French New Wave

A boy with ambition.  Ambition to become something.  To go to school, marry young, become a business man and have a normal suburban life.

That was Eric two years ago.  A senior in high school, in the twilight of leaving the sheltered life.

I lived in Utah county, happy valley, under the umbrella that is Mormwood.  I grew up in a somewhat liberal home.  By liberal, I mean my parents trusted me to make my own decisions, not on a political spectrum.  When it came to politics, Glenn Beck was the voice and George Bush was our right and fearless leader.

I was fortunate to have such caring parents.  They weren't your typical caring parents, seeing as they let me be independent.  I never had to rely on them to help me through school, they didn't push me to do things I loathed, what I did with my life was my business, not the family's.  To me, that means they trusted me. Respected me. Loved me.

Still, I was caught up in a Mormon community.  A Utah Mormon community.  A community that is so focused on brand names and keeping up with the Bastians.  If you weren't in, you were out.  There was no middle ground. No welcoming spirit that you find with most Mormon members.  But alas, I was ignorant and unaware.  I have lived here all of my life, I didn't know better.  It's not as if you catch on to these things while vacationing in a different state or country. You have to live somewhere and get to know the culture and community. Then you know.

Now that I have lived away from home, lived away from the valley, have become semi-independent, I know so much more about the important things life.  It's not money, it's not the fashions and brand names, it's not what religion you live (I mean it is, but who are you to judge what others believe? How will that ever let them know what is real?).  It's about truth.  It's about love.

I believed in the American system, capitalism, conservatism.  Lately, none of that seems to matter. I still respect it, but I don't know if I can believe it.

The hippies said it best: Love, peace and Happiness.

I'm buying my VW bus after my mission.  Spread the love all over the land.