People make the place.

I always find it strangely profound when some large part of humanity or the human psyche can be turned into a few word phrase. As much as we try to deny it, I think this phrase really holds true.

Let's try something. Think about your hometown and your childhood. Imagine trying to tell someone about your life up to this point. When you reminisce, what comes to mind?

For me, my thoughts jump to my friends that I grew up alongside. There are also mentors, teachers, and of course family members that immediately come to mind when I think about growing up, or how I became a certain way. I'm sure when you were thinking about your hometown, you were thinking about people close to you. School becomes a collection of friends, classmates and teachers. When people describe a class, they usually open with "the teacher is really strict" or "the discussions are really nice because we can talk as a small group"... from what I've heard at least.

During a number of conversations, I've told people that my hometown is a great place to grow up, and looking back, that response is definitely because of the teachers, mentors, and community members that helped me get involved and treated me as a person, even if I was only in a single-digit grade.

Coming back home during the summers seems to feel different each summer. Even though my high school class would have only graduated from college last May (some earlier, some later of course), the town just feels different because people are dispersing for jobs, education, volunteer work, or to simply start a new life. I've only been home for a week, but I've found myself walking around town thinking back to memories of MusiCamp or the Playhouse and it always came back to the people I worked/played/lived with at the time. With people starting up new chapters in life, places that were my "home away from home away from home" are now just buildings. The places are still operating, but with new faces.

This of course isn't a new feeling because we had people going all over as soon as our class graduated high school. Plus, with Facebook and the other 27 ways to keep in touch with people it's easier now than ever to spend time with friends and family. I just don't think a Facebook chat will ever be the same as coffee with someone at a cafe down the street or going to the lakefront park as a group of friends during the 4th of July fair.

I also think that the reverse of the phrase is true: The places make the person. I definitely think that the places I've been have shaped me into who I am today. Living in a small town in northern Minnesota has made me appreciate the balance between humanity and nature, while going to school in the metropolis of Minneapolis helped me what is possible when minds are able to co-exist where there are so many resources available to them.

I don't want this to come off as "oh, Matt is just really bored" or "Matt just can't wait to get back into a crowded res hall again". This is just something I was thinking about as I walked through town tonight. Since my personality/behaviors/humor/etc are influenced by the people and places around me, I think that (to be blunt) I should be thanking people. There are many of you out there who helped make extraordinary things possible and credit should be given where credit is due.

I have seen amazing things happen over my lifetime so far and I'm excited to see what is to come. There are some of you that I was really close to, but now that isn't the case. Even though we may not have talked in years, I just want you to know that you are still appreciated to this day.

Well, I guess I did have something to write about after all. Funny how things can just come to mind on an otherwise long and rainy day...