Swim, run, pack, study. This is basically been my life for the past few weeks. Getting into shape for ODS, packing stuff up for my move, and studying for the NCLEX, which I am sooo nervous about its not even funny.
So last night I was at the Brentwood High School track, and I did my run and noticed that the sunset was beautiful as it lowered behind the middle school. So, I went to the top of the bleachers and watched as it set, cooling off from my run.
It was weird. That track represents a lot to me. In middle school gym class, when we had to wear those awful uniforms, and everything was awkward, and I HATED running our half mile everyday. There were the immature boys that got on my nerves, and then it seems there was always one cute one that I was nervous around. It reminds me of when I ran track, and how I never felt like I was as good as or as pretty as the other, slim girls on the team. It reminds me of middle school football games on Thursday nights, when I would walk around with my two good friends, trying to be "cool" and subtly capture the attention of the BMS football player whom I had had a crush on for a long time. Feelings of frustration and sadness related to the pains of being a new adolescent. I think we all understand what that is like.
Then, it fast-forwards me to high school. Primarily band. All the sweltering hot practices when the color guard would go to the field while the band stayed on the parking lot for practice, being yelled at for stupid crap, sunburns, tears, ants, lukewarm water. The excitement of football games and marching in on the track, goofing off with friends during the third quarter, and then going to Sonic afterwards for lack of anything better to do.
Brentwood, you are a bubble, that is for sure. The rest of the world is not made up of well-manicured lawns and Bradford Pear trees dotting the parking lots. The rest of the world doesn't give its children brand-new vehicles when they turn sixteen, or live in houses that are 5 times larger than the family living there. The rest of the world is not made up of the endless supply of yuppies who zip about trying to keep up with the Joneses in their BMWs, Mercedes, and Audi SUVs. Brentwood, you are a bad place to grow up as far as giving kids an understanding of life, and that fact that hardships are very real. Struggle in Brentwood is swept under the carpet, away from the prying eyes of neighbors.
But, although all the above is true, I am glad I grew up here. Not just moved here from somewhere elses, but lived here for 22 years. My pre-college life represents an innocence, and sweetness to life that I will probably never have again. Things were simple, problems were not really existent. As I prepare to transition from a resident of the area to an out of state guest of the area, I find that even when I am gone, Tennessee is in my blood. The hills, the hot, humid weather, the sweet tea and drawling accents (that are almost all gone in this area because of so many out-of-staters) have a beauty that you simply cannot get anywhere else in this county. New York? Keep it. California, with its beaches and mountains? Keep that, too. Nothing beats Tennessee.
Comments (4)
Yes, I will admit that Brentwood is a "bubble," but it is a place where I would like to raise my children. I think the key to raising great children is not exposing them to the harsh realities of life at a young age, but maintaining their innosence and protecting them from harm to a certain extent without spoiling them. Most Brentwood parents have failed to do that, but I think yours did a pretty good job, and I have no complaints about mine. It may be a bubble, but I wouldn't have wanted to spend my high school years anywhere else.
@kcleigh - Yeah girl, me too. This is an awesome place. That at times gets on my nerves. But for the most part, it really was a wonderful place to grow up. Which is why I am going to really miss it!!