An Appalachian Child

On this day, some 84 years ago, my Mom was born.  This was during that time in American history known as "The Great Depression", and even today she has a hard time throwing anything away.  A childhood picture is shown below:

This item was recently found among a box of family pictures which had been stored away.  Another one of those "thousand words" it is.  Those eyes tell much.  Is it hope?  Is it despair?  Is it a longing to see the future, or a resolve to accept the present?  Growing up in the hills of Eastern Kentucky could produce a lot of things. [Including Blue Racers.]

Mom does not remember having this picture taken.   It must have been during her years at Slade, KY.  She was the middle child of 12 young'uns, and only four remain alive at this birthday.  Out of the depression years, into the hills of Appalachia, and "click" a photo was taken.  What she must have faced growing up an Appalachian child.   Happy Birthday Mom...you have spoken those thousand words throughout your life.  I have learned from them along the way and hold your love in my heart.

Possum Hollar (5) Forgive me Sis

"Sidney she had reference to was Edward brother. He was four years younger than Edward but him and Sis was the same age. We all went to school together. Sid as we all called him was working on the rail road in Edwards place now. She could see him every night and morning as he went back and fourth by our house. Their home was two miles above our house at a nother small place. It was then I began crying and run to Sis. Forgive me Sis. Forgive me. I was mad because he did not look a me. Sis said forget it. I am going to get Sid anyway. So a few night later we went to church and sure enough Sid brought he back home. It was sometime before I had a chance to get my man. Sis told Sid about the way I felt toward Edward, and Sid told me Edward had saw me a few days before and had asked him who I was, and he told him he was going to date me. That he could not quite believe I was the little girl which he had carried out of the fight our first school togeather. So the next time I saw him we meet at the Post Office and he walked up and said to me, I hardly believe I could carry you as easy as I did at school that day. So how about me walking home with with you Marie. Of course I said yes. But if I could only look into the near future, I would of said no, no, no, and I would of not written this life story."