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M*W: The memories of my childhood are:
Walking in the mountains of Southern WV with my English grandfather.
Grandpa teaching me all about trains, life in England in the late 1800s, and shooting squirrels for dinner.
My Appalachian Granny from East Tennessee taught me how to cook bear meat.
My Granny taught me how to be a midwife, natural pharmacist, mortician, doctor and lover of nature. She taught me about trees and every species of bird and their bird calls.
Waking up in the cool crisp morning and smelling the mountain air.
Trying not to fall down the mountain.
Shooting guns for target practice.
Riding my bicycle all over hell and creation, and going where my parents boldly told me not to go.
Going fishing with my dad.
Playing outside and running all over the place in a time it was safe to do so.
I was an only child and always wanted a baby brother or sister but never had one.
finally surviving a mother who was harsh and controlling and whom I feared.
Hours spent alone writing poetry.