Viewing the Leaves

As we travel through the Appalachian Mountains, I remember when we used to live in the rural area near Ewing, VA during the time my husband worked at Lincoln Memorial University. The first year we were there, I wasn't able to get a job, so I substituted in the three states in the Cumberland Gap area - Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The second year I got a job as librarian (not library media specialist as we call it today) in three tiny elementary school in Lee County, VA with the closest being 39 miles from home on two-lane very crooked roads. Salaries weren't great, but the quality of life was wonderful. Our son went to the westernmost high school in Virginia and had a great two years there. We are excited about going back to visit on our way home. Once you are accepted in that part of the country, you are a friend forever.

Even though it usually took me an hour to get to work, I enjoyed it as the view changed every day. I looked upon it as God's way to enjoy the wonderful world that He had created. As a Louisiana native, I had never seen the glorious colors of fall that I saw in the mountains. We didn't travel the world like we do now, but were able visit attractions such as Gettysburg, Hershey, PA, the Biltmore House, and best of all, got to see the play "Steel Magnolias" at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA, written about my home town of Natchitoches, LA, before any of the people in Natchitoches were able to see it.

Unfortunately, we were not able to remain in this beautiful area, but moved to Birmingham because of my husband's new job. However, I love to go back periodically and think about a much simpler time and a much simpler way of life. We had less money, but managed to do everything that we wanted and needed to do.