Finding Home by demani butler Moving from state to state was nothing new for me, but I knew once I landed in Mount Washington, something was different. Since I was born, both my mom and dad were active military members up until I was 10. Living in a military family, staying in one spot for a year was not ideal. Since the age of 1, I’ve moved around the country a total of six times and moved to Mount Washington when I was seven years old. I had no friends, no knowledge about the town and no confidence. One of the first things I noticed was that my family and I were one of the very few African-American people around. At first, it was uncomfortable and at times it felt lonely. Over time, I realized that Mount Washington was so much more than the bland town that I thought it was. Going to Old Mill for elementary school, I would hear kids talk about how they have seven cousins in the school, or that a teacher was their aunt. I would hear them say that they have relatives all over the county. In those times, I realized that this town was way smaller than I thought. Everyone was family or family friends. In past places I have lived, there were never town gatherings, fairs or town traditions. When I arrived here, everyone would ask, “are you going to the spring festival?” or “are you going to watch them turn the lights on at Light Up Mount Washington?” I thought it sounded so fun to be able to see all my classmates and friends outside of school. Slowly, I am realizing that even though I have lived in big towns, such as Chicago, with plenty of things to do and many new people there everyday, it does not compete with a small hometown where everyone can drive 30 seconds to anyone’s house. Small towns show you the importance of community. In the nine years that I have been here, many buildings have come and gone. Teenagers and younger kids are constantly losing their “hangout spots.” If my parents were still in the military, we’d be deployed by now and I would not have experienced those changes. But since they aren’t, I have gotten to see how everyone copes with that. I see many house parties and cookouts, people walking at the parks and racing big trucks because of it. It’s unique and not basic. Mount Washington is by far the most homegrown town I’ve gotten to experience. It allowed me to adjust into one home. Although it took time to love, I feel perfectly happy here. Turning corners and seeing people I know, hearing trucks from miles away, going to grocery stores and running into teachers and classmates, seeing the community come together in times of need, is what Mount Washington is really about.
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These are the places Butler has lived over the past 16 years. “It is better to travel well than to arrive.,” said Butler. Graphic: Katey Goins
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