I was a graduate student in medicine..and had just recieved my doctrine degree..I was ready..to help those who needed it..I was going to be the miracle worker..or try to be..
I choose not to go to the ordinary hospital..but to go to a place where I could really help..be worth something..and see myself that I was worthy of being a doctor..
I had studied long and hard..never doing like a lot of the other associate doctors in residencies..so many thought it was going to be a blast..partying..having a good time..but if your heart was with the love of medicine..you did what it took..that was hard studying..and commitment..
I came out second in my class..everyone was elated..but no more than I..I deserved it..this was my star for doing so well..and I was happy..
I had sent off dozens of applications to those hardship places over seas..but when in answer of several I choose the place most likely not to choose..the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee..I had no intentions of becoming someone like the story of "Christy" but was going to give my all..in just a few weeks now I would be making my way to Tennessee..and the lure of those mountains I had been reading about these last few weeks..
I was still young and right at near thirty years old..I had given my all..that blood..sweat..and tears..to make this all work.. I was home for a couple weeks before departing at my parents home..and all the encouragement and love I sure had that..my older brother was a electrical engineer and he was all for the change..and one hundred per cent sure I could and would make a difference..telling all I had what it took..well we would see!!
I could not sleep well during the night before leaving the next morning..and when I got up I felt about as tired as I did before going to bed..but although tired..I was keyed up to know this was the day of my trip..my new life no matter what it would be..this was my choice..and this had to work..
Kissing my parents..and saying good bye to my brother..I was ready to drive the long haul towards Tennessee..while driving I noticed a lot of things I had never noticed before on the way out of town..the tall old chapel steeple I always took for granted..the club dance hall I had been to numerous times..Sam's Grocery store we had used in the family for years..well now I wondered if where I was going would have all this..surely they were modern in some form or fashion..considering this was a very poverty stricken place I was not to sure..they could not be that bad off..if I had only known..
I was coming from the Virginia area..I was considered from the South..so I knew it was an all common thing..from Va..to West Texas.. we were the South..that in itself made me feel I had not lost the contact of being a Southerner..
I had to stop and get gas..and in doing so thought I would spend the night at the Howard Johnson Motel..it was in sight across the street where I was getting gas..this way I would be fresh in the morning..and hopefully be able to rest had I not done so the night before...rest..the thought made me tired already..tomorrow would be another day..
Pulling into the area to park to my room..the thought of a hot shower..and sleep was all I could think of..all the months of work..family gathering before I left..and now it hit me..the worn out just plain old tired to the bone feeling..tonight I would have no problem resting that's for sure..
Leaving from my room the next morning refreshed and ready to go I found the distance not to far..and when I crossed over the state line of Tennessee I found I was really relieved..and knew this was it..I was home for the moment anyway..the mountains in view going towards the interstate were simply magnificent..what a view..how grand these majestic mountains were ..hundreds of years of standing here in solute to people who ventured this way..I could not believe the splendor of the leaves..here it was October..and if anyone had said there would be such a sight of the beautiful mountain colors..I never would have had any idea at all of what they were talking about had I not now at this moment seen the leaves and colors for myself with my own eyes..oh it was beautiful..thank you God for all your wonder in this world...I said to myself..
The air was crisp and fresh..the change form the air conditioning to the open window was great..not the forced air..just fresh air..oh it smelled awesome..nothing like at home..with all the factories..the shipyard in the area..nor the normal pollution..
I had been driving awhile now..and pulling over to read on my directions..I still was so pleased to be here in this little country town from what I could see here on these mountains roads..this was like ten years behind..maybe a little more..I wondered whether this little community were up to date on anything at all.. Some of the homes were white washed..some not..the yards were full of wild and planted flowers..and cows..horses..and the usual work mule in the fields..
As I passed I did not see anyone out in the yards..wondering if they worked elsewhere..and were inside..no matter I would know them all sooner or later..I was on a dirt graveled road..going up from the incline of the mountain..and having to down shift the car into to first gear knew it was a steeper grade than normal..coming onto the top of the mountain..I still had to stay in first gear going down...the steep grade made the car whine now..and as I turned to go around a curve..I saw an old car sitting over to the side to let me pass...running my window down now..I asked could they give me directions of the home I was to stay in..the people were not all that friendly but polite and did give me the information of where and how to get to my new home..
I stayed on the road and drove around curves..up and down little hills..and coming to a dead end area found a quant little white washed home at the end of the road..it had plenty of yard..and the driveway circled around to the front porch..the steps were of wood..but they were sturdy and strong..make of pure wooden logs split in half..well here I was..now it was time to check things out..I could not wait to see the inside..this was something to behold..my first place..
I got out of the car..and saw the lawn had been mowed..the front porch was swept..and sitting in the hanging porch swing..I swang back and forth..there was a note on the door..and looking and reading the note..the key to the house was in the mailbox..but the mailbox was out near the road..going to retireve the key I looked at the surroundings around me..how beautiful the leaves were..the mountains in the background..and no one around..just me..God..and nature..oh if my parents could see this..dad had grown up on a farm he sure would enjoy and understand what I was seeing now..
I had to take all the things I would need for the night in now..dusk was setting and I did not want to be out in the dark..there were no street lights around..like in the city..so better get what I could and inside..
The house was an old home..four rooms..a living room..huge kitchen..a bath ..and bedroom..there was a storage room..and I saw that there was canned foods on the shelves as well..the house was clean..and the curtains of muslin washed so many times they had become white..the checkered table cloth was of red and white checked oil cloth..and the stove and refirgator were white..the flooring was wooden planked floors very clean and everything in order..the bedroom had an older bed frame..dresser and standing closet..there was a table with an old electrical lamp next to the bed..and the woven rug was many colors on the floor..the bath was just toilet..tub..and a sink..free standing..no frills or much of anything else..but it too..was all clean.. someone had worked hard to clean up this house and make it presentable for me
Walking back to the living room..I noticed an old worn Bible on the end table..and a lamp on the other..the couch was plane and nothing to even speak of..in brown tones..and the chair the same..there was a small tv on a night stand..and a radio on the shelf above the wood heater..first thought was will I have to build a fire..or cut the wood myself..I had never lived where I had to do anything other than push a button or slide a switch to have all the commidations of air and heat..
Months went by and I settled into a rountine of seeing the few patients I had..these people were off standing..they did not like new people in there own home area..and would never take anything for nothing..if they could not pay..they did in some way by home made things..as jelly..jams..sweaters woven by looms..or rugs..eggs..I had even had chickens offered..having no place to keep them..or not the time to take care of chickens..I would except these live gifts to give to some other needy person..and most of all the best cooked food I had ever eaten..it took me awhile to get use to all this..but I still loved being here..and although I did not make a lot of money..the people were endearing..they were country folk..use to the old ways..and did not let many into their domain..I was the lucky and fortunate one..
The years went by..I had been excepted as I had delivered babies..and learned to do the canning from the other women..I could cut wood..and build a fire..and went to the Sunday worship service as if I had lived here all my life..my parents were glad I had this under my belt but could never for the life of them realize why I choose to stay here..I loved it here..no matter the ourcome..I was one of the clan now..I enjoyed the lifestyle..and now going on nearly fourty years old my parents wanted me to settle down and give them grandchildren before I got to old..maybe in time..I still had a few years left and things to do..
The winter was horendous..the snow fell in huge flakes..and the drifts were six and eight feet high..inside I was warm and comfy..if the electrical went out I had the laterns..and plenty of canned foods to do me..not counting home make quilts and bedding things of use..I drifted off to sleep..what a wonderous place..I would never leave..this was the mountains of love...
By Kyusha��1999
