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
The following photos, all of which were taken in Western North Carolina or Eastern Tennessee, are but a few from my growing collection. While many insects and spiders are works of art in themselves, I’m especially thrilled when I can . . . Continue Reading
The commander’s desk rattled; his military knick-knacks crashed to the floor. I watched, fascinated, as a crack widened on the opposite wall and the parking lot undulated outside the ground-level window . . . Continue Reading
At the age of 28, tired of bouncing from job to job . . . I opted to go back to school for a nursing degree. Once the transferable credits were applied from my B.A. in psychology, I could finish the program in only two and a half years. I just had one problem—I was broke.Continue Reading
We’re coming upon a holiday where we as a people gather together and reflect on gratitude. We may contemplate the hundreds of Thanksgivings our people had before us. Or, perhaps, we ruminate over the gatherings in the most recent decade. A particular dish. A special person. A family tradition. WeContinue Reading
We’ve all reached the midpoint of 2023, seen moons and days and times pass like a blur or a telling breeze. Together, our readers, subscribers, and contributors, along with all of us at Appalachia Bare, have lived each moment, weathered every hardship, and basked in many joys. Please forgive thisContinue Reading
Author’s Note: some factual details, Mary’s letter, and photos (scanned from the originals) in this article were mined from an unpublished case study I co-authored; my foggy, unofficial recollections form the rest of the story. For all dollar figures, keep in mind that a buck in 1978 would be equivalentContinue Reading
Thank you to all our readers, contributors, subscribers, supporters, and creative persons. Thank you for your interest and for entrusting us with such incredible Appalachian creativity. This endeavor has been an honor and joy. I hope we have done well as a venue to inspire creativity and spread a littleContinue Reading
The Capturing Appalachia Photography Contest closed January 31 at midnight. Thank you for your interest. Appalachia Bare holds a genre-specific contest every year, so keep checking with us. We look forward to seeing more Appalachian creativity, as we take submissions year-round. For more information about how to submit your work,Continue Reading
My secret nickname, Meat Grinder, for the Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, man displaced by the Highway 27 project was partly a tribute to his roughhewn visage but more about his making hamburger out of my life. He had put me through hell, but, with the assistance of a creative mortgage banker, IContinue Reading