I grew up in Eastmont, a small niche of homes connected by the families we belong to and the community we live and or lived in. Our families became intertwined and tied to Eastmont. My immediate family alone owns four of the houses-my parents, my zia and zio, my sister and family, and my brother-like cousin Brian and his family. The moments we have experienced as gang, resembled lifetimes before we even aged. I remember so many moments where the generations of families in Eastmont came together, always for a good laugh; even in the worst of times we found ways to laugh. I hung around the older generation of Eastmont, and I landed on the periphery between them and my own generation. In reality though, we are really just one large group of people from Eastmont When I think of Eastmont, I think of all of them, my family, everyone I grew up with, everyone who group up before me, the youth growing up now.
We are such a mixture of people tied to a single place, nestled on a hill. Nestled in the woods are secret train tracks, trains whistle in the middle of the night, and I fall asleep to them in my room. In this neighborhood, tucked away are a pattern of houses- some of them with their backs to the trains’ woods or some other woods and others, like my own, backs facing backs of other houses. Next door, I always have my Sun, who is very dear to me. Like Sun, the other people who grew with me in Eastmont are dear. My Zia, another especially dear example, hosts our family and people who have become extended family at her home on the 4th. I've been a picky eater ever since I can remember, and Zia makes sure that there is some sort of vegetable I can eat without cheese. My zia helps make the 4th of July one of my favorite holidays. While I'm at Zia's there is already a lot of people from Eastmont celebrating at Eastmont Park. Every 4th Lisa L. rents out our park for a huge 4th of July party. We eat, drink, and have fun. When I say fun, I mean we have a lot of fun. We always have a ridiculous kickball game, while children throw water balloons at each other. Silly dances break out and we find so many reasons to laugh until it's time to see fireworks. Then everyone crowds together on Hart street, to see a firework spectacle shoot high in the sky from Monroeville Mall. Today since I can’t take part in 4th of July in Eastmont, I decided to write a blog for Eastmont. See it’s not the place that really makes us, it is us that makes the place. As a group we are strong, funny, interesting, intelligent, goofy, and most importantly real. Every person I know from Eastmont is tough and for real. That is what I love most about my genuine Eastmont people...we are authentic. We have been through a lot together, and those experiences are what make us Eastmont. We embrace who we are instead of dining with denial. We get together on the 4th of July to stay connected. On this 4th of July I want to connect with Eastmont, and emphasize the importance of community. My neighborhood prioritizes Eastmont as a group of people joined always by where we grew up. Our losses, our rough times, and even our mistakes solidified us as a group. However, what keeps us together is really the laughs and how much we care about each other. I miss you all and most especially on the 4th of July. Eastmont is like air, food, and sleep- I wouldn’t be here or be me without Eastmont. Community is important and I hope on this 4th of July in 2019, we can stick together and understand that community is everything. Not a single person is the same in Eastmont, and that’s true for everyone in the world. I know that when a group decides to become a community, it leaves a positive impact on people, the world, and especially children. The more we connect the more we love, which makes our lives better. As a community, we can face and overcome any obstacle in our paths. Every 4th we get together to stay connected despite difference and distance. Eastmont is a great teacher. Happy 4th to my Eastmonters and communities all of over. Peace, Love, and Happiness Jess
1 Comment
Jonathan L
7/5/2019 10:08:37 am
Awesome!
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