Prompt #1: Ray expresses appreciation and disdain for her heritage, in particular, aspects of the geographic location and the poverty in which she has grown up. Ray also expresses a necessity in "turning back to embrace the past" (32). When you are older and look back at your time growing up here in Athens (or for new folks in another region) what aspects of your "ecosystem" do you think you will remember fondly? With distaste? Can you pinpoint any one part of your current ecosystem that you believe may shape your future? Do you think you will want to "turn back and embrace" Athens later in life?
(In response to Prompt #1)
When I am older and looking back at my childhood and my ecosystem here in Athens, I believe I will miss many aspects of this town that only it can provide. For example, I will miss growing up in a college town. Although it has its negative sides, such as the traffic, crowds, drunk college students, and game days, I am used to it and it makes me feel at home. . Which is why i could never move to a small town. Athens, to me, is the perfect size; Nat as big as a city such as Atlanta, but not as small as the town of Mayberry (Andy Griffith reference). I will also miss all of the small boutiques and restaurants which in my opinion, define Athens. Most of them are local, such as Helix, Clocked, Pitaya, The Grill, and Wuxtry records.
Some of my favorite places to patronage! I think you are right...these businesses are often considered the heart of downtown and define the flavor of this town...in addition to the University of course. Can you see yourself settling here as an adult?
ReplyDeleteWell as much as I love Athens, I deffinetly could not see myself settling here as an adult. When I am older I want to live somewhere exciting, and since I have grown up here, to me nothing is really new or exciting.
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