Taste of Dirt Brianna Lynn Heisey University of Texas at El Paso, [email protected]
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University of Texas at El Paso DigitalCommons@UTEP Open Access Theses & Dissertations 2009-01-01 Taste of Dirt Brianna Lynn Heisey University of Texas at El Paso, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.utep.edu/open_etd Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, and the Modern Literature Commons Recommended Citation Heisey, Brianna Lynn, "Taste of Dirt" (2009). Open Access Theses & Dissertations. 279. https://digitalcommons.utep.edu/open_etd/279 This is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UTEP. It has been accepted for inclusion in Open Access Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UTEP. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TASTE OF DIRT BRIANNA HEISEY Department of Creative Writing APPROVED: __________________________________ Daniel Chacon, M.F.A, Chair __________________________________ Luis Arturo Ramos, M.F.A. _________________________________ Jonna Perrillo, Ph. D. ______________________________ Patricia D. Witherspoon, Ph. D. Dean of the Graduate School Copyright © by Brianna L. Heisey May 2009 Dedication To my Mom and Dad, for raising me wild TASTE OF DIRT by BRIANNA L. HEISEY THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at El Paso in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF FINE ARTS Department of Creative Writing THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO May 2009 Acknowledgements I’d like to thank all of my family for the heaps of love, support, and laughter they have continuously piled on. Dad, for always Daddying me, even when my head became as thick as yours. Mom, for being the best Mommy ever, ever and helping to soften the sharp edges of everyone around you (Mom and Dad, the list is just too long!). Grandpa, you are a writer (amongst other things). I watched you pull together extensive research, digging deep into the roots of our family tree, creating the most beautiful, violet hued book ever seen. The story of You and Grandma = true love and then the story of your children and your children’s children, and so on. Thank you for letting me work with you. You truly inspire me! Grandma B., thank you for your amazing Pepper skills and your “You feel something slipping?”‐isms, your winter visits are cherished and the memories of your grand farm (i.e. you saving me from the mama cow and slipping in a giant cow pie, Grandpa hollerin’ out ‘Cabaz! Cabaz,’ and the cattle stampede, my Mother teaching me to ride your horses, the tea set I remember playing with in the old cupboards, and for all those wonderful strawberries you let me eat when I was still in diapers. I love strawberries!). Colin and Aidan, what can I say? Without you guys, I wouldn’t have a Bubba or a Butch in my life, or fond memories of screwdrivers flying past my head, exciting games of indoor tag in socks(Quick), forts, tree climbing, landing my first punch, taking my first punch, blood, sweat, tears, sledding, skiing, baseball, softball, the SOB batting cage, Dennis Weaver, Lincoln Park, the bus stop, Immaculate Heart crazies, road trip rosary dialogues, cabin trips, “Louie Louie,” and MUSIC!!! The love of music that you both bring into my life in your own special way. You rock, mis hermanos favoritos. Jessie, my dearest sister, you probably rock the hardest. I’m so happy my brother found you! You amaze me and really, I always knew you were one of us! Ever since that night in Phoenix ten years ago peeing in the parking lot outside the porn shop, waiting for the Pat Green concert to start. Ah (big sigh), good times. Owen and Sutton, someday when you can read you will know that I thanked you for being so clever, wise, beautiful and completely comprised of love! Finally, to Shoot‐a‐Bean v the dog, for being the wildest, most loyal companion in the world, as well as a really great foot warmer on the shockingly frigid El Paso winter nights. To my best friend Paula Baby Head Swenski, you are always there for me as we both stumble our way blindly through the annals of life, connected by the worn plastic of our cell phones and the sensitivity of our hearts. To my other best friends and lovely ladies, Annette, Kalie, Darla, Kimmy, Barb, Sasha, and Christine, I treasure you! To Dave and Kelly Page, thanks for being at my graduation, as well as every other big event in my life! I love you guys! And Jonathon, thank you for all the crazy help! To my peers and El Paso soul mates, Vero, Jessica, Trent, Jose (the O.G.’s!), Sweet Pea, Juan, Camilo, Cesar and everyone else in the UTEP Creative Writing program. To my teaching and writing professors (who are also my close friends, I am that lucky!)—Daniel Chacon, Johnny Payne, Rosa Alcala, Ben Saenz, Jose de Peirola, Luis Arturo Ramos, Jonna Perrillo, and Elaine Frederickson—you have all taught me so much about the craft of writing, the selflessness of teaching, as well as the art of living. You inspire me with your words and your passion for life. Daniel Chacon, thank you for believing in this thesis!!! To The Trainers—Jim, Angie, Tiffany, Chad, Luis, Steve, Curtis, Mark, Rodney, Brigitte— thank you for being there for me and my mutts every Saturday night without fail. And the holiday parties and camp trip to New Mexico and the long trail ride with the Black Angus round up at the end! Perfect! Thank you for opening your hearts, homes, and families to me. I have NO idea what I will do with my Saturday nights now. Unless… To the Blacker than Sin homies, Eric, Sarah, Anna, and George for helping save my health and my sanity, you have ALL been like Doctors to me, as well as infallible neighbors and friends. Thanks for your love! To my wonderful compañeros, Pacho, Doug and Barb, and all the great roomies I’ve roomed with before. Finally, to all of my friends and family, EVERYONE who has supported and believed in me throughout all of my irrational, yet sensational escapades, thank you. You are ALL an extension of my family. I love you and would do anything for you. Siempre. vi Table of Contents Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... vii Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 Works Cited ................................................................................................................................... 25 Chapter 1 ....................................................................................................................................... 26 Chapter 2 ........................................................................................................................................32 Chapter 3 ........................................................................................................................................42 Chapter 4 ........................................................................................................................................53 Chapter 5 ........................................................................................................................................57 Chapter 6 ........................................................................................................................................64 Chapter 7 ........................................................................................................................................82 Chapter 8 ........................................................................................................................................98 Chapter 9 ......................................................................................................................................102 Chapter 10 ................................................................................................................................... 132 Chapter 11 ................................................................................................................................... 148 Chapter 12 ................................................................................................................................... 165 Chapter 13 ................................................................................................................................... 172 Chapter 14 ................................................................................................................................... 186 Chapter 15 ................................................................................................................................... 207 Chapter 16………………... ................................................................................................................223 Vita.. ........................................................................................................................................... 228 vii An Introduction: Life, Politics, and Technicalities in Taste of Dirt 1 Head in a Tree, Feet above Ground “We are all filled with a longing for the wild. There are few culturally sanctioned antidotes for this yearning. We were taught to feel shame for such desire. We grew our hair long and used it to hide our feelings. But the shadow of wild woman still lurks,