--=======13CB3B78======= Content-Type: text/plain; x-avg-checked=avg-ok-36E44CD6; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Hello all, I've never been to West Virginia but I long to go there to see where my ancestors (TETER's & HINKEL's) lived. When I think of West Virginia, the quote from Earl Hamner (of "The Walton's" fame) comes to mind: "I have walked the land in the footsteps of all my fathers. Back in time to where the first one trod, and stopped, saw sky, felt wind, bent to touch the mother earth and call this home. This mountain, this pine and hemlock, oak and poplar, laurel wild and rhododendron. Home and mountain, father, mother, grow to the sons and daughters who walk the old paths, to look back in pride and in honored heritage. To hear its laughter and its songs, to grow to stand and be themselves one day remembered. I have walked the land, of footsteps of all my fathers. I saw yesterday and now look to tomorrow." Someday, I will walk the land in the footsteps of my grandfathers.... Born in SE Colorado, far from the mountains, I was raised in NW Kansas where you will find the same kind of "good people" described in the West Virginia piece and a variety of beautiful vistas: from wide open plains to the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas to gentle rolling hills and little hidden canyons here in my neck of the woods. Most of these beauties can't be seen from the interstate, they're "off the beaten path". Next time you're traveling through the Sunflower state, I hope you'll take the time to use one of the U.S. Highways to see some of the sights! Jackie Wilson Smith >Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2003 20:06:02 GMT >From: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Message-Id: <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [WVPENDLE] Proud to be a West Virginian--an outsider's >perspective >Content-Type: text/plain; x-avg-checked=avg-ok-36E44CD6 >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit > >Bravo Pat! > >I also feel that way about WV. I have visited a couple of times now and >can't wait to go back. Planning a trip next year. > >I also feel that way about my Kansas roots. They are deep even though I >have only lived there once. It is much flatter than WV, but it is a great >place to be. > >Jeff Carr of TX --=======13CB3B78=======--