Ohio Girl

I was born in a small town

And I live in a small town

Probably die in a small town

Oh, those small communities

-Mellencamp

There is more to the story of course. I was born in a township-near a small town. In fact, when I was a kid the small town seemed rather large and exciting; all those people living right up close to one another. Then the small town started to feel, well, small-with its lack of Cambodian take-out and over abundance of Republicans.

Just a small town girl, livin’ in a lonely world

She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

-Journey

Actually, I drove a Chevy Cavalier to Cleveland-the farthest big town that still allowed for Ohio Girl status. I lived right up close to people and learned about public transportation and the crack epidemic. I met tons of people I liked-hardly any of them Republicans-and I ate Cambodian take-out with abandon.

Who says you can’t go home

There’s only one place they call me one of their own

Just a hometown boy (girl), born a rolling stone

Who says you can’t go home

-Bon Jovi and that blonde, country chick

And then last week I left the big town. I am living back in that township and working in that small town. I live right up close to cows, horses, and goats. There’s no crack, but plenty of meth and the toothless folks to prove it. I have met people I like-Republican and otherwise. And I am already desperately missing Cambodian take out.

Speaking of Disney-sized guilty pleasures, did anyone see Talladega? That Dega high has had me skipping around all week. I wanted to be there and normally would have been--reveling in peach cobbler and sun-burnt necks and "get-er-done" yelled across the parking lot. Alas, this April it was not to be.

Tony knocked the wind right out of me when he flipped and took that crazy ride upside down in the Busch race. And Truex, Jr. made me misty with his three-fingered, victory salute. On Sunday, I had to borrow some meds from a friend to cope with the rained out race. On Monday, I stayed home from work and watched it.

The constant lead changes--two fast lines of cars leap frogging past one another--gave me butterflies. Jr. broke my heart when he broke his engine. The final laps had me jumping. I just knew Smoke was going to light them up. But then there was Johnson. Where the hell did he come from?! He blew over the start finish line and i threw the remote. 

Heavy sigh. I can't wait for October.