I grew up in a town called Millersville MD. My family and I moved here when I was 12. I call it my home town because in all honesty it's where I experienced the most. It's where my parents still live. It's home.
When describing Millersville, I like to describe it as any suburb. Typical neighborhood pool, Basketball court, baseball fields with a playground next to it, 7-11, a randomly placed dentist office, and a school not too far a way. Typical middle class America.
But in actuality it's so much more that.... much more...
For anyone who knows me I'm a huge nerd, and an even bigger Superman fan! So I always looked at Millersville as my Smallville. Like the lyrics say "where I became a man". It's where I experienced most of my young adult life. Looking back I never understood the concept of a hometown, or the pride that comes with it. I mean to most people it's just a small town outside of Baltimore, but to me it was a tad bit more.
and now a trip down memory lane....
When we moved there in 2001, it was right after 9/11. And I remember being a little boy and noticing the airplanes flying low heading for the airport that wasn't too far away. For the first month until I lost count I had tallied everyone that flew over our house. One of my most fondest memories was on Saturday mornings and my mom would give me and my sisters cash and we'd go down 711 every Saturday morning to get the news paper and we would get our favourite snack of Air heads and slurpies and swing on the swings. If you grew up in Millersville, preferably the Old Mill area, you knew of Tommys, RT's, or Old Mill Cafe. It was a nice little pizza/sub/Italian restaurant When I first moved to the neighborhood it was Tommy's. By the time I was in high school it had become RT's and then in it's final chapter after being bought out it was Old Mill Cafe, but it didn't stand around long. I will only remember it as Tommy's or RT's. I'm not sure how long it had been around before December 2001 when my family moved to the neighborhood, but I'll never forget the pizza curly fries or subs. It made a great local location for a date, or after school meal, or even a post practice meal. I can remember it was a meeting place where sometimes my friends and I would meet up to decide where to go next. I sure do miss that place...
Snow days were the best in my neighborhood. There was a massive hill behind my neighborhood called "eagle's top" And for those of you who grew up in the Old Mill area I'm sure you know all about that. The hill was huge. I remember the first time I went down it against my parents wishes at the age of 12. Sure enough I dragged my little sisters along.
Millersville was where I went from a boy to a man. From Football Games at Barlowe Field with my friends after school, to after to school fights, and reconciliations. Those moments shaped me into the man I am today. Millersville was that Pot that incorporated all the indredients and helped create the recipe for the person I am.
I was lucky enough to grow up where I did. I never thought much on it when growing up about where we lived. IT was just whatever to me. But looking back it's the type of neighborhood I'd love to raise my family in. It was full of hard working Americans. It wasn't a ghetto or some rich gated community, no it was a small town full of everyday people living the American dream.
One thing I remember was football. Man I loved football. Still do. But my friends and I would plan games all through the school day and then meet up at Barlowe field which was the park across the street from my house and play football. The games slowed down atleast for me, when I actually got on the high school team my junior year and everyone started working. But I just wish I could go back and just run around carefree like I used to. Those moments I'll never forget...Growing up and looking back I never really did much until I graduated from high school and my curfew was lifted. Thankfully to the invention of cell phones where all I had to do was call my mom. But it was then I was allowed to really start growing. Whether it was nights out with friends or just hanging out at the park under the stars, it was those moments I hold close to my heart. It was those bonds of friendships that help me get through tough times in my own life... breakups, school problems, family issues. IT was those bonds of friendships that prevailed. No matter how far apart we grow I wont forget those friends. I still keep in touch with most of them, and for a few we're still very close thankfully. But in life you and your childhood friends tend to grow apart it's apart of life. I've experienced it as have a lot of people.
I went to the typical American High school. I don't think there was one thing out of place at all about it. Like it was just typical. Im not going to lie for the most part I actually like it, MY dad would come into my room and wake me up at 6am like clock work. I'd try to debate him on reasons why it was better for me to stay in bed and not go to school, but I never won that battle. Around 630 my friends and I would walk to school usually stopping by 7-11 first. Once at school the rest was history.
Wasn't too big of a fan of Math, not too fond of Bio or Chem, big fan of Astronomy and English, (GO FIGURE) and definitely loved music and of course the sports. But it was school. 4 years at Old Mill High helped me grow. I was on the wrestling team, and Football Team, and also apart of the Vocal Ensemble.
Sports like Football, and wrestling turned boys into men, through the guidance of coaches. Some of who I still keep in contact with. But nonetheless It gave me a sense of discipline. Whether it was cutting weight for a wrestling meet, or running that extra mile, or learning the correct way to tackle someone, everything was centered around obedience and discipline. But it all culminated into one moment, and for Football that was friday night. Nothing was better than friday. Nothing beat the feeling of running through that banner with my teammates onto a field surrounded by thousands of fans. And right after the game, because usually I either worked the next morning at my part time job, or because I was just too darn tired, I'd pig out on food my parents had cooked for the game and then I'd sleep.
There was nothing better than looking in the crowd and finding my family. My family traveled wherever we went. Even as far as Damascus high in near below 0 conditions. My parents were just so supportive of me and everything that was on the up and up I did. They worked hard, and blessed me with everything I needed. I aspire to become parents like them some day. But looking into the crowd seeing my mom wearing usually the alternate of the jersey I'd be wearing was just amazing. And the playing time I got, I could swear when I'm down in the 3 point stance I could hear her voice over everyone. I could hear her cheer. Not that she probably understood as much about football as she does now, but she just cheered for me. That love kept me going.
Music on the other hand helped me keep my individuality. Music helped keep the artistic side of my mind fluent and working. For 4 years of high school I was in choir. The last two years was apart of the Vocal Ensemble. I loved music and I loved singing. In fact I still sing, in my Church choir. Music helped me keep my individuality and helped me realize there was time in this world for art. IT reinforced my writing endeavors and just helped keep me balance. Heck I even almost tried out for a musical once, but couldn't because of work. Those choir concerts were something else!! We'd practice in class for 2-3 times a week, and we'd just prep and prep for the moment we'd be on stage in front of our families and admirers for to sing our hearts out. Music without a doubt encouraged and emphasized that same discipline football did. I was never one for playing an instrument but I truly do love to sing.
So after graduation I did what a lot of my friends did and go to Community college, keeping me inside of my personal Smallville. But those three years helped me grow an extreme amount. I went to real life stuff that I had never been introduced to as a kid. I was able to make decisions that would shape the rest of my life and come to terms with the ways of the world.
There are times I miss the cheers from weekend softball down at Barlowe, or the sounds of the start gun going off at the swim club for swim team.I miss how in high school there was those abandoned homes and we used to explore them.
I could go on for days recalling the experiences, memories and adventures of my youth in my personal Smallville known as Millersville. If you don't believe me just ask my friends who listen to me talk.
I don't know where my metropolis will be. I don't know what city or town I'll raise a family in, but I know no matter where I go, no matter what oceans I cross, Millersville MD will always be my home. Old bay will always be a favorite on my fries, Ravens will always be my team, I bleed red white and blue for my Old Mill Patriots, and it's crabs over lobster everyday. I know my goals are going to take just about anywhere around the globe, but as I said Millersville Maryland, the quaint suburb of Baltimore will always be my home, it'll always be my Smallville...
The Artist-
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