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USA250 Journal Project
Personal Chronicle: July 4, 2025 – July 5, 2026
A gift for reflection. A record of now. A story for what’s next.
✍️ Lyle Brooks – Prompt One: “Who am I?”
Who the hell’s asking?
Nah, alright. I’ll play.
I’m Lyle. Born here. Mined here. Ain’t left, won’t leave.
I’m the fella folks cross the street to avoid when I start talking too loud at the diner.
They think I’m crazy. I think I’ve just been paying attention longer than they have.I know how to gut a deer, sharpen a blade, and spot a lie from a mile off.
Who am I? I’m the one who remembers. The one who didn’t get out.
Deep down? I believe the system was never for us.
And I believe truth’s buried deeper than coal.
✍️ Lyle Brooks – Prompt Two: “How did I get here?”
Worked the mine same as Ron. Hell, we started the same damn week.
We’d sit on break, share a cigarette, bet on whether the roof would hold.
I stayed when the shafts shut down, watched the jobs go, then the schools, then the hope.Had a wife once. Left when I started yelling more than talking.
No kids that I know of.I got here by staying put.
I watched everything crumble but I stayed standing. That’s gotta count for something.
Now I got a truck that don’t run, a dog that don’t listen, and a friend who barely talks unless the boy’s in trouble.
Still here. Still watching.
And I got notes. You’d be wise to read ’em.
Family, Friends & Associates
Ron Devlin – Best friend.
Caleb – Ron’s grandson.
Mona Riggs – Friend
Pastor Dan – Local church leader.
