Well, I recently went to where some of my "roots" are...the coal mining mountains of Southwestern Virginia. Yep, my dad grew up in a town called Clinchco and though I only have one cousin (my dad's first cousin- Darryl "Shifty" Powers) that lives in the actual town, I have some other cousins that live near there. The town has a homecoming every year that they call "Clinchco Days" and I have been several times before, but this time it was really different...why?,,,,probably because I was paying more
attention. I remember going as a kid and spending a lot of time running around and playing with new kids that I met and just being in awe of the mountains around me. This picture on the right is of the playground at the elementary school where the reunion is held. We would swing and I would look up at that mountain and just think about my daddy playing there. When I was a child my dad didn't read me stories at bed time...he told me stories about his childhood in these mountains....and I was fascinated...because I was a city girl.Anyway, I had a good time...and a sad time too. Sad because there were two people that weren't there that were so important to me growing up...my aunt Jean and uncle Freddie. Freddie was my dad's little brother and because he and my dad were close...I spent more time with he and my aunt than with any other family. They were big into Clinchco days...my aunt would COOK some great stuff...I am talkinga about REAL home cookin'...lots of grease..hmm. And my uncle would stand at the front door and video tape everyone going in and coming out...he didn't want to miss anyone. I loved to hear all the stories of the roaring 30's and 40's in this booming town. Anyway, they both have passed away in the last several years and I just haven't had a chance to really understand and grieve the loss until this weekend. It was good to cry, but very hard too.
I also got to see several counsins.
If you know me very well, you may know that my parents were in their 40's when they had me....so I am the youngest 1st cousin in the Garrett clan. To the right is a collage of several pictures I took of my cousins....this is not exhaustive as a few of my 1st cousins weren't able to make the reunion (Billy and Terri) and several 2nd Cousins are missing...and for those of you curious...the baby is my 2nd Cousin Brandy's baby...Emma Kate. 
Anyway, it was fun and I also learned more about my heritage and some land that we own....part of a mountain really...it is called Fryin' Pan because it is on Fryin' Pan Creek... (see map below)...if you look on the right side of the map, you can see Frying Pan Creek....ther is a Mountain that is east of the Creek...we own part of it...
So, that was my adventure to Virginia, then I drove my parents home and spent some time with them in Pensacola.
Just really hanging out, eating, watching movies and spending time together. To the right is a picture of me, my sister and brother-in-law (Sharon and Mike) at a seafood place ...yum!
I also spent some time with my dad at the beach...Pensacola has some of the best beaches in FLORIDA. So, Dad and I went out to the Pier...aren't we cute?Well, it is back to Texas and work for me. I am happy to be "home", but I have to admit, it was hard saying good bye to my folks.... but I do love my little neck of the woods (or non woods) here in Texas.
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