Picture a tranquil sea of gold unfolding before your eyes as the sun begins to
bathe the earth with its light. Fields of corn on every side go on for miles, marked only
by gravel roads and power lines. A long, gravel driveway leads to an old farmhouse and
behind it down the road a ways, railroad tracks make a barrier between this house and all
the other ones within the nearest mile. This was a familiar scene to me as I was growing
up in the farmlands of Bradford, Illinois where I was free to grow with no limitations
and within the close embrace of my family.
Every day I spent in these open spaces where the air was clear and unpolluted. As
I grew, I developed a free-spirit that could live in harmony with the environment in
which I found myself, matching it in perfect rhythm. There were no fences around me and
none within me that could cage in my mind. I built my mind and spirit on the nourishment
of boundless energy. Now, if there is ever a time when I feel that I do not have
sufficient skill to make it through a task, all I have to do is think back on when there
were endless possibilities and plenty of space to be filled. It reminds me that there are
no limitations on the mind.
Living and maturing in the area that I did helped me to become very independent.
There were very few children or any people for that matter, therefore limiting my
interaction with others. The nearest city with real entertainment was an hour drive away
so I learned to be my own entertainer. Through self interaction, from making up games to
playing with toys on my own, I developed a more pronounced imagination and sense of
independence. It taught me to rely on my own abilities and talents as well as giving me
the confidence to know that I am both capable and resourceful.
Another result of having few close neighbors and nothing to do is a closer bond
with my family. When my dad came home from work he would come outside to kick a soccer
ball around with us before dinner. Friday nights were family game nights because it was
very rare for anyone of us to have other plans. I can still relive in my minds eye, the
water fights in the backyard with my mother during the summer after a long, hot day of
working in the garden under the sun. Each of these little memories and moments shared
made me value family time and helped me understand each member more.
The neighborhood where I spent my childhood created and molded me in a way that
has been very beneficial to me through the years. I learned to keep my options open or,
to not limit myself or my mind. I also discovered how to learn on my own, thinking for
myself. Family remains a very important part of my life, making sure I spend time with
them and valuing the meaning of familial unity. That old background has been permanently
stamped on the chalkboard in my mind so I can visit it at any time.
