Alcohol and Cigarettes

Throughout the narrative, alcohol and cigarettes are referenced as being vividly and almost constantly present in the author's childhood, most particularly as a component of her family's tendencies towards addiction and violence. They are portrayed as tools that enabled many, if not most, members of her family to release pent up emotions, but as the author portrays them, they also turned into crutches which, in turn, led to them becoming addictions.

Farm Machinery

At several points in the narrative, different sorts of farm machinery become the focus of the author's contemplations of how life on the farm functioned. Learning to drive a tractor or a truck from her father, for example, was a means through which they created their defining, lasting bond. On another level, the cost of purchasing often expensive farm equipment is portrayed as a significant factor in the financial lives of various...