Hers is a life in motion, a chronicle of places lived and experiences realized. But after a few years of uncertainty, Izaleah Walker says she now knows exactly what she wants.
Izaleah grew up in Utah before moving to Los Angeles, with later stints in Hawaii and Portland.
“I’ve lived everywhere,” she says. “I like to experience new things and meet new people, and I like the freedom that comes with it.”
But for a while there, she says she was “flailing about,” with the uncertainty that comes with having too many options weighing on her.
“I found myself almost running away,” she said. “It freaks me out to think that I’m going to be living in the same place forever. That’s scary to me; it’s really daunting, and it feels like a trap.”
She may not have found her forever home, but at age 22, and having moved to Cottage Grove to be closer to family, Izaleah says she’s sorted a few things out. She hopes to eventually transition to tattooing, a passion that incorporates the artistic bent she’s been nurturing for years.
“I’ve always been an artist,” she says, “especially as a little kid. I was always making crafts, drawing, painting. When I got older, tattoos became a really big part of me. I think they’re beautiful.”
She’s got her own ink to prove it, and Izaleah uses her artistic talents at the Brewstation too – our taplist board bears some of her handiwork. She’s been working here for about a month and a half, having become familiar with the Brewstation through a long connection between her mom, Tansy Smith, and our owner, Emily.
“I really like this place,” she said. “It’s better than a lot of other jobs I’ve had. It feels comforting, and a lot of people need that, a place that feels safe, where people are nice.”
Here, Izaleah enjoys the warmth and closeness that lets her showcase her humorous side.
“There are these little inside jokes,” she says. “It feels way more comfortable to open up and be personable in that setting.”
