Appalachian Lives
- Thread starter Obie
- Start date
alaskanlaughter
Senior Registered
I have memories of what I believe was a brief life as a poor little boy in/around Appalachia. I don't know how it all connects together though. The most solid memory I have is of living very poor and dirty in this rambleshack wooden house out in the woods with this man (dad? i have no idea). It was just us as far as I know. Three equally poor, dirty men came down the long driveway(?) or road(?) that led to our place. They were mad and I thought they should have been masked (KKK?) but they weren't. I realized later that they weren't masked because we weren't expected to live. The man from our house had me hide under a raised porch with a dog. He went out to talk to them. I'm not sure how they killed him. I don't think I watched. They came for me, dragged me out and inside the house. That's when I realized they weren't masked because we weren't supposed to live. That's where the solid memory ends.
I'm very sure I was killed or at least left to die and I'm somewhat sure they burned the house down with me inside. I don't have solid memories of it, but it's rather vague, like remembering something at age 30 that happened when you were 5.
I'm extremely drawn to the autumn season, fields, barns, fiddle or folk music. I once had a vivid flash of walking through a pumpkin patch and getting my feet caught in the vines on the ground. I looked down and I was wearing some kind of old sandals with two strips of leather(?) or cloth across to hold them on. I am also terrified of fire, phobic, and when I focus on the fear, I see wooden walls going up in flames.
I'm not sure how all of that is connected, but I believe it is.
I'm very sure I was killed or at least left to die and I'm somewhat sure they burned the house down with me inside. I don't have solid memories of it, but it's rather vague, like remembering something at age 30 that happened when you were 5.
I'm extremely drawn to the autumn season, fields, barns, fiddle or folk music. I once had a vivid flash of walking through a pumpkin patch and getting my feet caught in the vines on the ground. I looked down and I was wearing some kind of old sandals with two strips of leather(?) or cloth across to hold them on. I am also terrified of fire, phobic, and when I focus on the fear, I see wooden walls going up in flames.
I'm not sure how all of that is connected, but I believe it is.
Obie,
I'm not sure about past lives. I might have been Native American in a past life- possibly in Appalachia. I live in Appalachia right now, and as far as I'm concerned living in this landscape is like living in paradise- except that people are trying to destroy it. Like you, I love our culture and our heritage. I also love our land.
We still have some of our culture left, but sadly, though, we are losing some of that culture. It seems it has changed even since I was a little girl and I'm in my 20's. Luckily, I was born in time to not miss all of it, and some of it lives on for now. For example, my family has always- and continues to- gather plants from the hills for our table, whenever it's in season. Such as berries (ever had blackberry dumplings? They are DELICIOUS), dry land fish (morel mushrooms), poke (a weed), and plantain (another weed). You can eat dock, also, but my mother doesn't care much for it, so we've never picked any of it (though I believe my grandmother did), but I think I'll give it a try the next time it comes up. I've also tried dandelions, which are pretty tasty. And have made mullein cough syrup and cough drops (with all the sugar in the recipe, it tastes like herbal candy). We are also losing our unique, beautiful, and bio-diverse landscape. Our mountains are being destroyed, and it is a damage that can't be undone.
I told one of my fav. people that I'd like to come back here when we die- without all the environmental devestation that is taking place at the moment. I hope this place is saved- our mountains and our culture. If it is, I would love to come back here sometime in a future life. However, if I come back, I'm planning on basing it partially on being with certain other people. I'd like to come back with them, so that is going to influence my decision. Out of these people, I have no idea where some might choose to be born, if they get a say in it. One of them likes to travel, as do I, but he also loves Appalachia. So he might or might not come back here. I think it partially depends on where he sees the future of Appalachia going. I hope this place is saved and that I see it in another life. I feel very lucky to have been born here this time. It is definitely a special place.
You said you wanted to know if we'd had lives in Appalachia. I'd like to ask you something similar- Would you be interested in a future life here or do you think you once lived here? Have you ever visited in this life?
I'm not sure about past lives. I might have been Native American in a past life- possibly in Appalachia. I live in Appalachia right now, and as far as I'm concerned living in this landscape is like living in paradise- except that people are trying to destroy it. Like you, I love our culture and our heritage. I also love our land.
We still have some of our culture left, but sadly, though, we are losing some of that culture. It seems it has changed even since I was a little girl and I'm in my 20's. Luckily, I was born in time to not miss all of it, and some of it lives on for now. For example, my family has always- and continues to- gather plants from the hills for our table, whenever it's in season. Such as berries (ever had blackberry dumplings? They are DELICIOUS), dry land fish (morel mushrooms), poke (a weed), and plantain (another weed). You can eat dock, also, but my mother doesn't care much for it, so we've never picked any of it (though I believe my grandmother did), but I think I'll give it a try the next time it comes up. I've also tried dandelions, which are pretty tasty. And have made mullein cough syrup and cough drops (with all the sugar in the recipe, it tastes like herbal candy). We are also losing our unique, beautiful, and bio-diverse landscape. Our mountains are being destroyed, and it is a damage that can't be undone.
I told one of my fav. people that I'd like to come back here when we die- without all the environmental devestation that is taking place at the moment. I hope this place is saved- our mountains and our culture. If it is, I would love to come back here sometime in a future life. However, if I come back, I'm planning on basing it partially on being with certain other people. I'd like to come back with them, so that is going to influence my decision. Out of these people, I have no idea where some might choose to be born, if they get a say in it. One of them likes to travel, as do I, but he also loves Appalachia. So he might or might not come back here. I think it partially depends on where he sees the future of Appalachia going. I hope this place is saved and that I see it in another life. I feel very lucky to have been born here this time. It is definitely a special place.
You said you wanted to know if we'd had lives in Appalachia. I'd like to ask you something similar- Would you be interested in a future life here or do you think you once lived here? Have you ever visited in this life?
Obie
Senior Registered
Cloacina,
I am from Ohio so I have several friends with Appalachian roots. Its only an hour drive for me to drive to the part of Appalachia thats in Ohio. I am completely fascinated by the stories of the land that my friends have told me. Its nice to hear that you enjoy living in the Appalachian region.
To answer your question, I have visited Gatlinberg. The mountain range there is part of the Appalachian mt range. Its really beautiful and I took many pictures while vacationing there.
I do not believe I have ever had a life in the Appalachian Mountains. When I went to Gatlinberg I did not feel that I had once lived there. It was new to me.
I would love to have a future life in the Appalachian mountains. I would love to grow up in the culture and learn more about the history.
I am from Ohio so I have several friends with Appalachian roots. Its only an hour drive for me to drive to the part of Appalachia thats in Ohio. I am completely fascinated by the stories of the land that my friends have told me. Its nice to hear that you enjoy living in the Appalachian region.
To answer your question, I have visited Gatlinberg. The mountain range there is part of the Appalachian mt range. Its really beautiful and I took many pictures while vacationing there.
I do not believe I have ever had a life in the Appalachian Mountains. When I went to Gatlinberg I did not feel that I had once lived there. It was new to me.
I would love to have a future life in the Appalachian mountains. I would love to grow up in the culture and learn more about the history.