#0044 | today lacks context

Submitted by Anonymous in Dallas, Texas.

Here’s Anonymous’ story:

“During the early years of my childhood, my family lived out in what might politely be referred to as “the country.”  In truth, it was an area that had not seen any progress, growth, or renovation in about five decades so there were a lot of dilapidated buildings and the landscape was dotted with old pick-up trucks slowly rusting away.

As a child I was not especially attuned to these details, but when I visit my parents and they show me photographs from that time I am always amazed by what I see.  I imagine our neighborhood was some strange backwater parallel to modern inner city life, like a ghetto with lots of fresh air and open spaces.

It is really strange for me to think about that now; I feel pulled in two different directions.  On the one hand, this is the place where I grew up and was raised, so I cannot help but feel a certain fondness for that town.  At the same time, it feels so far removed from who I am now that I cannot imagine ever living someplace like that again.”