Roots

While we were driving to see the 'rents, I realized that I have a memory of or connection to virtually every town that we passed in eastern Kentucky.

WILMORE, KY: 4 generations of my family have attended Asbury College, which is located in Wilmore. Granny studied home economics and music, so I always like to picture her playing the pianos in the same practice rooms that I used when I was there studying music. Dad went to Asbury after Vietnam and got a degree in education. He graduated in May of 1979, just two months after I was born. He was the first person in his family to graduate from college. He then worked as a substitute teacher. Mom says Granny washed me in the sink of the Glide-Crawford dorm before the graduation ceremony. Granny, Mom, Dawn and I all lived in Glide-Crawford when we were at Asbury. So I guess you could say it's in my blood. ;-)

The good thing about Wilmore is that you can walk everywhere, and you know pretty much everyone. However, you eat a lot of Subway, because that's about the only restaurant in town. There are two traffic lights. My choir director's teacher remembers when you had to wear a skirt to walk around town and go to the grocery store or people would think you were obscene. ;-)

Dawn got married at the Wilmore Free Methodist Church.

LEXINGTON, KY: Mom and Dad got married in Lexington in 1973 and lived on South Addison. Dawn was born there in 1977. I would have been born there, too, but Mom and Dad were in the process of moving to Ashland, and I surprised them by coming a month and half early. :-) Dawn lived in a beautiful old house in Lexington for a little while after graduating. Xon and I lived there for the year after we got married.

WINCHESTER, KY: Mom worked as a teacher in Winchester (of Ale-8-1 fame) after she got married.

MOUNT STERLING, KY: I remember passing Mount Sterling every time I drove home from Asbury. It seemed like it took so long to get there!

OWINGSVILLE, KY: My dad has a farm here where he hopes to retire. It's also where we go out on the lake in his pontoon boat--at Cave Run. The town doesn't have a whole lot at this point, but I suspect that Lexington will keep growing out that way, so it will get easier and easier to get to Lexington. I like that you can be totally secluded on the farm. My dog, Casey, loves going to the farm! It is worth the long drive from Georgia.

VAN LEAR, KY: My dad was born in Van Lear (of Loretta Lynn fame). His dad worked in the coal mines, as did many locals.

PAINTSVILLE, KY: This is where Dad's sister lives. Dad's parents are buried here.

MOREHEAD, KY: This is where Dad's mom lived when we visited her. It's also where her funeral was.

LOUISA, KY: This is where my grandpa was born and where my grandparents are buried--as well as a few other family members. Mom has some land here.

GRAYSON, KY: I was in an outdoor drama here one summer. Fun!

ASHLAND, KY: My mom was born in Ashland (of The Judds fame), as was I. It's where my grandparents got married, lived and died, and where my aunts and uncles still live. Mom works/has worked at a couple of hospitals in the area. My grandpa worked at Ashland Oil. My great grandpa pastored a church here.

I'm sure I could add lots more, but those are the basics. I love roots.