This is turning into a JOB. I have had a 12 hour day, with two meetings and lots of running around. I just want to brush my teeth and go to bed. But I have made a commitment and I intend to stand by it. Just like the people at the gym tonight. I saw them, well, rather, I saw the parking lot, and I thought they must be giving away free cupcakes to draw that many people. Then I remembered it was still early January and that explained everything. So I continued to Zaxbys and then ate a vanilla zinger. Hey, somebody’s gotta keep the industry alive.

Hung out at the Co-op today for awhile, trying to garner signatures for the petition for the election ballot. In many ways, Co-op is the same as it’s ever been, but in other ways, it’s totally different. There are new faces every time I go, but they’re still a friendly bunch and I feel certain I would fit in with most of them. The tire shop isn’t the bustling place it once was, but I believe the mechanics they have now are problem solvers. I had so many fun times there within those walls, and I’m faced with a memory every time I turn around: Willie allowing me to pull the breakers down at the end of the day if we met at the time clock, the time an entire gallon of Red Cell fell off my buggy in the hallway, coating the tile floor and the Tennessee Crème walls, running fertilizer tickets with the numbers written in giant font so Richard could see them without his glasses, the conference table lined with paper bags with each employee’s name written on them for collecting Christmas cards, all the customers who would come in with a joke or the latest gossip. Hair salons are to women what the Co-op is to men. Yes, I miss a lot of things and people, but so many aspects of it I surely don’t.

You wouldn’t believe how difficult it is to find 30 people who own property in Sevier County. Co-op employees drive from Washburn, Morristown, Maryville, I don’t know where all. Unbelievable. I don’t know who lives here anymore! I went to my other old stompin’ grounds, the dispatch center, and only got two more. I’m gonna hit the library tomorrow and make it a trifecta.

My dog is by my side, his breathing steady and even and it is making it that much harder for me to keep my eyes open and type. I wanted to write about reassurance tonight but I know I’m about to drop. Maybe tomorrow. Tomorrow, tomorrow……

Love from Appalachia,

~Amy