( or, 'a little bit of unapologetic pride in my raisin' mingled with a healthy dose of southern-fried spitfire)
It bothers me when I see people who were raised here in the mountains doing everything they can to change who they are so they arent classified as rednecks or dumb hillbillys by the outside world. I think people should feel comfortable being themselves without being made to feel ashamed.
I'm proud to have been raised here & to have lived here all of my life. I am so very thankful that my mama taught me how to grow a garden, that she showed me what wild plants and berries I could eat out in the woods & the ones that could be used as medicine. She taught me so many priceless 'little things' too, like how to just be quiet & watchful so nature could show me its charms; From infancy she would wrap me up all cozy in a little sack, tie me close enough to her that I could hear her heart beat & take me out for walks in the forest. She would point out the little birds & the feathers that they had lost, then she'd pick the feathers up & gently encourage me to take note of how soft they felt against my cheek, how delicate & fragile they were. She'd show me the tiny flowers growing in the field, how intricately detailed and artful they were-- tiny fragrant things that others might stomp across without notice. She'd have me to lie quietly at night and listen for the screech owl, whose song still reminds me of being a child, comforted & unafraid in the dark. She let me play in the rain & mud & get just as dirty as I wanted & she always had a smile for me when I came back with my clothes all ruined. She taught me not to judge others because we are essentially all the same.She taught me by example to be strong, to stand up for the people I love & the things I believe in. And she taught me that no one is liked by everyone & that as long as I am truly happy with who I am, that I should never give anyones negative opinions of me a second thought.
I wasnt around my daddy quite as much because he was our bread winner and worked long, hard hours to make sure we had what we needed- but he still managed to instill in me a deep love for animals by his kind & loving example; If a turtle is in the road he is the kind of person who stops to put it out of the road & if that turtle has been ran over, he's the one who takes it home & nurses it back to health. He has a gentle way with animals & taught me that, like people, hurt & frightened animals will grow to trust you over time if you are patient with them & stay consistent in your love for them. He was a kind teacher- he never minded my questions, even when I was at the age that every child asks, 'Why?' every breath. He took the time to explain things to me that didnt always make sense to my young mind & he continued repeating those things to me, so that by the time I was old enough to need to know, I did. He gave me my love for music by taking me out on our front porch swing on nights when I had a belly ache & singing a song he made up, full of sweet healing words, just for me. He kindled my love for astronomy & science over long summer nights spent outdoors looking for comets & listening to the radio waves that were 'heard better sitting by the fault line'
My parents are both very wise in ways that many might discount in this modern age, but with the kind of wisdom they have given me I feel that I have a secret, 'lost art' kind of advantage over my tech savvy neighbors. If there ever came a time that survival was about having to give up technology & all the things you can run out to the store & buy, I would very likely survive because of the things I learned from them.
If you were to meet me on the street, its entirely possible that you'd notice my long hair, carelessly twisted & clipped up on top of my head in a wild, curly mess- I'd likely be improperly dressed by average standards & maybe even covered in dirt from digging up delicious mountain delicacies like sassafras or ramps... If my appearance gives you the impression that Im too lazy to take good care of myself, it may just be that your idea of 'taking care of yourself' & mine are vastly different. ( you'd also be mistaken to think that I dont know how to clean up my 'mountain girl' look- I do so on occasion, usually not based on where Im going, but rather, what mood Im in.) And if my southern drawl makes me sound ignorant to you- could it be possible that you are only listening to the sound of my voice & not my words? See, Im not willing to change who I am in order to make that good first impression & those who care enough to get to know me dont seem to mind. Maybe you wont mind either.
No matter what, my life is rich & whole, and I am happy :)
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