I just had an insurance guy in my office today and I knew he wasn't from around here cause he talked funny.

 

I asked him where he was from and he said Northern Kentucky. When I asked where he said "you probably don't know of it, it is called Independence". I asked him how close he lived to Simon Kenton High School and he was surprised, but it opened up a conversation.

 

He said people had warned him about traveling in Eastern Kentucky, told him to be careful like he was in some kind of personal danger. 25 years ago I would have maybe understood that but in today's world it kind of surprised me.

 

For the record, he said he didn't know what to expect at first, but had been pleasantly surprised, that he had enjoyed it and the people were very nice to him. He said one day he was going to Ashland after being here and one client wouldn't let him leave without feeding him a meal. :lol:

 

So, are all you city fellers afraid of us hillbillies or what?

 

Ha I wouldn't be scared in good ole Ashland, now if we head a little bit further south on towards Jackson or Hazard where the dirt roads are more common than the high ways then perhaps I may be a little more worried down there. Heck even them back woods folks don't scare me I'm usually confident that I can fend for myself.

I lock my doors and roll up my windows every time I pass through Eastern Kentucky. No telling what those good old boys are up to.

 

They could be all hopped up on pain killers and grand pappy's moon shine.

That is what I find endearing about the area. I love being out in the woods where you know you are alone. Nothing more peaceful and relaxing to me. I like looking at the mountains, the rock fomations, the forests and you know you re looking at God's creation the way it has been since before the first settlers came into the area. Makes me feel like a pioneer, lol.

 

Did you tell the man from Independence this, that probably would have really thrown him off base.:lol:

That is what I find endearing about the area. I love being out in the woods where you know you are alone. Nothing more peaceful and relaxing to me. I like looking at the mountains, the rock fomations, the forests and you know you re looking at God's creation the way it has been since before the first settlers came into the area. Makes me feel like a pioneer, lol.

 

Same here. Love going back to the mountains and walking over our farm. I do watch out for snakes though, coyotes, and black bears. I do enjoy seeing/hunting the deer and wild turkey.

As a transplant from the Baltimore area to Morehead in 1973, I didn't get to Maryland too often during my college days. Made a lot of friends from Eastern Kentucky. I wound up spending weekends in Blaine (Lawrence County), Salyersville (Magoffin County), Lost Creek (Breathitt County), Amburgey and Omaha (Knott County), Majestic and Jamboree (Pike County), Blackey and Whitesburg (Letcher County), etc., etc. I was a long-haired freak at the time, and I was ALWAYS welcomed with open arms.

 

True story. Thanksgiving holiday, 1974. My girlfriend (now wife of 33 years) had just gone home to Maysville; I was just leaving the lobby of her dorm. A girl that I recognized but didn't really know (she was a freshman in one of my classes) asked me what I was doing for the weekend. I told her that I was staying on campus. She invited me to come home with her and hang out with her brothers. I'm not sure I even knew her name, but I threw some clothes in a suitcase, grabbed my guitar and spent 3 wonderful days in Majestic.

 

Hopefully things haven't changed too much in the last 37 years.

That is good stuff mcpapa.

 

If only that second paragraph had started with the words "Dear Penthouse"

That is good stuff mcpapa.

 

If only that second paragraph had started with the words "Dear Penthouse"

 

:lol:

 

An instant classic.

I've spent time in Pikeville, Hazard, Ashland, Paintsville, and Prestonsburg and never felt threatened. But, I also felt like I wasn't in Kansas anymore either.

The movie Deliverance was to Eastern Ky as Jaws was to the ocean. Throw in marijuana fields with boobie traps all around and 1/2 the population on meth or oxycontin...

 

I am kidding. I love visiting Eastern Ky. Some of the most beautiful places on Earth are found off the Mountain Parkway.

Dude was from Independence and thought he was a city dweller? Classic.

Not at all, I've been down more enough and have many relatives still living in different parts of Eastern KY. I have fun every time I go down to visit them.

EKY can be tough if you're looking for a Catholic church. Other than that, it's a cool place.

EKY can be tough if you're looking for a Catholic church. Other than that, it's a cool place.

This is true. When I went to college I made my first friend who was Catholic. I bet I asked him 100 questions. It was like meeting somebody from a foreign country. I remember being surprised he could go to church on Saturday. He probably thought I was the dumbest hillbilly he ever met.

 

I later found out that one of my good friends from high school was Catholic and he just never told anyone. I'm not sure why.

For a high-school social studies project, my daughter interviewed a couple of brothers that were originally from Harlan County. They were very Italian and very Catholic. Probably in their seventies when she did the interview; and they told some fascinating stories about living in coal camps and having to scramble around to attend Catholic services.

This is true. When I went to college I made my first friend who was Catholic. I bet I asked him 100 questions. It was like meeting somebody from a foreign country. I remember being surprised he could go to church on Saturday. He probably thought I was the dumbest hillbilly he ever met.

 

I later found out that one of my good friends from high school was Catholic and he just never told anyone. I'm not sure why.

Catholic baptismal is considerably too small?