Open for Business

Open for Business.

That’s what the sign said crossing over into West Virginia from Ohio.  That statement sums up the state. 

West Virginia is an interesting place.  John Denver claims it to be “almost heaven”, it is full of natural beauty and reminiscent of simpler times. 

Several times I panicked envisioning our van careening off the side of it’s winding roads, off a cliff, into an abandoned trailer park. 

Ahh yes, the trailer park.  West Virginia is full of them.  From new double wides to abandoned messes, I’m pretty sure the majority of West Virginians live in or next to a trailer. 

It’s a different kind of poverty than what is often found in inner cities. 

The land prohibits any type of large scale farming, coal mining is dangerous work, and large companies seem to be missing from some of the more prominent cities. 

West Virginia is a beautiful place to pass through, but it seems like that’s what most people do there.  It is just a place to stop by on your way to another destination.

Country Roads by John Denver:

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue ridge mountains, Shenandoah river
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

All my mem’ries, gather ’round her
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

I hear her voice, in the mornin’ hours she calls to me
The radio reminds me of my home far a-way
And drivin’ down the road I get a feeling’
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

Comments

oh man. when jessie, jenna, and i went to WV we listened to that song as soon as we crossed over the border.
yes WV is full of trailers. lots oh trailers

that song is awesome.  i was so mad because i didn’t have it on the ipod.