I am not really sure why I feel it necessary to say this right now, but I do, so I will. I have been sitting and watching a show on tv about Appalachia--specifically about Kentucky. Ironically they were talking about a part of the country where my family comes from. People in this area face a lot of hardships of all kinds, but that's not the point of this blog. While I have never lived in Kentucky, that is where I am from--where my family is from.
My father is from Kentucky and my mother is from southern Indiana. Neither of my parents grew up having a lot, and they would probably hate me for broadcasting that to the world, but you have to understand the context to get the text. While I was watching this show today I had an uncanny need to call my parents and tell them thank you. That's just what I did.
I try to say thank you a lot, but sometimes people just need to know how much you appreciate them. You see, since my parents never had a lot they made sure that my brother, sister, and I had everything we could ever want, need, desire, etc growing up. As a kid there was never anything that I wanted that I didn't get. There was never any place that I wanted to go that I never went. My parents didn't want our lives to be like their lives, so they gave us everything they possibly could. How? Hard work. Lots and lots of hard work.
People often ask me why I work so hard, why I work every hour that I can, why I never rest. You know why? Because I have seen what hard work does. I have seen what hard work gets you. I NEVER would be where I am had it not been for my parents. So, while my roots are deep in a place that is laden with difficulty, and my family comes from places that weren't always full of opportunities, I have learned to be who I am because of my parents. I have learned to be who I am--to be somebody because of where they came from, what they did.
Why do I need to say this? Because I know that my roots run deep, my family is priceless, and they deserve my thanks!
*And it just so happens that this need to tell them thank you happened on their anniversary :)
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