Born and raised in Tennessee, I have always wanted hills and trees. I trust land like that. Flat land and barren desert threaten my sense of understanding. I cannot get my bearings. I have no point of reference, and can’t wait to leave. But around hills, trees, streams, and valleys, I want to linger. This part of California does that to me. I want to know every streambed and hill. I want to climb into the rafters of every barn. But I think it must matter where you were raised. I have friends from the Mississippi Delta who can’t stand land like this. Because they can’t see the sky behind the
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