In the hills of Kentucky

In the hills of Kentucky echo my father's childhood memories. A child's dream lingers there, tucked away under summer's sun and midnight stars. He said goodbye to McKee, otherwise known as Jackson County. Leaving for neon lights even though that place he once called home was always felt in his heart. The root of my family as I know it is buried there up on a hill.The markers are obscure from passers by. Rarely do visitors come now. Faithfully, every year Granny would take a trip down home to lay flowers on the graves in hopes of not forgetting those who have gone on to their new home. I visited there several times as a child and I fell in love with the landscape. It was like stepping into my families past. I didn't grow up there, but sometimes I wish I would have. It's a beautiful place surrounded by hills and mountains. Regrettably, as I grew older the trips became less and less. Life just takes you away sometimes. The letters we want to write, the phone calls we want to make or the trips we want to take just seem so out of reach by what I call living. I miss papaw's good humor and his banjo picking. He's long gone now, but I remember him well. The people there are a priceless people. I can still smell the firewood burning and the crickets singing at night. As a child I hated to leave when it was time to go home. I couldn't get enough of that place. The meals were like a thanksgiving feast all year round. If you left hungry it was your fault. Ain't no use being shy if your hungry. From time to time I go back there in my mind, which is quite often these days, and think about the things I fondly remember about that place. It was a privilege for me to be able to visit when I did. Now, it is a part of my childhood memories that I hold on to dearly. I thank God for creating that place and giving me the opportunity to see the landscape with my eyes at full attention to the scenery laid out before me. It's a place rich with history and humble beginnings for many families. It's a home away from home. And one I'll never forget.