In the plant world, roots are the very givers of life to the plant above. No matter how big the plant, whether a towering tree or a single blade of grass, all are dependent on its roots for survival. That is, the roots below give what we see above ground its true character. This process is no different for people, as where we come from ultimately lives on in our character and personalities forever, no matter how subtle. I don’t believe that one has the capacity to forget where they came from, no matter how fond we are of it. I grew up in a small town much like the one that I reside in today, minus the university and 15,000 college kids. It is plain to see that I am somewhat attracted to the rural style of living. One could analyze the demographics of the town and depending on your tastes, it maybe right for you: quiet, mediocre, semi-rural, older population, etc…

To this day much of the town is not developed, or what I call “the country,” as most of it consists of farmland. But given its location in the state, much of that farmland is being converted into housing developments, i.e. the suburbs of Chicago. Any idiot can see that the suburbs are making their way south and there is nothing to stop the influx of “city-dwellers” into the area. The very farmland that I once roamed with my grandfather years ago is now covered in middle income houses with those from the city inhabiting them. Honestly, I think people from the city bitch a lot, but that really is not my problem, yet. Do I like what I see in this regard? To be honest, half of me does not mind, while the other half of me does. The housing development is a euphemism for how my life has essentially evolved over the years.

I’ve never been one who has been afraid to get his hands dirty, as that is how countless generations of my family have made a living. It is said that those who come home dirtier than hell are some of the happiest people and I agree with that generalization. I cannot explain the sense of satisfaction that one gets from doing manual labor. My father still comes home covered in mud and such nightly and he has not once complained about it, at least that I can recall. That is, he has worked his ass off ever day of his life. As I grew older, I use to think that manual labor and farming were degrading jobs, but I’ve experienced more of the world and the people in it. Frankly, I think that people who sit in offices all day and think of themselves as high and mighty do not know the true meaning of work, much less the true meaning of what goes on around them. I term these assholes, ignoramuses.

On the other hand, I’ve also experienced the more affluent side of life. I have a rather large extended family and needless to say, some of them are filthy rich. It seems as if they are trying to “groom” me for that life. I’m sure that their chosen lifestyle works for them, but it has never really clicked with me. The people that I have met at school that come from “affluent” lives seem to have the same aspirations as their parents, at least in this regard. It is as if their lives are centered on money and nothing else; maintaining the “uppity” lifestyle that they have created for themselves. I don’t say this out of jealousy, as I’ve always got what I’ve wanted in life; I’ve lived rather comfortably and probably could for a long time, if I asked for it. In this regard then, I can play both sides of the field; I can fit in with those who bail hay for a living or with billionaire CEO’s at the local country club. Right now I am trying to find the happy median between these different polarities of life.

If one even remotely knows me, they’ll tell you that I hate money; I hate thinking about it and I hate dealing with it. Yes, money makes the world go round, I am not naïve, but it seems to turn people into something that they are not; it seems to take away from their humanity. Most find it insane that I find myself in a load of debt due to college. In reality, I didn’t need to take out loans to pay for it, but I chose to. It was something that I wanted to do on my own; to escape the “bonds” of money; to be me. I despise being reliant on others, even my parents in any situation. If you owe someone money, it is as if they are able to control your life and I really don’t operate like that. An education is indeed a major investment and it is an investment that I want to say that I did in my own regard, not under the guise of “financial backers.” That to me is the prime example of my roots; you work your ass off to obtain something, not have someone give it to you. There are those out there that think the opposite and that is fine; it’s all subjective. In a way though, it is the best example of really getting your hands dirty and I love every aspect of it. Yes, I’m going to college to make money, but I don’t want to be filthy rich; I don’t want to be poor either; I simply want to be comfortable in my own way.