Carolina Chocolate Drops
My family origin is Scotch-Irish with ancestors that actually came over on the Mayflower as well. They settled in the Appalachian Mountain region, West Virginia eventually, where both my mother and father were born and raised–my father was born in 1916 and mother 1921. The music of the Carolina Chocolate Drops moved me to tears as it invoked ALL of my memories of visiting West Virginia and my precious grand parents, aunts and uncles, cousins and family friends they had. Rising up in me the profound respect for the way they lived, and who I ultimately am as a result of my heritage.
I have struggled with my “hillbilly” heritage, feeling ashamed of it when children I was friends with when I was around 7 began to ridicule my name (Bonnie Lou) and mock my parents accent. And as a teenager I became ridiculously rebellious of this “scourge” I in error perceived was upon me.
Thankfully we mature and embrace where we come from! I honor today my heritage of homegrown, hardworking farmers who worked with the land to provide for their families, who in spite of hardships, nurtured friendships and faith.
My mom (pictured above) used to wash my dads heavy work clothes by HAND on a washboard, with only her bare hands to wring them out. NO disposable diapers, NO feminine hygiene products (ugh–can you IMAGINE???), and all the food was grown or raised from the animals they kept. My mom expressed to me however that she was so happy growing up on that farm, and her only regret she expressed about her own family was that her children did not grow up on a farm like she did as a child (My parents moved to Arizona in the late 1950′s).
I certainly did my share of disrespecting my parents. I am sorry that I did that to them…they were worthy of far more respect than I gave them. I know that God gave me incredible parents and I am THANKFUL for them.
My mom made the best cornbread and beans and this song is wonderful!
I love you mommy! I will see Luther and Allie in heaven…and really looking forward to meeting “Devil” Anse Hatfield (my grandfathers COUSIN—lol—leader of the Hatfields clan who received Christ before he died).
February 12, 2010 at 10:06 am
your mom looks so much like my grandmother who passed many years ago. She was from Oaklahoma and lived similarly. I adore looking at old pics. The side of my family that were from Oaklahoma were often referred to as Oakys. I guess maybe still are. But I have never felt ashamed of any part of my history from either side of my family except for the fact that the family side from Oaklahoma were racist. When my mother married my Mexican father they nearly disowned her, but changed over time. I celebrate diversity and wouldn’t mind living the way that either of my Grandparents did. It dosn’t seem like such a hardship to me, but a way of getting back to simpler times, respecting the earth and the animals that are raised for food. Not saying I would choose that route, but if I fell upon hard times and had no choice I would just be all the more grate ful for the things that sustain life.
lovely to read about your history, you who have always been so sweet to me, now I have a bigger view of you. XO