For the Love of stawberries

This whole week, we have been discussing and watching a video about Class in America, which, as I believe it should, has made me start thinking about my own class in relationship to the rest of american society. And I realized: I don't know where I fit in. I think this is because, though all we've talked about is class, the video this week has failed to actually explain what class is. What makes someone in a different class? Is it money? Is it truly solely determined by what you say and how you act? Because of my own personal struggle with my place in a society where class is important, I've talked to several other people about how they define class, and what they think about it. The topic is so confusing, and difficult, I believe, because it's NOT a caste system. There is no definitive one thing that sticks you in a class. One of the people I talked to, was my mother. She is a priest and is very invested and interested in social class. When I told her about my own struggle with where I fit, she said, "Well, one of my friends once said, 'class is contacts.' It's who you know." Meaning,  If you are a peasant that saves the kings daughter, and befriend the royal family, It will seriously raise your class status, regardless of personal merit. I think that this is fairly accurate. You can be poor and loved and kind and know the right people and because of who you know be invited to the right parties and know the right people: or, you can be rich and hated and no one will return your phone calls. Personally, I think It's a combination of this, and comfort. Even if you know the right people, are fabulously wealthy, and well liked, but feel more comfortable living in a small house and going to block parties rather than a mansion in the hamptons, your not exactly in the class with those that are the opposite. You can't "fit in" with people you are uncomfortable and anxious being around. I believe class is more about who YOU FEEL you belong with, and having a way to get in to that group of people more than it is just having or working your way to financial success. And I think this is what confuses me.

Let me explain.

When I was young, I went to Pungo Virginia every week. This is it's one stoplight. For the entire town.

And every summer, The highlight was going strawberry picking and the Strawberry festival that accompanied strawberry season.

I listened to Country music, and have a distinct memory of feeding watermelon rinds to horses and square dancing. I had baggy clothes and short hair, and rode around on the kids vision of ATVs up and down the street. While watching the movie this week, I realized, I could still fit in to that rural, almost lower class life style of the rednecks and people living in rural areas down south. I still feel comfortable there, and still slip into a slight southern accent every now and then. I didn't live ever in a lower class style of life economically, but I was around it enough that I'm comfortable there.

Then I lived in Boston, where there were Projects (the government funded housing developments) that a lot of my classmates lived in. I lived in a 900 sq. foot apartment, and was a honest, city girl, and blended right in with the middle to upper middle class mixed with working class radical liberal city life.

And now I live in Barrington: the upper crust. One of the wealthiest cities in America. And I'm still in my comfort zone. I can "compete" socially with my significantly wealthier counterparts.

So, where do I fit? Perhaps, it is possible to transcend class based on your own personality. Perhaps it truly is more who you are than what you have. All you need is a way to get there.