Secrets of Rural Virginia
Mood: on fire
Now Playing: Secrets of Rural Virginia
Today, I think I may have finally discovered what I was meant to do. It dawned on me while driving to the store. As I passed each house, shack, and trailer that hide in the shadow of the Appalachian trail ten miles to the store where I was to count out five dollars in change to feed seven people for a night. I became even more bitter. Bitterness is an emotion that I have come to know intimately in my adult life especially since moving to Virginia. I and my family have seen good times and bad. I thought to myself, "How can I take a bad situation and give life to it and somehow burn the image into the minds of people who read about it?","Could people gain an understanding from our experience?". Furthermore , "Would anyone care?". I think they would if they knew the truth...I thought to myself. So I am going to write about some things that will offend some and encourage others. Hopefully, those that read it will try to maintain an open mind, put aside any preconceived notions about the subject matter, read objectively, then draw their own opinions after reading the entire article.

Welcome to South West Rural Virginia

If you are a hiker then Virginia is the place for you. Miles and miles of scenic mountains overlook many valleys below. Fro the mountain top one can only mire nature and forget about the problems of the world.
From the mountaintops, ones imagination can transcend time itself given Virginia's rich history. Viriginia's vast history has many facets in that it began in ancient times millions of years ago as North America shed itself of Africa and drifted into place on this side of the world.
While hiking through Virginia you may embark upon the many strata and rock formations high in the mountains. Remnants of prehistoric fossils are preserved in the green clay of prehitoric sea beds at 3000 feet above sea level. One might also find the relics of American Indians in the open groves and along the dry creek beds in the valleys. Remains of old wagon trails and civil war encampments are abound, many are not to found in history books but through stories from the (modern day) present day indigenous people of the valleys.
For the wildlife enthusiast there are many species on, above, and below the mountains. Wildlife here is so abundant because of the encrochment by larger towns and cities along the valley floors.
Most of population which comprises the higher elevations at the foothills live in dried up ghost towns or dying towns who had only seen their day in the previous century. More on this later.
If you were a hiker and ventured down to visit one of these villages you might find elderly people on the front porch weaving a basket or a local church full of women making quilts. Some sell produce from the backs of farmtrucks along with jellies,jams,honey,pottery,walking sticks, and rustic furniture. Further into the valley you will see vintage farmhouses and the remains of log cabins, farmers gathering hay and erecting fence posts. On the surface one might think that this is an ideal place to live, a so called Utopia. But there is a world that few ever see from the mountaintop or while briefly passing through.
Suicide,alchoholism,drug-addiction,depression,burglary,molestation,corrupt government,joblessness,homelessness,prejudice, and all the other vices that usually grip larger cities happen here too. Most of the offenses are usually contained within a given community or family. Many of the families are related in some way so most are reluctant to prosecute. However, the crimes that are reported and broadcast throughout the area by the media is usually done so as to drive the perpetrator out of the area. If the perpetrator in a small town or village is a well known local, most will say they are shocked but all is forgiven afterwards and you never hear any more about it after about a week or so. I will give you examples of this later in the story. If you are an "outsider" you will not be able to walk down the street without everyone knowing what you have done.
In my story you will follow a family as they move to Virginia in 2003 and read along as they endure many hardships ranging from homelessness to starvation to depression to joblessness and then finally empowerment. You will be with them as they face the "town with no pity" and are isolated and landlocked during a winter storm with nothing to eat. You will see the callous vendictivness of rural life for an outsider which most people can't imagine. You will witness the unravelling of a family as they spiral downhill fast only to see them climb out of the hole they fell in come back, empowered with a renewed sense of determination to live out the old addage of "home is where you make it.". I will be posting this story over the next few weeks. If you have any questions and want me to expound upon anything within you can e-mail me

This is very interesting. I can't wait until you post more.