The Flat Woods On Top Of the Hill - Essay Example

The Flat Woods On Top Of the Hill I grew up in a small community, population 8000, in northeastern Kentucky. Flatwoods lies in the Tri area. The Tri-State area spread over Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. Flatwoods is a "bedroom community" not having any large employer within the city, most people worked in the neighboring towns of Ashland, Kentucky or Huntington. The City of Flatwoods was originally named Advance; after the Advance Methodist Church which formed a Sunday school in the picturesque 1860s. Thereafter, it was renamed to Cheap, after John Cheap, a blind Methodist minister. The town once again reverted to its old name, Advance, this time around with a small post office established in 1918. The year 1938 foster the town's transformation where it was incorporated under the name Flatwoods and correspondingly, the post office carries its new name. The newly named town is named after the areas of original topography which consists of a belt of flat wooded land, approximately sixty feet in elevation, which runs parallel to the Ohio River. This quiet and charming town was once a rolling farm land with green gardens and active pastures. The people are ever so hard working and maintain a closely knit relationship among each other. It was a harmonious town where people help each other in life as in death of a family. Aside from these, the people likewise enjoy hearty meals together over succulent dishes of foods. My fondest memory of the place was Mr. and Mrs. Wilburn. The Wilburns lived at the top of my street in a charming old farmhouse. The couple had lived in Flatwoods all their lives. It has been said that Mr. Wilburn had moved in the neighborhood of Flatwoods at around 1910. As a child, he has been my depiction of the way life has been. His large overpowering farm house stood majestically across our modest home. He drove his antique Model-T Ford around town like it was the newest thing from Detroit. He and his wife were kind and giving people. I particularly enjoyed visiting them at night in their porch where they would animatedly tell stories of the old times. The old man at 70, does not show any sign of aging as he lovingly tend to his overflowing fruits and vegetable garden. Being the kind hearted couple that they were, they always gave us fruits and vegetables like apples and tomatoes, which in turn we bring home to our parents. Aside from this, another neighbor's house used to be a church. I have lived in Wilburn Street, which was named after the kind hearted couple. My family's redwood ranch style house is with a small front yard, but with a large fenced-in backyard which sat on a dead end gravel street. The huge back yard is surrounded with healthy green oak trees and scented bushes, a perfect place to be one with nature or just spend a quiet afternoon with a book or sharing the afternoon sun playing games with friends. The house looked bigger than it really was because of the attached two car garage. There were large picture windows in the front that rose to the sky with flower boxes stretching around the house, such an ideal place for family bonding and get together. I have been blessed with a wonderful family. Even though I am adopted, the family I have, nurtured me to be the man I am today, and for this, I am very grateful for. I was born in Lexington, Kentucky, about two hours away in 1964, which made me a certified sixties baby. My biological parents were both in high school when I was conceived. I was then given to the state and my parents, who cannot have children of their own "chose" me. I always knew that I was adopted, but I never nurtured the feeling of being sorry and rebellious about my circumstances. My family was and is always very supportive of me, giving me books to read about adoption. And most importantly, I was made to understand that that I was chosen and not given up. It has been instilled in me that my biological mother gave me up so that I could have a better life with more opportunities. My grand parents lived in a farm in rural Greenup County with a ninety nine mile creek running beside it. They owned and operated an old time general store with an apartment on the top floor which they rented out. Their house provides a splendid view of a typical country setting, complete with a big red barn, honey bees, chicken house, and strawberry patch among others. They taught me the importance of hard work and clean living all through out my life. My Papaw was born in 1899 and my Mama in 1905. My grandfather had an 8th grade education and my grandmother had a 6th grade education. Despite their limited and unfinished schooling, both were sharp as a tack. My father is a man of few words. He was a rural postman and a World War II veteran. He is hardworking and took very good care of me and my mother. My mother, on the other hand, is a good teacher and she showed much love and affection to me and my Dad. As a growing boy, I enjoyed playing under the shady branches of Dogwood, Oak and Weeping willow trees. I also take pleasure in playing in my sandbox or roller skating or riding bicycle with my friends. I used to have a pet dog named Nicole and also have parakeets, turtle, frogs, and fish as other pets. I also have a homemade pet cemetery behind our house. I attended McDowell Elementary and at an early age developed a fondness for music. I started piano lessons at age six, with Mrs. Henry who lived in a house trailer. I took piano lessons from her until I was a senior in high school. Music played a very important part of my life. It has inspired me to be disciplined and responsible, which in turn gave me the pleasure of performing and sharing the gift of music. I graduated in High school in 1982 and on my senior year I became Music Director and pianist of Advance Methodist Church, said to be the biggest church in Flatwoods. With my passion and an ear for music, I eventually majored in music/piano concentration at Westminster Choir College in the academe town of Princeton, New Jersey. Read More