Back in my quarters, that Black Saturday night was apocalyptic: tremors rattled the building; the storm raged with thunder and lightning; ash mixed with rain continued to plummet the base. I lay, sleepless on my bunk, as my roommate jumped out of his cot in the throes of a panic attack. He jittered about the room, moaning and praying. I was worried myself . . . Continue Reading
For now, the wind whispered across my face and neck. It felt like someone’s breath stood right behind me. A breeze seemed to hover around me so close that it curled inside my own breath—a breath that I can no longer call my own. Here, I share my breath with all who have breath and all who have . . . Continue Reading
They were once so much more than an entry to a house, a place to display plants, deposit muddy shoes, and greet people. Their usage was year-round, utilizing a quilt, and relying on the sun, for cold winter days . . . Continue Reading
The comforting glow of low light welcomed me in and I would nestle down into the covers while she flitted around the room drawing shades and making the room more snug. Always it was the same process. I found the sameness comforting. I knew the next question . . . Continue Reading
But we all have Christmas and Holiday memories. This year, let us bring our Appalachian histories to the forefront and tell them to our families. Let us come together and tell new stories, too. My sincere hope is that we as a mountain society will . . . Continue Reading
Thank you, Appalachia, for all your creativity, talent, and beauty. We offer our heartfelt gratitude to you all, along with a steadfast commitment to remain a venue for the creative spirit in these mountains. We are so honored to . . . Continue Reading
Even though I’ve only lived in the South, I tried to make my own path in the world, from the East coast to the West coast, from my childhood to getting older, in between work to earning a living. The core values I gained from being raised on a farm guided me on a . . . Continue Reading
The attacks usually wouldn’t start until late, after midnight. There would be gunshots, the rhythmic thumping of mortar fire, and the whistling of heavy artillery. Either our base was under attack, or the air strip or some groups of men were getting fired upon. The sounds went on and on. Sometimes we saw red flares shoot up—a red alert—meaning the enemy had infiltrated our perimeter. Somewhere, close by, enemy soldiers were coming. The shelling . . . Continue Reading
“That’s all for now. Don’t pay me. You will be back. You will be back next year. You will be back after you start that new job,” she stated, taking another sip of the Southern Comfort.
I tried to pay her, but she vigorously refused to accept the five-dollar bill. As I was leaving, a brand-new . . . Continue Reading
I am seven. I lay in “my bedroom,” the spare bedroom at her house in Tazewell, Tennessee. Dusk settles down in the holler, and the only light shining through my window is from the moon. Earlier, I had . . . Continue Reading
