppose maybe I’m crying over spilt milk

Maybe, I’m just overthinking my past

To compensate for my unknown future.

After all that was a quick glance at that real estate sign 

 

Now a dorm room.

Canvas on the wall with cheesy quotes

That somehow motivate me–

“Carpe diem” 

“You’re pretty rad”

“Get shit done”

 

Yet, I can’t help to think,

Maybe one day I’ll be watching children prance around the overgrown grass

Of my backyard.

And although that acre may seem small to me, 

It will seem like the whole world to them. 

 

Throwing the bright green, sticky brains into the roaring creek,

Scratching the itchy chiggers off their legs with their small, fragile hands

While red juice pours down the side of their cheeks from the salty tomatoes I once enjoyed

Sitting there, looking out at the large, neverending property…

 

 

 

A crisp wind whistles through the trees.
Fearful and exposed, she pulls her knees tight to her chest 
Help 
Here, there is no help 

Brightness abruptly overcomes the dark shade of the night
It is over. 
But no.
It has only begun 

Confusion turns to terror 
Yet feelings remain uncertain.
Her mind is filled with fog, slowly rolling in and out
If only this just be a dream,
Though she knows it is undeniably true

There is no way out
What is done is done
If only she could run away like the night

The room is unfamiliar,
Her clothes are stiff and foreign
Everything is off, 
As her body is no longer her own

A deep, serious voice slices through the silent room.
“Do you solemnly swear…

The Big Game

Brad Lay

 

The anticipation is crippling

The atmosphere is the equivalent of a camp before battle

Quiet, however, bustling with contained energy

He sits at his locker inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 

Drenched in a hot sweat

He thinks over the season

Did he do enough?

Will he do enough tonight?

Coach James rounds up the troops to talk

This talk is different

He seems calm, too calm

With the calmness, a sense of overwhelming confidence comes across the team

Tonight is the night

Gametime

The game is over

Not one eye in the locker room is dry

Some hug one another

He just sits there

Aghast

The football in his right hand melts away

In his left hand sits the trophy, screaming with pride

It is over

They did it

He did enough

 

Bike Sharing Program in Kirksville, MO

submitted for funding to the 

 

Foundation for Rural and Small Community Growth Grant Program

 

11/13/2019

Group Rosencrantz: Jacob Koebel, Joe Manganiello, Audrey Currey-G, and Emma Jameson

 

INTRODUCTION

 

• About Kirksville

 

Kirksville is a small, rural town located in Northeast Missouri. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2018, Kirksville’s population was 17,566. The median household income is just over $27,000; this figure is considerably low when compared with the national average of $60,363. Kirksville is also home to Truman State University, Missouri’s only public liberal arts and sciences university, and A.T. Still University, the founding college of osteopathic medicine. Due to the overwhelming student population, the average age of Kirksville residents is 23. Just over thirty-four percent of Kirksville citizens live in poverty, with men and women 18-24 years old making up over 60% of the impoverished population. 

 

• Transportation in Kirksville

 

Since our proposal targets transportation, it is necessary to take a deeper look into how people get around in Kirksville. Despite being home to many students during the school months, Kirksville has limited public transportation options. Currently, Kirksville has a public transportation service known as, Kirk-Tran. The shuttle system runs an hourly route around the city Monday through Saturday during typical business hours, but this service is limited. Kirksville also has Uber, and a cab company as well for public transportation, but even that is limited. It is very difficult to find an Uber ride and pretty often there are either no Uber drivers or at the very most two. The taxi service, called Jerry’s Taxi, is very limited only having one taxi and does not have any stars or reviews. There is also a cab company that only has two and a half stars and is limited to a few cabs that do not offer the best service. According to datausa.io, the average number of households that use public transit has dropped from about 100 households in 2013 to nearly zero in 2017. Not only has the public transit dropped, but the average number of households that use the taxi service has also dropped from about 50 households in 2013 to less than 10 households in 2017. The public transportation that is currently available to the residents of Kirksville is not easily accessible, or easy to use, which in turn makes their lives more difficult.

 

PROPOSAL

The Kirksville Business Club proposed the idea of adding a bike share program to benefit the citizens of Kirksville. A bike-sharing program would allow students and members of the community to rent bikes from stations in well-lit areas around town as well as on Truman’s campus any time, day or night. This program would be run through an app that allows users to rent and pay for their ride. Bikes will have GPS trackers to prevent theft. For safety purposes, all bikes will be equipped with a bell, reflective paneling, and a helmet. Bikes will also have easily adjustable seats, 21 speeds, and a large front-facing basket for the convenience of users. Users will be charged based on the time used, and charged upon return. To compensate for this lack of availability and accessibility, our proposed bike system would benefit both Kirksville’s students and community members. 

LOGISTICS

Customers will be able to rent a bike from either an app or a website. If a customer prefers to have more features and more polished experience, there is an app for them. However, there will also be a website that they can sign into if they would need to for whatever reason. This would allow us to expand our service to people who don’t have phones because it would be possible to complete the rental process on a computer. In addition, having a website would be a good way to allow customers who don’t want to get another app on their phone to have access to the service. Both the website and the app would be essentially the same, but different enough to have advantages over another. (An example of this is YouTube. There is a desktop website, a mobile website and an app. All of the platforms do the same thing but slightly differently.)

BENEFITS

Having a bike rental system will benefit Kirksville by providing a new and friendly mode of transportation. Bikes are also environmentally safe and are a simple, easy mode of transportation. Bikes could be used by both students and community members, which in turn would integrate students into the community. Our proposed bike system would give community members who lack their own mode of transportation a viable and accessible method of transit. This bike-sharing system would also become lucrative with little cost to maintain. Riding a bike is an environmentally friendly mode of transportation that will appeal to users looking to lower their carbon footprint. One of Kirksville’s main attractions is Thousand Hills State Park. The Forest Lake Area Trail System (FLATS) members in Kirksville have spearheaded a project that will soon bring a four-mile paved trail system connecting Thousand Hills State Park and the City of Kirksville. This path will promote healthy living by providing a direct path between the park and the city making it easier for members of the community to access the park. Having a bike station around the city and at Thousand Hills will attract guests to the park and encourage them to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

 

CONCERNS

A bike-sharing system would introduce limited concerns, however, it is important to be aware of possible issues that may arise. The biggest concern of a bike-sharing program is that the users could be injured while riding our bikes. There is no simple solution to this problem, but there are a variety of methods that can be used to lessen the damage in the event that someone is hurt. First, before renting a bike, users will sign a waiver stating that they are responsible for their own injuries. Many other bike-sharing services use this method to ensure that they are not held responsible for something that isn’t their fault. Another concern with the system is theft. When renting a bike, users must give their names as well as other personal information. In the event of theft, this information would be given to the police to help them find whoever stole the bike. Also, the bikes have a GPS that can be used to track down stolen bikes. Overall, there are a variety of risks involved with starting a bike-sharing service, but the rules we have put in place will prevent the majority of the problems.

COSTS

According to our club’s research, starting up a bike-sharing system is doable under the proposed budget for a city the size of Kirksville. Each bike would cost about $150, including all the fixtures necessary. With each station would house 10 bikes, and would include necessary automatic electronic locking as well as lighting for safety. The cost of each station would be around $9,000 each, including installation, wireless connection to the app, as well as the software for the app itself. This projected cost is based on an estimate from the company On Bike-Sharing. On Bike-Sharing strives to provide companies, campuses, and cities with affordable and safe bike-sharing programs. This would allow for a start-up number of five stations plus $5,000 set aside for future maintenance costs, insurance, and any potential legal responsibility. 

TIMELINE

Our club intends to have the system installed and fully functioning by the start of the fall 2020 semester. Our proposal would need to be approved by the Truman administration and the city of Kirksville before installation can begin. The bikes would be installed during the summer while many students are off-campus.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brown, D. (2018, April 9). A look at several trails in Kirksville, Adair County. Retrieved November 30, 2019, from https://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/news/20180409/look-at-several-trails-in-kirksville-adair-county.

“COMPLETE BIKE SHARE SYSTEMS.” On Bike Share – Official Site | Bike Share Systems, 

www.onbikeshare.com/. 

Data USA: Kirksville, MO. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2019, from https://datausa.io/profile/geo/kirksville-mo/.

Economy in Kirksville, Missouri. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2019, from https://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/missouri/kirksville.

Jaafari, J. D. (2017, September 28). Bike-Sharing Systems Cost Money, But Make Money Too. Retrieved November 14, 2019, from https://nationswell.com/how-to-set-up-bike-sharing-right/.

Driving with Easton is a Friday night – some Fridays are quiet, spent alone. 

And others are filled with parties, movies, and friends. 

Like riding in a million-dollar car on a twisty back road in our hometown. 

Driving with E smells like the Goody’s on Broadway, 

tastes like a Kehde’s fry dipped in their famous ranch. 

It feels like a cool summer night out by a bonfire; 

it sounds like George Strait blasting through the speakers, 

and looks like the first farm truck I’d ever ridden in. 

 

Nights that tasted like forever; people that would last forever. 

But they just weren’t forever. 

 

They’d yell “Buck the Furg” as we passed our rival high school. 

Something we’d never get in trouble for but would pretend we will. 

Tipping cows and their family’s new combine, 

A foreign world of traditions, terms, and customs. 

The girl who grew up in cities and suburbs with all the knowledge in the world, 

dumbfounded by a small-town charmer. 

A small-town boy who tricked me into falling in love with a town,

While he fell in love with me. 

 

E made the town my own, gifted me a lifetime pass to my new town, 

And the rights to my home. 

He called me Rey and gave me a whole new world, 

with forever friends, forever memories, 

and a forever love. 

 

He knew what the year ahead of us would bring, 

even though the rest of us didn’t want to see it. 

We’ll only be memories soon, 

We’ll only be weekend trips and winter breaks soon enough. 

Like a thrilling movie, with a disappointing end. 

 

Even still, our high school nights gave us unparalleled memories. 

Driving with Easton is like a Friday night that I get to have for the rest of my life.