| Natasha Henson Small town Girl in the City |
| Breathitt Online News Click Here |
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| 9-16-07 Hey there everybody! I have finally found a free moment to write. My 10 year class reunion is finally over! We had it on Labor Day up at the Shriner’s Building. Those guys went out of their way to help us, and there is no way to thank them for all their hard work. They done an excellent job cooking for us and helping us set up. If anyone ever needs to plan a reunion or birthday party these guys did an incredible job. We didn’t have to worry about a thing. They set everything up for us, cooked all the food (and it was really good) and took care of cleaning up the food. Not to mention the fact that the money paid goes for helping the children. I had a lot of fun at the reunion and it was great seeing everyone again. Angie Mcintosh at Wayne’s did an incredible job on my hair before I went. I think more than anything I really enjoyed getting to see Ralph Taulbee. He’s been done a hard road but has finally got on track and appeared really happy. Everyone looked exactly the same with the exception of Harold Ray Combs..(Dottie’s Son) No one there knew who he was when he got there. We all thought he was the husband of someone, but we didn’t know who. That is how unrecognizable he was. He looked really good and his wife was extremely sweet. On another note, I am in school full time right now. I have 12 credit hours through Lees online. It is really hard especially with Ben, but I am making it. I’ll finally be done in spring, then I’m going on to try to get my BA in Business Management. I really wish I’d done this way earlier and got it over with, but then my life would have taken another direction more than likely and I wouldn’t be where I am now, and have the cutest lil guy in the world. I am looking very forward to the Hertitage Fair. I am taking off work that Friday and Monday. I plan on having Ben’s one year birthday party that weekend also. Hard to believe my little angel will be that old already. They grow up way too fast. Anyway, I just wanted to write a little bit and let everyone know what I have been up to and why I haven’t been writing much lately. 5-28-07 Hey there everybody. Sorry for the lack in writing. I have been busier than a bee trying to help with our 1997 class reunion. I desperately need some help. Working with Olivia Terry and Becky Taulbee and a lot of help from Jackie Willoughby, We have managed to gather quite a few addresses. However, We still have a way to go. So if are reading this and know how to contact any of the following people, Please contact me. My email is natasharaye@hotmail.com or call 859-230-9335 Here is the list. Cheryl Banks Pam Barnett Barbara Campbell William Caudill Kristi Clemons Jamie Cole Micheal Combs Misty Combs Faith Flinchum Jamie Fugate Tim Fugate Chris Gibson Nellie Goldey Odessi Graham Jennifer Hall Jason Henson Cassie Herald Tracy Herald Jon Hoagland French Howard Jeff Jett Mackie Johnson David Lee Jones Joey McIntosh Jason McIntosh Ben Molands John Mullins Jennifer Napier Lonnie Neace Bobby Noble Brian Noble Tina Noble Jeremy Paschall Melissa Ratliff Sandra Ritchie Joseph Seibert Carrie Shelton Jamie Smith Sunshine Smoot Ralph Taulbee Joe trent Amanda Turner Chestina Turner Chris Vires Micheal ViresRichie wagers Angela White Tanya Wyrick Rowdy Southwood. What I am needing is their mailing address for the invitation. Any info such as a phone number or anything will help. 5-07-09 Hello there guys and gals. It has been a crazy few weeks. It seems like the older Ben gets the harder and harder it gets. It seems like only yesterday I was complaining about doing everything one handed. Now, I don’t even get that option. He is growing so fast and getting so stout, it now takes both arms to hold him. Ben turned 6 months old last Monday. Can you believe it? 6 MONTHS OLD. To commemorate, I wrote him this letter last week for his baby book and thought I’d share. Dear Ben, This past Monday, you were six months old. That's half a year. Half a year in which I haven't slept more than three hours in a row, but we’ll get back to that. One year ago today, you weighed about 4 ozs. and were approximately four inches long. You made me throw up a lot. I was positive you were a boy, and would constantly poke at you and call Dude, please stop kicking me.? Six months ago, they placed you in my arms and you felt huge at 7 lbs., 6 ozs. Now you weigh in at around 15.11 lbs., and are 26 3/4 inches. You are long and lean, not the chubby baby I expected. I blame this on the fact that you never stop moving. Yesterday at daycare, I noticed that the other moms hold their babies on their laps and the babies sit quietly, sucking on mom's finger or staring at a toy. Oh my god, that is so not you. I feel like I spend all day, every day, wrestling a monkey. You are not content to sit quietly on my lap for more than a minute, if that. You want to twist around to see what is behind you, and then twist around again, because god forbid you miss something. Oh precious boy, how did you end up so much like me? All day yesterday, I kept thinking about the day you were born. I think it will stick in my memory forever as the best day of my life. I kept thinking "Six months ago right now, I had just had the epidural and was feeling great" or "Six months ago right now was when the pain started again" or whatever it was. Quite honestly, I don't think I have the sequence of time quite right in my head, but I'm ok with that. What I don't forget, and what I think I won't ever forget is the hours immediately after you came out. First of all, I could never quite wrap my head around the fact that a real, live baby was inside of me. I don't know why. I thought maybe you were a cat or something. So I had the house prepared- kitty litter, a little feeding dish, and then you turned out to be a baby. Who knew? I remember seeing you as they whisked you across the room, and I was finally able to open my eyes a bit because all the pain was suddenly gone. And I kept asking what you were, even though I already knew you were a boy. "You have a son and he is perfect", they told me, and at once I was knocked back down again. The past six months have both dragged on in ways I never knew a day could drag, and simultaneously sped by so fast that sometimes I think that I'm on a train going 200 M.P.H. and that I can't get off. Where does the time go? It is so cliché, and yet so true. It's like I entered into a different zone when you came out, and now things are set differently. I cannot believe that the person that six months ago couldn't do anything beyond nurse and poop is the same person who slurps on a spoon, or sits up and plays or spins around in his Exersaucer, picking things up and throwing them to the ground. I can't imagine the changes that are going to happen in the next six months. It is almost too much to bear. Sometimes, on good days, I think about the next child I will have. Don't get your hopes up, little one. I need some sleep before you get a sibling. But I think about it and I can't imagine that I will love another person as much as I love you. How can it be possible? YOU are clearly the most wonderful and amazing baby to ever live; how could another person compete? How could the experience of having a second ever be as special as having you? Yesterday, I was in the store, and I came across a mother and her young son. We got to talking and were immediately swapping sleeping tips and neighborhood news, then quickly devolved into postpartum body issues. How quickly and easily moms can talk. You no longer have the time to get to know someone slowly and build a friendship. Instead, it's five minutes in Target while the baby is pacified by their new toy. There is no small talk involved. Leaving, I marveled at the way motherhood has done the wonderful trick of connecting me to all the other mothers in the world, all trying to do the best they can. It has changed me in ways I couldn't have imagined, and is the most defining thing to have happened to me in this life. For that, Ben, I will be eternally grateful to you. 4-23-07 Hello again folks….I come to you with a small request this week. My dad and mom have lost their dog. His name is Flop and he is a little white hairy dog with a tail that goes almost in a curl up on his back. He is quite small and very friendly. They live in the Panbowl area so he might be somewhere around there or he might have made it farther. If you have the dog or see the dog please call the Western Auto and have them let dad know. This dog meant the world to them. Other than that I am getting ready to go back to school. Less than a month away now. I have to try and do good for the summer semester so that I can appeal for financial aid in the fall and I desperately need it. So everyone keep me in your prayers as I try to better myself. I am sure it is going to be a very very hard road to finish but I have a lot of determination for mine and Ben’s sake. I will be in on the 20th to have my teeth finished up and I can’t wait. Next year I am going to do the bottom 8 so that they will match. Having that done is just something that I have always wanted and they say it is good for your sole to do something for yourself every once in a while, I think they meant buying shoes but some difference. I can’t think of much more to write right now. I have so much to do…I will hopefully get to see everyone when I get in. I am looking forward to going to Jiffy Mart and getting one of Tommy Miller’s no bake cookies…..Man those things are the best ever. (writer’s note: Tommy if you are reading this and want to send me a whole batch, I won’t mind) You all should also try his light bread. Anyway, until next week…… 4-17-07 Sorry I didn’t write last week. I looked up and suddenly realized the past 2 weeks have came and gone. With both my birthday and Easter to deal with, it just flew right out the window. I got to spend my birthday at the dentist’s office, but it was worth every second of it. John Combs replaced my top 6 teeth with veneers and they are absolutely beautiful. He couldn’t have done a better job. Next year I plan on getting the bottom done. It was the best birthday present that I have ever gotten myself. I got to see a lot of my family from Missouri over Easter. My cousin Kelsey is getting so big and she is so beautiful. However, I have to say the best part of the past two weeks was our family bowling night. All together there were 11 of us grandchildren… Becky Norman, Teresa Norman, Jeffery Watts, Justin Watts, Dillion and Delana Henson, Abby Watts, Lori and John Neimann and their daughter Kelsey. I had a blast! (even though my best game was a 52) Strange how you go from your teenage years disliking anything involving time with the family to having it be the most treasured experiences. I am sorry I don’t have any entertaining stories or witty comments, but having to unpack the 3 Easter baskets Ben got from his Mamaw and Papaw and Aunt Bonnie, I am wore out. So instead, I will leave you with this adorable picture until next week. Photo Here Showering I don’t know how many of you all read last week, but hopefully you will get in the habit of reading my articles again. I am in the process of trying to start back to school, so if you all don’t mind, remember that in your prayers. It is hard trying to go back after all these years. I will note one thing though, the people at Lees have been wonderful. I am going to be taking online classes, so I am not going to be a “traditional student.” However, Lesa Bryant and Bill Brown in particular have done everything possible to help me get organized and direct me in the path I need to take. They have been truly wonderful and I can’t thank them enough for what they have done. So anyway, I will try to entertain you, so keeping with the theme last week….. Living alone with a baby is hard. Its like I said you hardly even get time to shower. However, when you get a few brief moments while your baby is sleeping to take a shower, it can be an adventure. Let me share. 9:00am Turn the water on in the bath tub. 9:02am make sure the baby is still sleeping 9:03am Spend the next 8 minutes preparing the room for possible disasters which might lead to a broken bone. This includes putting pillows around the baby like a padded room, and laying several on the floor around the bed. 9:11am Jump in the shower and quickly lather using baby soap since you forgot to grab your own soap from the sink. Then you try to figure out why your soap is on the sink but you figure you need all the energy you can muster to shave so you shouldn't waste it on trying to figure out the little mysteries of life. 9:15 am Lather your hair with Pert Plus, since you don’t have the time for both shampoo and conditioner. 9:20am jump out grab and towel and run into bedroom. See your baby still sound asleep and decide maybe he has a pretty good ideal and so you lay down and take a nap beside him. 9:25am sit there and watch him sleeping and realize that this is the best job in the whole world. Well gals and guys , it sure has been awhile since I have last written. Trying to adjust to a newborn takes some getting used to. Ben is 5 months old now, and I still can’t get the hang of things. However, I am going to try to start writing again on a regular basis. It is one the things that I really enjoy doing. I will start you out with my baby update. Ben is growing up way too quickly. He is rolling over and spending plenty of time propped up on his elbows. He tries to crawl, but just drags his face along the ground. I could sit here all day and regale you with tales about how Ben babbles on and on now, blowing bubbles and squealing. Or how he prattles on until I hold the phone up to let my mom and dad hear, at which point he merely eyes it suspiciously and shuts up. This morning, at 5 a.m., I woke up to him lying beside me, grabbing my nose repeatedly, and smiling and gasping in joy when I opened my eyes. There are certain moments of being a parent when you realize that this is the best decision you ever made, and every sacrifice you have to make is worth it because this person is the best thing you could have ever done. This morning was one of those moments for me, and it was a heck of a way to start the day. Anyway, I will quit babbling, because I could go all day. So I thought I’d share this little list of things I’ve had to give up since having the baby. 1.)CLEAN SHEETS. Formula. It just goes everywhere, including into and quickly out of the child’s digestive tracks. I could wash the sheets every day, but what’s the point. 2.)TWO-HANDING TYPING. I used to be a fast typer, when I could use both hands. Now I have had to become a hunt and pecker. 3.)HAIR STRAIGHTENING. I never used to leave the house without straightening my hair. Now I feel lucky to bathe. 4.)SLEEP. Obviously 5.)EVER BEING CAUGHT UP. On the dishes, laundry, emails, errands. The list is endless 6.)EATING WITH MY RIGHT HAND. I’ve become surprisingly adept at doing things left handed 7.)QUICK ERRANDS. As if anything is quick with a baby 8.)FEELING EITHER FULL OR HYDRATED. Having no time to eat or grab a glass of water can take a lot out of ya 9.)THE INNOCENT TIME OF NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH DIAPERS COST. or how many a baby goes through in a day. 10)DOING ANYTHING FOR YOURSELF. It is all about Ben, all day every day. I wouldn’t have it any other way though. Photo 8-7-06 Well folks, I know it has been long overdue on my article. For those of you who don’t know, I am expected my first child ( a little boy) in October. So needless to say between work and the excessive heartburn I haven’t felt like doing much of anything but sleeping. However after yet another Dr.’s appointment this morning I felt compelled to let you all in on some secrets I have learned about driving in Lexington since school is about to start and you all might feel the need to come up here to shop. 1. First of all, if you are going to find yourself driving around here outside the city, you must learn to properly pronounce the name of the surrounding cities in the various counties. Yes, we all know that the famous city in France is pronounced "Ver-sigh", but around here Versailles is known as "Vurr-sails". Also, that famous town in Greece, you know, Athens? Well, around here, it's not pronounced that way; it's pronounced as "A-thins"....much like the old redneck favorite...the A-Team and that other famous city in France? Well you might think that Paris, Kentucky, would just have to be pronounced locally as fairly normal....well No, here it resembles more of a golf term "par"...instead of "pair-is", we have "par's". 2. As for driving in Lexington, forget the traffic rules that you might have learned elsewhere. Lexington has its own version of traffic rules. . . . At any 4-way stop sign, the vehicle with the loudest sound system goes first, and then the one with the loudest exhaust goes next. The truck with the biggest tires goes after that. Note: UK students, especially incoming freshmen, driving anything, have the right of way at anytime, (or at least they all drive like they do - be forewarned!) Remember that in our fair state, licenses are given out at Wal-Mart!! 3. To locate any street address in Lexington, it is first required that you know where "Keeneland", or "Rupp Arena" are; they are the Alpha and Omega of everything . . . simply the beginning and the end of everything. From there, it would be a wise thing to study up on "thoroughbred racing history"....everything is named after a dead horse. 4. There is no such street in Lexington as "Slimestone". It's South Limestone, the street signs just look like that. Same goes for the one seemingly named after the evening meal. There's no Supper Street - just South Upper. 5. Lexington is small; we don't have a "rush hour". We have a "screw everyone for Two hours". The main road here in Lexington is Nicholasville Road. From 7-9 in the morning, and 4-6 in the afternoon....the lanes literally switch. The only way to tell is the lighted markers every quarter mile or so. If you are an out-of-towner, you are about to become the most hated person on Earth and possibly a victim of an accident. The turning lane (usually reserved for the middle of the 5-7 lanes) has switched based on where the bulk of the traffic is moving. If you understand that last sentence, you have lived here and don’t count. Basically it means your normal turning lane is now a lane for us locals going 70 trying to get to work on time...your dead. Horns are fun in the morning. 6. A special note of caution about "red lights". If you actually do stop at a yellow light, please be assured: you will most likely be rear ended; you will definitely be cussed out, and/or "flipped off", and very possibly you will be shot. You only stop after the light has been red for a good 5 seconds or a truck is not aiming at you in your front. 7. You must know that "East Main Street", "Richmond Road", State Highway 25, and Athens-Boonesboro Rd. are all one and the same road. There are a lot of other place names like that too! Street names, by law, must change every six blocks, or every six months, whichever comes first. 8. Thanks to an unusually able city council, and equally able road planning department, road construction is considered a permanent fixture in Lexington. Completion of any road project is not to be contemplated; it just never ends. You might think that it does, but the traffic barrels are just moved around in the middle of the night just to make the next day's driving a little bit more exciting for y'all. There is actually a vote coming in the November elections to nominate the "Orange Barrel" as our official city flower. 9. Please watch out at all times for road hazards such as deer, skunks, dogs, cats, traffic barrels (i.e. city flower...I am starting early) , traffic cones, cows, horses (and horse manure especially downtown) , pot holes, (lots of pot holes), pieces of other cars, truck tires, possums, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, and random articles of clothing . . . . With the crows or vultures feeding on any of the above mentioned animal parts. 10. If you should happen to witness someone's car with their turn signal on, as a courtesy to others, you should immediately wave the offending driver over to the shoulder to let them know that this safety device has been "accidentally activated". I think if they use it too long, the air bags will deploy. Some people just don’t think about safety... 11. If you are in the left hand lane on any major roadway, and are only going 70 in a 55 mph zone... you are legally considered a road hazard; headlights will be flashed, car horns will be blown, and you will be "flipped off" accordingly. Get out of the way or ride a bike...... 12. The minimum acceptable speed on "Man O' War" parkway is 85 mph. anything less than that is considered "just downright sissy". (Please note: Man O' War is Lexington's version of NASCAR.) 13. We are not the only city in the world that has a loop that surrounds the city making it easier to get from one side of town to another but we are the only idiots who would put stop lights on half of it. It is half highway/ half nightmare.....we are genius here in central KY my friends....because "Kentucky is Where Education Pays"...for more construction barrels!!! That’s about all I have. I have had some 3D ultrasounds done of my baby (technology is amazing!) I am hoping that it prints in the paper as good as it came out on the ultrasound paper. Hope everyone is doing good! I will be in again at the Honey Festival for my baby shower. ( I will be 32 weeks that weekend) So until then, keep me and the baby in your prayers. Photo here: Hey there folks. April 13 2006 This has been a pretty exciting week. I do however want to start this article by giving a very special hello to my cousin Tyler Clemons. He sent word that my last article went over his head. I’ll try not to do that again this week. Tyler, sometimes I get carried away with my writing. I am hoping that one of these days Tyler is going to send me some deer meat. So quit killing all them coons Tyler and get us a deer. That boy is a hunter and a half and knows more about horses than my mom and his dad Frank. (just kidding uncle Frank) Sometimes, It is amazing that I don’t fully realize what a incredibly great family I’ve been blessed with. I sit and think about them more so now than ever since I am up here with no family close. Memories invade my mind a lot about all the hilarious times I have spent with my family. Well I am into my new job at Blevins. I like it a lot but it is taking some major getting used to. We have a lot of accounts in Breathitt County and I can’t even begin to explain how happy it makes me to get to talk to them when they call in their orders. I guess I am just getting nostalgic in my old age. Also you all might be hearing some really good news from me shortly. I am not telling you all until you read about it (hopefully on the front page) . I will give you this hint though…..the website that I have been writing for is taking off at an alarming rate. Such a rate in fact that they have set me up a paypal account in order to pay me….FINALLY. lol. Not too shabby for a country girl huh? Me and Jay are getting along better everyday and I am really really happy for the first time in a long time. Anyway, for now I have to cut this short. It’s been a frantic week and today is not any different. One million things to do and not nearly enough time to do it. Also Happy belated birthday to my Aunt Polly Clemons who turned 25 on the 20th of last month. LOL. I will hopefully talk to everyone soon and be looking for my name associated with big things and pray that this works out. You’ll know soon enough. Hey folks, March 27th 2006 Sorry for the lack in writing. I realize that the Kentucky Mountain News has went weekly but with both jobs and what little of a personal life I have, It is hard to keep up. Work has been going great. For the first time since I can remember I actually love my job. Waking up and coming in here to Blevins everyday is an adventure to say the least. This is due in large part to the people who work with me. I haven’t done an article for Ace in a while. More and more people are writing seems like when the weather starts fairing up. I guess a little sunshine brings out the creativity in everyone. I am sure that there are family and friends in Breathitt County that are curious as to why my article is not in there weekly. I apologize greatly. Writing is something I love to do, I just don’t have as much time as I’d like to do it. Even now, I am trying to come up with a “subject” or idea for this one and I am finding it difficult. Odd. Only way to fill up the void is to write something else. Jay and I came to Breathitt County this past Saturday. The trip absolutely wore me out. We drove up to Pekings in Hazard to eat and then came back to sit around with the parents some. I don’t get to see my parents nearly as much as I’d like especially right now. Well sorry folks to cut it short. I have 2 days off this weekend so I will try to write something a little bit better for next week. Hey Folks March 2006 Seems more and more that I am getting home sick for certain things from Breathitt County. It seems that no matter how much the city has to offer there are always little things that you miss from the country that you can only get there. I made a little list of the top 10 things I miss about Breathitt County. (Parents and friends are a given) 1.) The quarter pop machine in front of Southern States. Jackson has a lot of quarter pop machines but for some reason the coldest ones always came from that machine 2.) Being able to find any one you want to talk to by going to either shell mart or wal-mart 3.) Variety Pizza. There are hundreds of restaurants in Lexington but I have yet to find one that tops Variety Pizza for their Hoagies. 4.) Going fourwheeling. Nothing like the endless hills of Wolverine and Whick. 5.) Not having to show id for cigerettes anywhere cause they know you 6.) Being able to smoke said cigerettes wherever you want 7.) Not showing id for any bank transactions cause everyone there knows you and your whole family 8.) Knowing that if you are sick or going through a hard time that you will be on at least 5 prayer lists the next day 9.) Being able to sit down off the top of your head and name almost everyone in your senior class 10.) Just the general good heartedness of small town and the people therein I just wish Breathitt had more to offer it’s youth such as jobs and entertainment. But hopefully one day, this vision will come to life. Hey Folks March 2006 It has been such a long few weeks. Between work and ……..well more work……I can’t seem to get any rest. This website that I have been freelancing for is taking off in a major way. Not only was it featured on inside edition a few ago but I have been in a constant series of radio interviews. Since there are only 3 people running the site, and I the only one in Kentucky, it seems overwhelming. I am supposed to be going to Marde Gras in St. Louis this weekend but I don’t know how that will pan out. We are supposedly all meeting for some sort of collective brain storming. I find it hard to know that the Marde Gras will be going on in St. Louis all week and I have heard nothing else but talk about it. Knowing that they are still trying to have the one in Louisanna. When I think about the tragedies in the world, mine seem so insignificant. One important lesson of 9/11, the tsunami, and the heart wrenching disaster in New Orleans, is that those not directly in the path of the apocalyptic hooves are left with a dwindling sense of the importance regarding their own less challenged lives. How can we delude ourselves into continuing to believe that our relatively insignificant interests are worth pursuing? Yet, those petty concerns may be all that stand between us and a depressed and even crippling fatalism. I pick up my pen, write a few notes, set it back down. What's the point? I pick it back up again with the conscious understanding that its value is strictly personal. Writing has its own agenda, its own right to exist even though the world crumbles around us. Hey folks Feb 2006 It has been a very long week. Superbowl was awesome however. I had to work but due to the extremely slowness I made it off in time to go downtown and meet up with Keda, Brandy, and Angie. We ended up at Two-Keys Tavern watching it on the big screen and I got to meet kitten and Monkey Boy from 100.1 Double Q. I thought it was a really wonderful experience to actually meet the personalities that I listen to every morning on the drive into work. I am including a pic for you all. Other than that, everything else is just hectic and busy. I have been trying to help Keda, Brandy, and Angie move all last week. That in itself was a chore and a half. Hate to cut this little article so short but I have a zillion things to get done this week and 2 days left to do it. Man where does the week go? I might be getting a chance to St. Louis this weekend for a radio interview for the site, so good Lord willing things will work out in my favor. Happy New Year’s Everybody. 2005 is almost over as we embark yet another year. Here is my “creative” thoughts on the new Year and trying to travel backwards towards a better time. These are the days that don't rightly exist, between Christmas Eve and New Year's. Plus it's drizzly and the middle of the week which of course doesn't create the situation, only exacerbates it. Lots of Scandinavians jump off cliffs during this odd nook in time. . . those, that is, who have cliffs. It's my feeling that if one were planning to time travel, this would be the time to do it. The walls between the years are thinner right now. You could almost step through. If you're interested in coming back, though, I wouldn't try it Scandinavian style. A machine is a good idea. Doesn't matter what kind of machine as long as it hums good. Set and setting are terribly important. Taped sound won't do because you know it's a tape. Wrong mind set. A self generated hum tends to lead to meditation, which, as we all know, leads to nodding off. Not what we're looking for here. Meditation may offer many scientifically approved benefits but it's not time travel. Not that you couldn't, you know, but you want to be able to walk away from it when you're done. You can do this with a machine but it's not so easy with your mind. Once the mind learns a trick, you never know when it might pull it on you. Time travel is a matter not of fooling yourself but of convincing yourself. We're talking major delusion here, not pantywaist metaphysics. Way I see it, since we live in so much delusion anyway, society demands it, maybe we could turn it to our advantage. A little far fetched I know. But sometimes Random thoughts just cross my mind and I can ramble on forever about nothing and everything all at once. Over the holiday weekend I had so many people tell me how much they read this little article of mine and it makes me feel so good. I guess this is the way to keep up with what is going on in my little life up here. I realize I haven’t written anything about my personal life in quite some time, so I will give you a quick update in a nut shell. I am dating a new guy, Jay. He is a 28 year old financial advisor for Merrill Lynch and I hate to say it, but I am sprung on this guy. He is cute as a button, has his life together, knows what he wants, and he thinks the world of me. As far as men go, I haven’t been this happy in a long time. I guess it is where we are both so goofy we have so much fun together. I am getting ready to FINALLY paint the upstairs. Now I’ll have to do it on my own. I am sure Jay will help paint but as far as design goes, I’ll have to come up with that on my own but I am sure I’ll have no problems. I was always creative when it came to painting/sketching and writing. Anyway, I hope everyone has a great New Year’s. This nation has been faced with a lot of difficult and trying times during 2005. We all need to pray the 2006 will be better for us as a nation and please remember to thank God that you have a family and a roof over your head. So many in the nation don’t. Hey Folks 11-27-05 My life is Lexington has finally began a pattern. The gas station clerks have my Marlboro Lights ready when I walk in and go ahead and set pump 2 for $10.00. Some of the waiters and waitresses at some of the hamburg area resturants know me when I call in and half the time I don’t even need to tell them what I want they already know. Amazing how it seems so little time has passed yet still I have managed to find “my place in the city” . People come here for college, or to visit friends, or to experience firsthand what they glimpsed in books and music, and they fall in love. They don't want to leave. They've found their own utopia where they can live life on their own terms. Amazing how so quickly you learn so much about yourself when you cut yourself off of influences. Left in a city when you know very few people, and have no one to fall back one, its seems like second nature to evolve into a stronger individual. Sometimes when I go back to visit in Jackson, I don’t even recognize my former life. It just goes to show me how different I am in the new surroundings than I was a mere 10 months ago. The friendships I have now and the relationships with people in general are purely based upon personality and compatibility instead of common partying goals. I have also learned that someone who can’t trust couldn’t be trusted. Seems like an odd saying but more often than not it hold truer than anything I have heard before. Sorry, this article is just a rambling of ideas and thoughts with no particular direction. Other than that, Lexington has just been Lexington. Full of new life adventures and memory making days. I have been working on my house quite a bit lately. Moving furniture and getting ready to paint. By that I mean, getting ready for Ryan to paint. Lol. Nice for men to do all the work. Anyway, I will talk to you all next week after my parents have came up for the weekend. Hey folks, 11-2-05 Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween and you are getting ready for a even better Thanksgiving holiday. The past little bit has just been really hectic for me. It seems there was a period there for a while when nothing exciting was happening then out of left field all these changes started. By the time you are reading this I will be working my last weekend at TGI Fridays. I got a job serving at Annabelles downtown and I start there next Tuesday. It should be better money where the average tab there is 50 to 100 a person compared to Fridays being somewhere around 20 to 25. Also, I am about to get yet another raise at Blevins which is my day job. I accepted a position to go into sales which will start around Christmas or at the beginning of the year but I am already cross training a little now since I will have to train my replacement. It is more money on the hour plus bonuses every month if I really try and push, which I will. It is just so wonderful to be able to get rewarded for working hard. Also, the website that I started for is kicking off big time. Not only did we get mentioned on the air the other day we also got linked off of Howard Stern’s site and even the clothing line has been selling quite nicely. So keep your fingers crossed here. Hopefully everything will continue going good for me. I do however ask that you pray for a few people. My boss, Mark and his father. His father was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor as well as lung cancer. My dad’s church sent a card which was greatly appreciated by their family. Also pray for my aunt Terri and my uncle Bobby who both are going through rough times with their health at the moment. And as always pray for me up here alone and my family and friends in Breathitt. I tend to lean more not on the religious side at all but I pray for the people my age in Breathitt County every day. 10-12-05 Hey Folks. What is happening in the town of Jackson. I came in for the heritage fair and let me tell you how impressed I was. I spent every second with my family and had the best time I have ever had on a weekend in Breathitt. My cousin Laura and her husband John and their baby Kelsie came in from Missouri. They seemed to really enjoy themselves since they agreed to come back every year from now on. The thing my family liked the best was that there was so much to do that didn’t cost anything to participate in. I liked the fact that everyone in the community was involved. Folk, I believe this is what the county has been needing. Something that they can do as a family for little or no money and an event that gets the whole town involved. Me and my cousins (Teresa and Becky Norman, and Laurie Neimann) went on that swing ride at the park, and besides almost dying of fright I had a blast. I went on the historical tour with Stephen Bowling. Man, what a wonderful lesson it was. I have studied the school systems in Breathitt for as long as I can remember and he still managed to blow my mind on a few facts during the tour. It is my personal opinion (but I love history) that everyone should take this tour and learn about the county. Once the older generation is gone, I’d hate for the interesting history of this county to go with them. Now, I need someone’s help here. There are a few things I’d love to have with me in Lexington. If anyone knows how to get a hold of these items, please let my wonderful parents know. #1. A DVD of that new movie that Charles Shouse directed. #2. Someone said Stephen Bowling did a video of one tour when he went all the way around downtown. (like the tour we took) and I would love to have a copy. #3. A copy of the song “Bloody Breathitt” And #4. (and OH I hope your reading this) ….A signed copy of one of OH’s book. I know he has several but I have never gotten to read one. OH has my email, so old pal if you are reading this, email me. As far as my life goes, Things are going great…..I had some of my friends in Breathitt County tell me how they always read my article. I think that is incredible. Also, I linked a webpage from mine the other day. The editor, I guess, “investigated” it…you know, seen what kind of sight linked his. Inevitable this led to an email I received this am that offered me to write for them. The sight is new so I would be writing just for enjoyment at first. I could kick myself right now for not trying sooner to do something more with my writing. I could have been a millionaire by now. However, if I ever do make a million I would owe it all to 5 people……My mom, My dad, Addie Murphy, Lavonne Hubbard, and God. You don’t realize what a big influence teachers have on your life until you grow up and look back. Man, not only did they teach me English but they taught me some lessons that I could never repay them for. I took some pictures for Ace since I had no good ones. If I am lucky maybe Ron will print one at the bottom of my article big enough for you all to see. It is the first “professional” pictures that I have had done in a long time. Anyway, I have about wrote a book. I love you all and miss you all…… Just a Second 7-14-05 I need to take a moment and absorb everything around me. I don't think I've really appreciated living in the city until today. I finally realized that there must be something to do every day. I woke up around 11am on Sunday with plans to headout to the Clays Mills Fairy. I ended up watching a quick episode of MythBusters before heading out the door at 12.30 and making my way down to the Tates Creek exit. I went to pick up my best friend Jill before heading out. Turns out there was a large Farmer’s Market set up on Southland drive. We stopped there to get some fresh fruit for the trip. We finally made it down the long country road towards Clay’s Mill. People, If you have never went to Lexington and took the fairy, I suggest you make immediate plans to do so. The land out in that area is absolutely breathtaking. It reminded me of when I was in high school, cruising back roads through Whick and Turner’s Creek. It is just a narrow winding road that takes you down the back roads into rural Richmond. I still can not get over how beautiful it is. It really made me miss the back country roads of Sweet Home Breathitt County. This week is going to be pretty hectic for me, so keep me in your thought and prayers. I have my closing on my new house on Wednesday. So I have going to have a fun week of moving and lugging stuff out of the apartment and into the house. I am also going to have a good time trying to pick out paint and helping my boyfriend Ryan design the interior workings of the place. I also have to work the KASP auction Thursday night in addition to my “real” daytime job. I don’t mind KASP at all. I always see people from Jackson there. I run into Hershel Fugate a lot during the Thursday night sale. I also saw John Rader there the other night. I don’t follow sports much but I am guessing the Horsemen are still lucky enough to have him on their team. I remember watching him play at Breathitt High. Man, can that boy play some ball. I also ran into Leah Gross and her husband. I know she is married but it is hard to get to a new name with a familiar face. He, her husband and 2 beautiful little boys came into TGI Fridays to eat the other weekend. I love running into Breathitt County people in Lexington. I came home to Breathitt for the Fourth of July. I brought my friend Jill in with me. For a complete city girl, she loved it and wants to come back. Of course, I took her to all the places I miss the most. On the way back home we stopped and ate at Variety Pizza. She absolutely loved it. It is so funny the little things like that you miss. Waking up and calling in a ham hoagie, going in and knowing everyone there, plus, if you eat in the dining room you can still smoke. Well, hopefully I will write you all a more entertaining article next paper when life slows down just a little for me. I am really proud of Ron Hamblin and all the hard work he does for our community. I get on breathittonline everyday to check out what’s new. He does a wonderful job updating the local news. I would love to hear from some more from Breathitt County People. Feel free to drop me a line anytime at natasharaye@hotmail.com 6-28-05 As many of you know, I now reside in Lexington. Making the move from Jackson was a harsh lesson in life. As far as city life, For the most part I love it. There are things I miss from Jackson and things that I do not. I can never help but laugh when I hear people talk about how they hate where they came from or swear they're never going back. A girl I went to high school with was one of these people and swore up and down she would never move back to Jackson once she left for college. She went away to school, graduated and moved to Lexington to take a job. Six months later she moved back to Jackson. Coincidence? I think not. There are some people who want out, get out, and stay out. I believe that I am now one of these people. Small town life is so unique that it is hard not to miss it. For the most part though Lexington will be my home for quite some time. As much as I love the city, there are just certain things about Lexington I don't like to deal with. First and foremost some people can be rude, pretentious and fake. Everyone knows who I'm talking about. These people are everywhere. In your classes, at the bars, working the front desk - anywhere you go. Second, traffic is terrible. When you're coming from a town with four traffic lights, to a city with four lanes each way, there could be a problem. They say patience is a virtue, but when you live five miles away from campus and sometimes it takes you 45 minutes to get home, anyone is likely to jam a knuckle or two on the steering wheel. When you live in a small town you become used to a certain way of life, and you don't realize it until it's taken away from you. You don't realize how much you enjoy going to football or basketball games - seeing the same fields and gyms you went to every Friday as a kid and then played at - until you can't go. You don't realize how much you miss knowing everyone else's business and having everyone else know yours until you break-up with a boyfriend and actually never talk to him again or you do something you think is great and no one knows about it. When you move away you even begin to realize how you took for granted little things like laughing every morning when you go to the gas station and see the same old men drinking coffee in the corner, because you know there's a chance that could be you someday. Sadly, sometimes in this life it feels like you can’t have roots and wings. As far as being a single younger person, there just isn’t a lot in Breathitt County as far as making a good future for yourself. I do miss it though, and I will be coming home for the fourth so hopefully I’ll see everyone then. |
