Dear Cousin Ann, I apologize for not being a better communicator. I obviously did not send you the message I intended to. Now, as background, I have to fess up - - I am a "suit", and a "city suit" to boot. Maybe not one of the ones you were specifically referring to, but a "suit" none-the-less. How do I know that? Well in addition to being a Senior (highly placed and old, with emphasis on old) Executive, my father told me years ago that I was a "suit." He hasn't changed his mind about that since, and often speaks to me of the collective "You Suits" group that he obviously identifies me with. In our case however, it is his endearing way of describing the fact that he worked "blue collar" all his life, and although I have worked "white collar" for a good part of mine, I still know how to live my "non-suit" roots. Which to him means that I was taught how to plant, harvest, hunt, fish, build a fire, read a map, wire a house, fix a car, repair a toilet, run a lathe, cut and split firewood, etc. and still enjoy doing them. Now, I'm not sure how much my opion is worth in the scheme of things, but the message I was hoping to communicate (and obviously failed miserably to do) was that the "folk" [my grandmother used to say "folksies"] of Eastern Kentucky haven't a thing to be ashamed of, and that a "properly" raised and educated person would not be negatively influence by the documentary in question. I just wanted you to know that, although I am distant relative genetically and in miles, I respect all that the good FOLK of Eastern Kentucky stand for, and felt your courage and values were clearly protrayed at least to me. I was just hoping to assuage the anger and pain that I "heard" in your comments. Now, I am sharing this with all listerners because you are family and I love you, and I feel the need to show it by commenting on something that has been bothering me for a while. Now, I think we (the beneficiaries of this service to provide) owe you a serious debt of gratitude. While I know that most us correspondents feel the same, I have been "listening" to the many negative comments and complaints that some have made this past year that must have been very painful to you. I, for one, believe they are full of CRAP. First, if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have this wonderful forum at all. Second, I haven't seen or heard any of them take the initiative to do the work required to provide the services they seem to think they are entitled to, and feel impowered to criticize. I applaud your initiative and energy, and praise you for your courage and unfailing service to us. I feel somewhat ashamed and remiss that I haven't said THANK YOU, THANK YOU, much sooner. I have learned so much sharing with you and others at this site, and feel that we all owe you a debt of gratitude for our ability to share. I know from our past correspondence (yours and mine) that our family lines cross in many places, and I want you to know I am totally proud of every gene I share with you - - it is obvious to me that they are very special. Ann, I wish you and yours the Blessed Christmas that you so richly deserve, and a Joyous New Year. Thank you so much for sharing so much. Bill Mattheis -----Original Message----- From: Ann Lemaster- Applegate [mailto:annapplegate@maysvilleky.net] Sent: Friday, December 03, 1999 7:47 PM To: KYJOHNSO-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: EASTERN KENTUCKY Sharon, No one said that this subject was inappropriate for the list. It has everything to do with genealogy. I am simply tired of Eastern Kentuckians being degraded. And Bill, "city suits" was in reference to the executives and directors that scheme up these dreary little pieces. I said that in my earlier posting. No one said anything about the white collar workers. Read what I have written and do not look for hidden meanings or phrases between the lines. Again, I ask (as I asked earlier) , that comments be made by private e-mail. Ann ==== KYJOHNSO Mailing List ==== Comments or suggestions pertaining to this list may be sent to the listowner, Ann Lemaster-Applegate annapplegate@maysvilleky.net Visit the Johnson County Historical Society homepage: http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyjchs/johnson.html Visit the Johnson County Historical Society homepage: http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyjchs/johnson.html