I was sitting on an airplane when I realized I was twenty. Twenty years old, that’s all. I was so young, had my whole life in front of me, but felt like I’d already used a good chunk of it up. It’s funny how that works. A teenager no more. A kid no more. I gazed out the airplane window at the earth far below, watched the city of Nashville fade into the clouds, and I inhaled deeply. The air that filled up my lungs tasted like true liberation.
That plane was going to New York City. The plane that I was on four days prior went to Atlanta. The one before that, Salt Lake City. Eugene. Portland. Atlanta. I was temporarily free from the geographical confinements that come with being in school – and I certainly planned to take advantage of that for the next two months. I had just turned 20; so naturally, me and my one large suitcase were on the way to move to the big city.
I wanted this upcoming decade of my life to mirror the U.S. a century ago. The 1920’s: it brought dramatic social and political change, flare and freedom to women, advances in science and technology, and societal growth in every possible direction. The 1920’s were famous. Revolutionary! That decade in history released society of the constraints of tradition. Life didn’t have to be conventional. My 20’s would be unconventional. I was determined to take advantage of my youth.
This blog will serve as a smorgasbord of scholarly projects, personal opinions and experiences, academic papers, book reviews, cultural exposures, my take on current events, and anything else I decide to include. As a principle: if just one post opens the eyes of one reader, I'll be satisfied. An open mind and another's perspective can have serious positive intellectual benefits for us. Like the roaring 20's, I hope I can provide distinctive perspectives, aberrant ideas, and the challenge of social norms. Enjoy the blog!