Bye Cheney
The first day I lived in Cheney, Washington, I was extremely nervous. Not because the area is at all threatening, but because it was the first time I was on my own. The first night I slept in my dorm room at EWU, I stayed awake all night. Every person I heard walking down the hallway convinced me they would somehow barge into my room. While I was perfectly safe, I didn't feel at all comforted after being used to my dad locking all the doors, checking on the house, and staying up late watching TV in our living room every night. I felt like a little kid again wanting my mom and dad, and it felt silly.
Eventually, I got over feeling unsafe. In fact it happened rather quickly when I realized this tiny town was more asleep than dangerous. Of course, as a fairly vulnerable girl, I am constantly on my feet, but Cheney slowly started to feel a place I knew very well. I began to know about the best places to get a cup of coffee (The Mason Jar), the best place to grab dinner (Rokkos), and all the nearby grocery stores. Cheney didn't have much, but I liked knowing that this little place was becoming my home.
If you read my last blog post, you know I'll be transferring to the University of Nevada, Reno in July. While I have explained briefly why I made this decision, I don't leave EWU without any doubts in my mind, only memories that make me sad to leave. I know its time for me to leave a place I have outgrown. I felt deeply entrapped in its loneliness, and constantly wanted to be somewhere else. College moves quickly, and if you aren't on your game all the time, the stress can eat you alive. I love Cheney and I always will, but at times this town really did swallow me up. So, while I have made the difficult decision to leave Cheney without any plans of coming back, I want to express my gratitude for the simple pleasures this town has provided.
Cheney has beautiful sunsets that paint the entire sky in red and orange. I have found myself just sitting to stare out the window at vibrant color. The hills that surround the town are either deep green in the summer, yellowish in the fall, and blanketed with white snow in the winter. Some fields even have acres of sunflowers if you catch them in season. Cheney has friendly people who love to wave as you pass by. There are monstrous pine trees everywhere and if you are up on a high enough hill, you can see the top of these trees for miles. Cheney, loves EWU. Fans crowd the stadiums and drive by the campus with flags flying high and stickers of the school logo on their cars. It has farmland with roads that can satisfy the longest runs.
These are a few things that will make me sad when I think about Cheney, but the saddest part will be the people I am leaving behind. The faces of dear friends who have laughed with me, cried with me, celebrated with me, and explored this area with me. A team of genuine people, coaches and staff that supported me, and amazing people that fell into my lap at the best time. I grew up with these people and as a result, I won't be leaving Cheney as the same person I was when I moved in. I am leaving as someone who is proud of my struggles just as much as I am proud of my success. I am proud of my friends who have done the same. I am lucky to have moved here to discover myself in so many different ways.
On the hardest days, I hated Cheney. I despised what it was doing to me and the energy it was draining. I blamed it for my struggles, my sadness and everything I couldn't have because I lived here. But, I know none of that is true because when I look back at Cheney, past the pain and hardship this year, I see my first home away from home. I see fields of green and skies of orange. I see the faces of people I love and some of the best memories of my life. So, I write this to thank Cheney for everything. For giving me a place to be me, and for helping me grow. For The Mason Jar, my favorite spot to have breakfast after a crazy night. For the hills that made me stronger on Betz Road. For the dorms that made me appreciate my own space. For the trains that will forever echo in my mind, even if they woke me up in the middle of the night. For everything, good and bad. I deserve to leave Cheney with a clear mind, and Cheney deserves it too.
I don't know if I will ever return to this small town. I don't know if I will ever be in this area again. Its a feeling of mixed emotions. But, while I may never return, there will be a part of me that still lives here. I want to thank all the people who have made this place feel like home. I am extremely lucky to have so many great people in my life. I am also lucky that Cheney is the place our paths crossed. This town will forever be in my heart.
