The Good Earth

Whenever someone asks me where I'm from, my response is always coupled with a defensive caveat intended to lessen the reaction that inevitably follows. "But I'm from the Big City."

It never works, of course. Once the words 'West Virginia' leave my lips, I'm doomed to be subjected to a litany of worn out "humor" about my home state.

Don't be coy. You know the drill. "What do you call the funnel cake line at the WV State Fair? A full set of teeth." "Did you know the toothbrush was invented in West Virginia? If it had been invented anywhere else, we'd call it a teethbrush." And my personal favorite, "Say, is it true that if you and your husband ever get divorced, you'll still be brother and sister?"

Funny stuff. I've heard them all. I've even told a few, truth be known. And yet, some small piece of me takes offense, even after all these years of being on the receiving end of the (usually) good natured ribbing.

There's a kernel of truth in every piece of humor, though. There is no denying things are tough here. Economically. Politically. Culturally. West Virginia has always seemed to me a state firmly entrenched in a fierce struggle, from the inside out. With itself, and with the rest of the world.

When I was young, as early as age 13, my life's mission centered around getting the hell out of here and never looking back. I'm not sure why I felt so strongly about it, even then, but I couldn't wait to leave. Life happened, things transpired, and by the time I hit 30, it seemed destiny was working its black magic to keep me here. Trapped. I had nearly resigned myself to the fact that I would never escape, when life happened again, and we moved - first to Virginia, then to North Carolina. I remember thinking at the time, 'better late than never'.

It's been twelve years now since I've lived in West Virginia, although we come back often to visit family. And, as is its habit, time has worked its own sort of intriguing magic on my feelings about this place. Crossing the state line after being away, amazing things begin to happen, down deep inside. A transition, a transformation; a connection, of sorts.

I can breathe, deep cleansing breaths. Stress falls away and a centered peace replaces it, ebbing and flowing in time with the rise and fall of the road. The mountains loom, lush and majestic, nestling the narrow valleys that gently roll by. The air is fresh, clear, crisp. The beauty is too immense to merely surround me; it engulfs, and seeps into my skin until it becomes a part of me.

And my heart beats again, in an old, familiar way.

It's so much more than just arriving at a place.

It's a coming home. A return to a place that helped form who I am, a place that shaped me, and raised me, as surely as my parents did.

They don't call her 'Mountain Mama' for nothing.

I love this place. Its simple serenity. Its strong, proud people. Its breathtaking beauty. Its heritage, that holds my own. Its history, that bears indelible markings etched by the lives of my ancestors. Its soul, that left its own indelible markings etched on mine.

I love this place.

So go ahead. Ask me where I'm from, and I'll tell you.

I'm from West by God Virginia.

Comments

[RisibleGirl]

Hey! one of my newly found half-sisters is from W. Virginia! Maybe it's you! Is it you? Please let it be you!

Oh wait... wrong name. ;)

[Jennifer]

I guess every place does have its share of barbed humor thrown at it. West Virginia seems to get more than most, it seems to me. I remember when we moved to Richmond, one radio station had WV Wednesday. One morning a week, for three hours, callers and DJ's hammered WV. The hilarious thing is, most of the jokes would be just as true and funny with virtually any other state name plugged in.

[Starbuck Powersurge]

Its funny how, whichever country in the world you visit, there's specific jokes about certain areas.

I always find it kind of comforting. (Despite my own bit of England meaning I get the piss taken a fair bit myself...)

[dorothy]

It's funny, growing up in the Lone Star State, with family from Louisiana and Arkansas, I never thought one way or the other about West Virginia. Never heard any of the jokes, either. Until I moved to Ohio. And I heard them all of the time. Almost daily. All I know is it's beautiful country.

[david]

I lived in WV for about two years when I was younger. Martinsburg to be exact. At the time my Grandfather lived there. I loved it there. We had spent a lot of time before then visiting my grandparents. But after being that close to them again, my mother was reminded of why we had moved away in the first place and we moved away again. My Granddad had property in Martinsburg and Berkley Springs. When he retired to Berkley, I would use every occasion to come spend time with them there. I always thought someday I would end up in or around the area. I think it's very beautiful and charming. Life had other plans for me, but I have nothing but fond memories of 'West by God Virginia'.

Thanks for the post.

david

[Jennifer]

Rob, as long as you didn't go to Pitt or Penn State, you can tell all the WV jokes you want and we can still be friends. On the other hand, if you *did* aid the enemy, we may have some negotiating to do...

:-)

[Rob]

I guess this would not be the appropriate time to break out my West Virginia jokes, huh? I only know one or two, but that's pretty good since they seem to have migrated to Central Pennsylvania.

Every state has it's backward locales.. Here, It's called Perry County.

[Saltation]

you have to go away before you can come back

[terrilynn]

Beautiful post, Jen. It's a wonderful thing to be able to embrace where we came from. Have you done the "where I'm from" exercise? You have a natural gift and a strong voice; I'd love to see what you came up with.

[Laurie]

Sandy and I drove around West Virginia some on a trip that included rafting on the New River Gorge (you'll like it!). I think we got to see some of the good and bad. Overall, I thought it was a beautiful state and we enjoyed it very much!

But then again, I grew up on the South Carolina line down east, where it was just sand, swamp, and skeeters.