As we travel down the road that drives away and will follow us back home, no words can express how it feels as the mountains rise up to meet us....it has rained recently. Some highways are still wet, while other places show a few puddles. With an overcast sky, the sun only shows itself briefly a time or two. With no sun, the mountains are a richer green than they might appear otherwise....and in distant places there is a mist.There is a mental mist that settles over me. Tears come to my eyes, but I blame them on my bangs getting in my eyes. It has been almost four years since I have been embraced by these green, green mountains of my youth.
I wonder what makes us the way we are. Of us children, I think I still feel a part of this land more than any of my other siblings that have moved away. For sure of the girls....my brother that lives close to Sarah feels much the same as me, but I am not sure it claims him as much as it does me. At other times, I think it is even more so with him.
So much has changed in some ways....in physical ways. The road by home has been paved....even the old rocky hill is paved. That is almost a miracle. Prior to paving, it was almost like trying to a car up a set of steps. No exaggeration. And if your car wasn't dirty when you turned down the road, by the time you drive a mile...it would have a thick coat of dust on it.There are homes built in fields that I once played in...barns have burned down...fences have been removed. Other places have been taken over by a wild growth of weeds, bushes, and briars.
But the things that matter have not changed. People are still good neighbors, they are glad to see you, and willing to give a helping hand.
I must admit I hate seeing houses in fields I once was free to roam, but I still love the good hearted people that make up the majority of the population.
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We have been in Tennessee the past few days....I wrote the above and took those pictures the day I got there. I have been on line a few times, but never for very long and not on my on computer, so I did not mess with trying to post it till now.
going 'home' is always such a bittersweet trip. it's almost painful yet it does call to our hearts so.
ReplyDeleteHi Rose, So glad you got to go 'home' for a few days. I know you have been wanting to go so much!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe have had horrible storms here in TN today... Hope there was no damage in Cumberland Gap... We were lucky here --but the tornado sirens blared TWICE today... Scary!!!!
Lots of damage in areas south and east of us... God Be with ALL of them...
Hugs,
Betsy
Beautiful photos. I really favor that first one - almost mystical
ReplyDeleteOh Rose, this got me choked up. I'm glad you got to go "home" for a visit...I have to say that if we hadn't moved to Wisconsin, Tennessee or Kentucky were our choices, only they were too far from our kids.
ReplyDeleteFine pictures of your old stomping grounds. I like the narrative to go along with the shots. Going back to the old places is always (for me) a mixed bag of seeing familiar things and places, but also seeing how much things have grown up...with big trees, many houses and such.
ReplyDeleteI lived for a short time in Maryville, TN in 1976. I'm sorry to say I hated it. But I know the mountains: the charm of and the love for them, but not like yours. It's evident that your feeling is deep and abiding.
ReplyDeleteMy aunt and uncle still live along the river in Townsend. I remember when that place was little more than a row of houses.
I think it's hard to go back to see your childhood home.Nothing stays the same - except in my memories. :)
ReplyDeleteYep, I feel the same way. I don't know how to explain it but when I get off the Interstate in Corbin, KY and start down US 25-E and see all the hills I get a very special feeling. When I get really close to home that feeling is even stronger. I know Patti doesn't understand it. I told someone today even though I've been gone since 1969 I still call TN home.
ReplyDeleteGoing back "home" is always such a mixed bag. I would dearly love to go back to my childhood home that was full of memories for me, but it is now part of an Indianapolis airport parking lot. All the things that I held dear just don't exist any more except in pictures and in my mind and in my dad's movies. Other people put their own imprint on our "homes" and damage the memories. After seeing my home once (before it was torn down and paved over) I never went back. The new owners had desecrated all that was dear to me...ripped out every bit of beauty and nature. I just wanted to cry. I never went back.
ReplyDeleteI just now started reading your blog.... Where in Tennessee di you come back to? Did I miss that somewhere. The pictures look like my neck of the woods here in Bluff City... just outside of Bristol, TN. It IS beautiful here. We always call it God's Country!
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