Leaving the Past

People leave places and memories for so many reasons, some still owning the old and afraid to fully let go of it. Others leave and never need or want to look back.

American sociologist and Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley Robert N. Bellah stated, “Leaving home in a sense involves a kind of second birth in which we give birth to ourselves."

When you leave something or someone / they leave you and you held tightly to it for decades, you never fully leave and it is always hidden in your grasp... You just quit voicing the memory and that is okay to have that history - just don't live there.

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Photo: Abandoned 55 miles from Nashville in the countryside of Bedford County, TN

The simple things

He goes by the nickname of John John and lives in the small town of Shelbyville, TN. He was standing near the gas pumps when he approached me, “Sir, could you buy me a Coca-Cola?” I smiled and said, “Sure.” Then, “Could you buy me something to eat?” I laughed and responded, “Sure, pick out something here.”

The gas station clerk looked at the man and said, “John John, we are out of your favorite popcorn.” She told me, “He likes the cheddar popcorn, but we run out quick because he buys all of them when we get them in.” Apparently, the small filling station only gets five of the cheddar popcorn’s in as John John seems to be the only customer for them.

While paying, “Sir, could you take me to Burger King and get me a burger?” I chuckled, “How about this candy bar and chips?” He quietly said, “Okay, that is good.”

He then walked away into the darkness. He lives in a small trailer park in Shelbyville and hangs out at the filling station when not at work.

"What's fulfilling is being happy and being able to help other people. The simple things." - James Arthur, British singer-songwriter

“What’s fulfilling is being happy and being able to help other people. The simple things.”

— James Arthur, British singer-songwriter