As I’m writing this at my desk, the sun has just come up over the ridge to my left. There are two sleeping dogs at my feet. Somehow, they don’t hear the fox barking in the woods below, but I do. The wood stove is roaring. I am thankful.
In another hour, our home will be bustling with activity. The smell of pies and creamed corn and turkey will fill every room and unlock core childhood memories of cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents all together in one place. And though some have gone on and those who are here are spread out all over the place, we’re together in spirit.
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Christmas, with its lights and carols and wrapped presents doesn’t even come close. Give me a tryptophan-induced nap while the TV is on in the background and I’m about as happy as I can be.
While most folks will be experiencing something similar today, it will not be the same for many people. While we fancy ourselves one of the wealthiest, most powerful nations in the world, countless families struggle to eat, find shelter, and simply survive.
Two people who work tirelessly in their community to make sure people are fed are Linda and Bob McKinney. They run the Five Loaves and Two Fishes Food Bank in McDowell County, West Virginia. They work tirelessly to collect and distribute food, water, and hygiene items to folks all over McDowell County. I recently had a chance to spend some time with them while working on an assignment (and filling up grocery carts for the next round of food distribution).
Please consider making a donation of any size to the tremendous work they do.
Here are some highlights from the last several days:
Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting up with Huey Perry at Jim’s in Huntington. Perry’s book, They’ll Cut Off Your Project, was instrumental in helping me understand the history and politics of Mingo County in the 1960s. If you haven’t read it or don’t know about it, I highly recommend it.
I’ve enjoyed being able to spend so much time documenting southern West Virginia these last few weeks. I look forward to sharing some of that work when it’s published.
Counterpoint Press decided to switch the cover image for Pamela Steele’s new book, In The Fields of Fatherless Children. The original cover included a photograph I made at Hawks Nest overlook in Fayette County. The final cover is a photograph I made at the Rush Creek surface mine in Kanawha County.
As I pulled into the Wendy’s parking lot in Welch Tuesday night, I saw this buck tied up in the back of a pickup. I walked inside to use the restroom and saw a pair of older hunters standing in line. I introduced myself and congratulated them on their harvest.
“The Lord’s blessed me with caring for 132 acres in Wyoming County,” said one of the men.
The other, who reminded me of Robert Duvall, asked me if I went to church anywhere.
“I was raised in church,” replied.
He half smiled and looked at the other man. “That’s not what I asked him was it?”
I replied, “No sir, that’s not what you asked me,” feeling some kind of way about his question but appreciating his candor. “I don’t go to church anywhere,” I answered.
“Do you have children?” he continued.
“Yes sir, I do,” I answered.
“Well, you take them babies to church so they can have the same opportunity to know the Lord as you did,” he admonished. He continued, “Well, buddy, we’re plum starved, so we’re gonna eat.”
I thanked them and as I turned to leave, I heard his gravelly voice say grace over their hamburger combos.
And that was church to me.
Keep taking care of each other.
- Roger
I grew up in a little old coal town in Northeast PA. Today, Monday, the kids have off from school for first day of Hunting Season. That was never me or my dad's way - didn't hunt, hardly fished - but that's fine, too. I like the fact that there are still plenty of kids are heading to woods or cabins with their dads/brothers, heck, maybe moms. That's church, too. :-)
many thanks