History, Myth, and Other Stuff

72°f, about 22°C, sunny again. No chance of rain. Highs in the 90s. Again.

I am so very weary of summer. I never wanted to be a Southerner, but here we are. Actually it is sort of a West Virginia joke that we are too far south to be a northern state, too far north to be southern, too far west to be eastern and too far east to be western. We're not midwestern either, so what are we? Just an anomaly. There is a place along a two lane road in West Virginia that borders the Ohio River where there is a marker noting the crossing of the Mason-Dixon line. Just past thst marker is a sign that says "Welcome to West Virginia". Because that Northern Panhandle feels much more like Pennsylvania or Ohio than it does like West Virginia. Same sort of thing with the eastern panhandle--feels really more like Northern Virginia.

Our state's identity crisis goes right back to its formation during the Civil War. The state was divided in its loyalties then; large wealthy landowners supported the southern cause while in the more mountainous areas most people leaned to the northern sentiments. Southern West Virginia was mainly Confederate. Larry was surprised to learn that his ancestors actually fought for the North, because they lived in the southern part of the state, and he had always assumed they were Confederates. In our county, loyalties were pretty evenly divided. 

The decision to split from Virginia was actually made by the northern politicians in Wheeling, who saw economic gains to be had. I wish the myth that we seceded from Virginia over slavery was truth, but no, it was more about money, and given the slow rate of travel in those days, most people in this new state had no idea they were no longer Virginians! Then there was the squabble over where the Capitol would be located, and it shifted about three times, I think, between Wheeling and Charleston. In retrospect,  Charleston makes more sense, as Wheeling is kind of isolated up there in the northern panhandle.

Well, I really didn't mean to get into a history lesson!  But if you missed my post from a few years ago about our state's 150th birthday celebration at the Capitol, click here for a look at that huge event. Just one photo from that day:

Yesterday morning we had two of our grandchildren here for breakfast. Jared is home from California, but leaving for Bali today. He and his girlfriend had planned a three-month trip to Bali and other eastern Asian countries, but at the last minute she broke up with him and opted out. Needless to say, he is heartbroken, confused and unsure now of his future as he quit his job and gave up his apartment for this trip. He and his sister Hannah spent the morning with us, a nice relaxed time, and now he is off on his own for a much shortened adventure. 

My oldest son and his two children are also adventuring. They are currently hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California, a week-long backpacking trip where they navigate by GPS.  This us an annual thing for George, and he is usually accompanied by one of his kids, but this year they were both able to go. He has hiked in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Montana I know, and possibly other states as well. He does some long hikes here in WV too.

My week will not be so exciting. Today I have tomatoes to can, again. Tomorrow is an annual doc appointment and a visit with my friend Rachel who is selling her home and moving to Florida. Wednesday I must go to the VA in Huntington with Larry for his eye exam. Thursday I was very likely be canning again, and Friday we need to get to our booths. Nothing much newsworthy,  I'm afraid!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.