Where you have been, in light of where you're going. . .

An audacious, spirited boy stepped proudly upon his Fisher Price tri-cycle and without cue or hesitation confidently and courageously peddled as fast as his feet would allow.  Straight down the ol’ dirt road, he road faster and faster down the hillside; nearly a quarter of a mile a way.  Suddenly coming to a hasty stop, the young boy began to realize how escaping seemed like the best idea at the age of six; finding his parents once again pulling up beside him to stop him in his tracks.  So, again, for the uncountable time, he rode back up the hill awaiting the next time he would attempt his flee from home.

 

To this very day, my mom tells people the stories about when I tried to escape on the tri-cycle.  She has always said, “You have had the spirit to go and see the world.”  Little did I know or realize, but my childhood ‘get aways’ were merely a reflection of my adventurous spirit, and daring personality waiting to see the world. 

June 13, 2003 marked a new beginning and chapter in my life; my high school graduation.  For as long I can remember, I have always wanted to live out my independent nature, and move away from my home, and the town of which I had spent every moment of my life.  You see, Mariposa is a place where very few ever leave; contributing to a lack of education, cultured spirit, and for some, very close-minded views of the world.  I was afraid that I would get sucked into this ‘easy-way-out’ mentality, and never see anything beyond my county lines.  I just knew if I never left at that moment, then I never would any time thereafter.

Since my departure from Mariposa, I have lived in Sacramento and now Chico for nearly three years.  What is interesting however, that even though I yearned for so long to leave my hometown; I now realize how much of it I do miss.  We are exact blueprints and model of our homes.  Although I have ventured to different countries and nearly every state in the US, there are still essential characteristics that keep me grounded and hold me accountable to stay true to myself.  Leaving your hometown and your place of belonging is what allows you to appreciate the world around you.  You cannot, and will not love and understand where you have come from until you see what else is out there.

Whether it is the occasional drop in for the holidays, stopping by for the county fair and homecoming, I still make my way back to Mariposa throughout the year.  With every trip home, I always leave with the satisfaction of where I am in life, but also with a sense of gratification for the place I will always call home. As I continue to peddle my way to new adventures and expeditions in life, I know that one day I will return to the dirt road that will lead me back home to a place of comfort and contentment.  I constantly soar towards the unknown; having a home to come back to is what keeps me in the sky.