Missing My Old Kentucky Home

[Email Submitter]

With all the hustle and bustle today, I was thinking how really good it would be to go back to our old home in Kentucky and just sit around with the elders in their parlors or on their porch and listen to them once again. I think that is what I miss the most today. When we were there in those mountains, we had many elders who took time to sit by the fire or sit on the porch with the youngsters and talk to us in such a way as to make us feel good about life in general.

I can't really recall any of our conversations off hand, it was just the feeling I got when I was with my Granny or some of the other elders in our little community. How do you tell the world how good those times were? It's just difficult to explain or describe. I only know that all was right with the world and they weren't like the people of today. They weren't afraid of death so much that they chased down every vitamin, diet, health drink or food to stave it off. They didn't worry about exercising, walking, hiking or bike riding to "stay fit". They never cared about the to-do lists, the fast pace, get it done now or the multi-tasking, hurry up or you'll get behind the next guy; they just were and they were healthy, wealthy in those things that are truly important and wise in a way that seems lost to us today.

I don't know if we can get it back, but sometimes I wonder if what is missing to us today is what they had in their relationship with their land. They belonged and were home and made us feel the same way, too.

[Max Black]

This is how I did it about 40 years ago:

My Old Kentucky Home
It's not beautiful or lavish and it's surely not the best but
In it's own sweet, special way, it outshines all the rest.
Nestled in a Winter snow or cooled by Autumn breezes
Or basking in a Summer sun, it's sure a sight that pleases.

There's more,but you get my point... there IS no place like our old Kentucky home! Aren't we the lucky ones.

MAX

[Annette]

Hi Max,

I'd love to hear the rest of your poem. It's very nice. Yes, we are very lucky.

Annette

[anne]

As I sit here this morning reading your piece on Missing My Old Kentucky Home, it sure takes me back to a more simple time when life was so different to what it is today. here lately I have been remanissing of a life that no longer exist in the world we know, a time when God and family was the most important thing in a person's life, a time when you could leave your doors unlocked at night without a fear of intruders, a time when the children respected their elders, a time when the parents worked hard to make a clean decent living for their families, a time when there was no television, cell phones or video games, a time when the family gathered on Saturday nights to listen to the Grand Ole Opry together from an old battery operated radio, a time when the Star Spangled Banner was being played we stood put our hands over our hearts and tears would come to our eyes, a time when a mans word was the man himself, a time that when the president of our country spoke we all listened, a time when everyone knew and accepted the true meaning of Christmas, a time when mothers stayed at home but worked hard to raise their children with good moral character and a time when families took the time to pray to God for guidance of life itself. As I make my trip down memory lane oh how I wish I could just gather my family in my arms and take them back to the time of My Old Kentucky Home.

[Annette]

Hi Anne,

I often feel very homesick for those days, too. Such a lovely post. I sincerely enjoyed reading it very much.

Annette

[Beth]

I stopped tonight and read each and every post on here. It brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.
I am a KY girl far from her home. So many on here spoke of their love for their Ky home and I can relate so well to that.
I can, like others remember the times when we were taught respect by our elders. Children were seen and not heard. You spoke when you were addressed. Kids minded their parents, teachers and elders.
You gathered around your neighbors, friends, and families in times of need. Doors were left open and you welcomed all in.
I think a lot of us have forgotten those times and all the things our ancestors stood for.
In this day and age I think it is such a shame that our youth will never understand about the simple things in life.
To wait the whole school year for summer break thinking of the ways you would spend it. Like camping, fishing or a picnic. Going outside to play instead of sitting in front of the t.v.

I to wish that I could go back in time and sit and listen to my grand parents tell stories of their youth, my aunt and uncles, the elders of our little community. I wish I had soaked up all of their wisdom and had truly not missed a moment of the simple things.
I wish I could sit on the front porch with my papaw and watch as the moon comes up and listen to the crickets as they chirp at night.
I miss the mountains, the creeks, the simple things.
Thank you to all who allowed me to take a trip back in time to the good life.
May God be with all of you and yours.
Home-sick Chic