THE HOMELAND – BFF 22

“I was born in a small town called Mountview, Tennessee right in the middle of Stanton County. The town is covered in acres of farmland, hilltops, and trees as far as the eye can see. There’s nothing about this town that’s flat. It’s a small country town where everybody knows everyone else’s business, and that’s where I’ve lived ever since birth. Mom always told me it was a great place to raise children—a safe place—and that’s why she refused to leave. The town’s definition of excitement is a dead cow in the middle of the street putting a halt to traffic. Others may see this as an annoyance, but not the citizens of Mountview.” ~The November Calling, Snipet of Chapter 1

The idea behind my story has nothing to do with where I grew up, other than the town the story takes place in is Manchester, Tennessee which was renamed as Mountview to add a more fictional aspect to the novel. Stanton County, to my knowledge, is also nonexistent in Tennessee. But, Manchester is rolling hills, acres of farmland, and plenty lumber. It’s a small town, and definitely an area where I would love to raise my children throughout their lives.

I’m not so sure Manchester itself actually had a large impact on my life. I think it’s more so the people in it that impacted my adult life. It’s definitely a definition of southern hospitality which cannot be said for some of the surrounding areas. This is the place where my family is—or at least the majority of them. It’s like the center of every family function. I was raised to be family oriented.

As lovely as it is, Manchester hasn’t always been a town I wanted to be in forever. When I was younger, one of my first goals was to get out of this town and do something big with my life. As I’ve grown, I realize that what I meant by ‘something big’ has changed over time. My ‘something big’ exists here in this tiny town with too many cows. If not here in particular, then a town very similar to it, if that exists. A town this size is where I want to raise a family—where I want to grow old. It’s where I want to see my grandchildren and great grandchildren raised. It’s home.

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The BFF 22 inspiration:

Where I Come From it's .....
Tell us about the place you grew up and the memories that you carry with you about the place. What impact did the place have on your adult life and the person you are today.