Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Blue Ridge Mountains

West Virginia is a beautiful state. To drive into it from Maryland and to see the flowing mountains, the carpet of fall colors and the warm feeling.

Riding the bus into town I could not get the John Denver song out of my head. The tribute to WVA.

Almost heaven, west virginia
Blue ridge mountains, shenandoah river
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

All my memories, gather round her
Miners lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

I hear her voice, in the morning hours she calls to me
The radio reminds me of my home far a-way
And drivin down the road I get a feeling
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

The bus was stuck in a traffic jam on a highway that should be moving about 65mph and was crawling at 25mph. The trip that should have been 90 minutes was 3 hours. It was pretty bad.

But I am here with my sister and having a good time. We are discussing the plan on turkey cooking and how our mom used to cook it. She would get up at 5am and cook it slow all day. Made a wonderful smell throughout the house. My sister is thinking cook it real slow all night. I get to make the mashed potatos tomorrow and I always boil them with the skins on and mash them that way. It is another of our 'mom' things.

We spent a couple hours looking at family photos from the 1900's up to just three weeks ago. I loved seeing some of my Mom I hadn't seen in years and showing my sister the ones of her daughters/my nieces from when the now married gals were toddlers. I got to share some of Jim and I with her also. Some from our trip to NH skiing and from about 12 years ago when I had hair below my shoulders (and don't remember it that long) but all in all it was a nice family evening.

Yes, before I go much further I can say that there was a presence missing. Jim. But I do think that since Jim and I never came here as a couple, that my coming as a single was a good idea for a healing. Creating some new memories and not be haunted by the ones of Jim and I - missing him absolutely, but just not as painfully as when I am the places that we have been to together.

The mountains surround me as I gaze out the window with a teardrop on my eye.

4 comments:

Laurie in Ca. said...

So good to come here today and know you had a beautiful and reflective ride on the way to your sisters home. You sound really good and at peace Betsy and I hope you have the most wonderful time making some new memories. I am a skins-on mashed potato lady too, they are the best smothered in butter. Have a really good time there and know you are being thought about out here in sunny California. Love and some good healing to you today.

Laurie in Ca.

Anonymous said...

Your trip to West Virginia is another road traveled in your healing process. Keep on trucking. You've come a long way, baby!

Laura said...

That was the ending song for my husband's service. He loved John Denver and we wore out about 8 copies of "An Evening With John Denver" throughout our marriage. I hope you are well.

Carol Chretien said...

Still here with you Betts!
sending hugs and glad you had a good family day in the mountains.
Enjoy!