When you hear the word, what comes to mind?

 Do you think of the mountains?

 Could it be coal?

 Maybe the sound of music ringing out from someone’s front porch?

 It doesn’t make a lot of difference what the first thought might be for me.

My thoughts always pull me back in time and reminds me of my grandparents. They were a picture of Appalachian life. Hard working folks with high moral standards. 

 Quick to teach you the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have others do unto you) and always leading by example. 

 Granny would have breakfast ready for everyone to eat at 6:30 am. Then she would go out to the barn, milk the cow, gather the eggs, and go back to the house to put it all up for use in the near future. She also tended the garden, canned her own vegetables, dried beans and apples, as well as doing all of the house work (cleaning and laundry). Standing at only 4’11” Granny was one of the hardest working people I have ever known. 

 Papaw had worked at several things throughout his life. Worked on his family’s farm in his youth. Served in the Civilian Conservation Corps as young man. Worked in the coal mines for a period of time until his back was broken during a collapse sometime in the 1950’s. 

After that he drove a school bus for a little while but relied on farming and trading livestock to sustain his family. Papaw was also a Baptist preacher for 28 years but would never accept any payment for doing the Lord’s work. 

 One fond memory I have with the both of them was sitting in the living room in the late evening, listening to Patsy Cline and talking about the older country music singers like Kitty Wells. 

I shared this little piece of my grandparents as I saw them to say this. The Appalachian way of life has always been around family, community and God’s grace. 

 Some larger media companies and news networks have in times past painted mountain people as a picture of poverty, but they will never understand the riches we hold. 

 Appalachian people have always been survivors, self-reliant and have never failed to show love to their neighbors. 

The Appalachian Mountains are truly a majestic place, with a beauty that cannot be truly described in words or properly captured in a photograph. 

From crystal clear streams to their dense forests, you can find peace and tranquility throughout. White tail deer, wild turkey, squirrels, and rabbits among other wildlife are abundant in the woods. Bluegill, crappie, bass, red eye, catfish, trout and other fish are plentiful in the waters. Not to mention all of the medicinal plants and fungi that grow in the wild. 

 We encourage folks to come visit our small towns and go for an adventure through the mountains. If you show up with a smile, it is almost a guarantee that you’ll make a few friends in just a little while. When visiting forests and recreation areas- leave them better than you found them and carry any trash you bring in out with you. 

 Appalachian Imagination

 We thank you for listening and your love and support!

We thank our sponsors for all of their help on keeping this thing going- The Jackson County Sun www.jacksonsunky.com. WWAG 107.9fm www.wagoncountry.com and our good friend in Oklahoma, John Caywood.

You can email us at appalachianimagination@gmail.com If you see negative in your world, we encourage you to be the difference.

STAY AWESOME APPALACHIA!!!