Let’s Do This . . .

My grandparents loved the people of Eastern Kentucky and spent the prime of their lives serving the community as best they could.

I remember the first time I saw this photo a few years ago. Their faces are so open in this moment, obviously still very much in love.

My grandfather passed away when I was 19. Most of my memories are of him smiling, usually getting in trouble for some sort of antics. But my grandma is much more reserved, and this smile feels like a rare, beautiful flower to me, delicate, in need of care, and afraid to face the sun. But, my stars, she is as strong as steel.

When I read Appalachian literature, much of the time I am grasping at the memories I will never have, images of my grandparents like they are in this photo. But I still try. I still need to understand who they were and where I came from.

Here’s to 2021 and reading books that create a mirror that I can see myself and my family in, but also to the stories that create a window into Appalachian experiences I could never even imagine. Both are equally vital for anyone trying to better understand the different communities in these mountains.

Okays, friends, let’s do this. Let’s read.