Hatfield Reunion 2010

Me in front of the John Deere tractor used for the hay ride.

Lisa and me

Me with my long lost "sister" Carey Moore! LOL!

Summer wouldn't be summer without family reunions. This summer, I once again had the honor of attending the Hatfield reunion with my wife Lisa. It was even better this year because we were able to take my mother-in-law Janet with us. Janet was originally a Hatfield, if you were wondering how a Fugate got invited into the clan! LOL!

On a hot and sunny Friday morning, we all loaded into the van. The good people at Nim Henson Geriatric Center even packed up all of Janet's medicines that she would need for the weekend. They are just really good people!

Off we headed to Yatesville Lake in Louisa. The Hatfields always rent out all of the cabins at Creekside Cabins and RV Park. It is a great location to relax and unwind. There are 8 cabins that get rented out. Plus there is lots of room for the rest of the family who like to bring their RVs.

When we arrived, we saw the familiar "big tent" that they rent for the weekend. This year, the family also rented several of the inflatable rides that are very popular right now. As we got closer, I saw that they had rented an obstacle course, water slide, and one where two people try to knock each other off a pedestal with large padded javelins. These were mainly meant for the kids...but the adults enjoyed them also. This was especially true late at night when jousting contests took place! LOL!

We quickly unloaded the van and made ourselves at home. We hadn't seen most of these people in a year, since last year's reunion. However, thanks to Facebook, we have been keeping up with each other a little better. What did we ever do before Facebook? It is truly a wonderful thing...especially if you use it to keep in contact with people who live in other counties or states.

The first night, we had the annual auction which helps to raise money for the reunion. Yours truly was once again chosen to be auctioneer. I am not complaining though. I love it.

We had a great dinner of traditional summer foods....hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, etc. Then, everyone piled onto stacks of hay pulled by an antique John Deere tractor for a hayride around the community. I wonder what people thought when they saw all of us riding through their neighborhood. Of course, I had on my lovely straw hat that my "long long sister" Carey Moore had given me. We are so much alike! We decided over the span of the weekend that we are surely brother and sister who got accidentally separated at birth...LOL!

After dinner, we held the Hatfield Summer Olympics. Everyone was broken into teams and competed in events such as a three-legged race, water balloon toss, and relay race. It was a great time, and everyone seemed to have a lot of fun competing in the events. There were events for both adults and children.

The next day was hillbilly day. I wore my bib overalls just for the occasion. It was a great day and everyone enjoyed talking and catching up with each other. Lisa and I were so proud of Janet because she was able to walk up and down the steps of our cabin by herself. She did a great job! Everyone loved having Janet at the reunion this year.

Lisa spent a lot of the day cooking for big dinner that night. She made cornbread salad, overnight salad, oatmeal raisin cake, and a black walnut cake. She also made a homemade butter cream icing for both of the cakes. They were so good!

Speaking of food, everyone at the Hatfield reunion loved to eat. We had tons of food...smoked meats, barbeque, salads, green beans, breads, casseroles, and loads of other foods too numerous to list here. The tables were groaning with food...for a little while at least. Then...we were all groaning because we had eaten too much!

That night, the evening's entertainment was the Hatfield Family Hee Haw. Carey was the ringleader of the show, appearing as Minnie Pearl...complete with hat and tag! She had recruited several of us to be in the show, including me! I was....get ready for it...none other than Dolly Parton! It was a hoot! I wasn't too sure if I was going to get into that dress at first or not! It was a little tight...probably from all that delicious food from earlier in the day. They really stuffed me "up top" also, if you know what I mean. It was all in good fun though.

Other family members dressed up as various characters such as Ike and Tina Turner, Brittany Spears, Madonna, Elvis, Sonny and Cher, and Hank Williams Jr. It was a good show. We all laughed so hard. I think that it is wonderful to be able to let your hair down every once in a while. In my case, it was a long blonde wig! LOL!

Everyone sat around afterwards just talking and enjoying each other's company. I felt so good just to be a part of this family's reunion. As an only child, I didn't have a large family. Growing up, we didn't really get together a lot with other family members either. It felt really good to be a part of this great group of people. Who knew when I was marrying a wonderful woman like Lisa that I was getting a bonus as well?

The next day, we loaded up the van. It was a bittersweet time because we had had such a great time and now it was time to head back to the "real" world. After lots of hugs, handshakes, and slaps on the back, we started back home. I really had a great time at this year's Hatfield reunion. Lisa and Janet said that they did as well. Now....the countdown to next year begins.

Until next week...class dismissed.

Janet Wagoner...Strong and Determined!

Janet (third from left in pink shirt) with wonderful workers at
the Nim Henson Geriatric Center in Jackson, KY.

Once I heard the expression "Life is a bowl of cherries...and this is the pits!" Of course, everyone knows that life is not always going to be smooth sailing. Hopefully we have more better days than bad, but we have to be prepared to weather the storms of life when they come around. Nobody does this better than my mother-in-law.

My mother-in-law, Janet Wagoner, is one of the bravest and most determined people that I know. She has been through a lot in her life, but she doesn't let it keep her down. She keeps on fighting and keeps on growing as a person. She is an inspiration to me because she doesn't quit. In fact, I don't think that quitting is a word that she has in her vocabulary.

I met Janet about 20 years ago when my wife, Lisa, and I began dating. Lisa had invited me to dinner, and I thought that Janet was trying to be fancy because she had baked a turkey...and it wasn't even Thanksgiving! When I was growing up, we only got turkey at Christmas! I was very impressed. Of course, now I know that it is perfectly acceptable to eat turkey all year long if you wish! Ha! But at the time, Janet made a very favorable impression on me with her choice of food. I also remember her potato salad being the best ever!

Through the years, our family has had good times and bad. When Lisa's dad, Dillard, passed away, it was a very hard time for all of us. Janet was still living in Morehead, KY at the time, but she decided that it would be best to move to Breathitt County to be closer to Lisa and me. It was great having Janet live with us for a while. Of course, she didn't want to be living with a couple of rowdy school teachers (you know how wild we can be..LOL!) so she made another decision to move into an apartment in town.

She applied for and got a little apartment in Kings Ridge Apartments behind True Value. She loved living on her own again, and it was easy for Lisa and me to stop in and see her during the week after school. Through her years of living there, she made many friends. However, her health did start to deteriorate after a many years.

Janet had always had trouble walking on one of her feet. It would drag on the floor, and she would have trouble keeping her balance. But the worst thing was when she started to fall. She fell a few times in her apartment and couldn't get back up. Lisa and I would go and help her. Eventually, we all knew that she would no longer be able to live in her apartment. She needed full-time medical care. Luckily, there is a place for that right here in Jackson.

The Nim Henson Geriatric Center is a nursing home located on Jetts Drive in Jackson, KY. Janet has been living there for one and a half years now. During this time, it was discovered that she had "water on the brain" and had to have a surgery to help remove it. After the surgery, the doctors told her that her balance and strength would return with time and therapy.

A lot of people may not realize what a wonderful facility the Nim Henson Geriatric Center is for our community and people in need. Every time that Lisa and I are visiting Janet, we see people working hard....cleaning, caring for patients, decorating, etc. The home is very clean! I am very impressed with the cleaning crew. I always see someone cleaning!

Janet loves it there. It is her home, and she has made so many new friends. She told Lisa and me that she is as close to most of the workers now as she is to her own sisters and brothers!

At first, she was a little reluctant to take therapy. However, over time, the physical therapists at the nursing home were able to get her to build up her strength. When she first went into the home, she could barely lift her legs while she was lying down in bed. With lots of encouragement and work on the part of her physical therapists, Janet began to see results.

I am so proud to say that my mother-in-law was able to go from only being able to move around in a wheel-chair to being able to walk! At first, it was just a few steps on the balance bars. This built up to steps on a walker. Now, she is even able to take some steps with a cane!

Janet's goal was to walk around the track between the nursing home and SMS. With the help of the talented workers and therapists at the Nim Henson Geriatric Center, she achieved her goal. She was able to walk around the track. More importantly, she was able to build up enough strength so that she was able to go with Lisa and me to the Hatfield reunion for a few days this summer! We had a blast! She amazed everyone at the reunion with her newfound walking ability. She even got an award that said "I can walk up the steps and I don't need a wheelchair." She has it on the wall in her room.

All of this wouldn't have been possible if it hadn't been for the caring, talented folks at the Nim Henson Geriatric Center. They all deserve a pat on the back! They go above and beyond for all of their patients.

This also wouldn't have been possible if it hadn't been for the inner drive and determination of my great mother-in-law, Janet Wagoner. She could have just quit and not done anything when she moved into the nursing home. But she isn't like that. She is a winner. That fire and spirit that I admire has gotten her up and about...and it will keep her up and about! We love you Janet. Keep up the good work!

Just remember everyone...even when things seem their darkest and most dire....get back up and keep trying. Don't ever quit.

Until next week....class dismissed!

WLEX and Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Arts

Wow! What a weekend! As you all know, I have been busy promoting my newest book, Dark and Bloody. It is a collection of horror/suspense stories set in Kentucky. Most of them are set right here in Eastern Kentucky. I was able to continue my promotions over the weekend.

On Friday, June 25th, I was invited to WLEX - 18 in Lexington, KY to talk about my book on their 12:30 news program. Chris Goodman and Nicole Pence, who anchor the show, made me feel more than welcome as they interviewed me about my book. They were both so nice, I didn't feel nervous at all. In fact, as some of you know, this was my third appearance at the station. They are very supportive of the area and of the arts. I really do appreciate that!

On Saturday, June 26th, I traveled to Harrodsburg, Kentucky for their first annual Festival of Books and Arts. Over 60 authors and artists from all over Kentucky traveled to Harrodsburg that day for the fair. I was honored to be one of those invited, along with others such as Ed McClanahan and Ruth Fogel. I was able to showcase all three of my books: Nose Pickin', Pumpkin Guts, and my newest, Dark and Bloody.

It was a hot day on Saturday, but the event was amazing. There were so many great authors and artists who were showing their work. We took up all of Main Street in Harrodsburg! LOL! There was a large stage set up for presentations throughout the day. I really enjoyed the excerpts from Seussical, the Musical by the Ragged Edge Community Theatre.

One thing that I noticed was that Harrodsburg really supports their local art community. They are very supportive of their authors and artists. Events such as this one will help them continue this support.

My invitation to the fair began last year when I attended the Kentucky Book Fair in Frankfort. I met some wonderful authors and illustrators while I was there. One of them was a man by the name of Tony Sexton who was at the event to promote his book, Scraps, which is a collection of poems that he had written over the years. We introduced each other and exchanged contact information. We still keep in touch with each other online. What did we ever do before email and Facebook? LOL!

Anyway, it turns out that he is an organizer of a Harrodsburg writers group. He started working with Elaine Hammonds who is the executive director of Harrodsburg First. Working with her and others in the community, they developed the idea for the book and arts fair. Although this was the first year, I am sure that it will continue to grow. I look forward to attending next year!

In all, it was a great weekend. I was able to meet lots of new authors and see some old friends as well. In fact, I was so pleased to run into Paula Sparrow once again. I had met her at the Kentucky Book Fair as well. She is a writer for Kentucky Living magazine. Her book, Creature Comforts, is a collection of stories about people who care for and rescue animals throughout Kentucky. She is a great writer and her book is just lovely. If you get a chance, you need to get a copy of her book.

Tired but happy, Lisa and I returned home on Sunday morning. We had a great weekend seeing some wonderful sights and meeting some fantastic people. However, as the old saying goes, there is no place like home. I was so happy to be back home here in wonderful Breathitt County!

Until next week....class dismissed!

Anniversary Wishes

This past weekend, Lisa and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. Lisa is such an incredible woman that the time has just flown by. I love her now just as much (if not more) than when we first got married. Her mom, Janet, only gave us 6 months! LOL! I think that the secret to our marriage is that we are both only children. We just let each other get their way and everything is fine.

For our anniversary, we traveled to Louisville to see a wonderful musical called Wicked. It is a retelling of the story of the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz. According to the musical, she wasn't really wicked at all...just misunderstood and a victim of politics. Since this is election month, it makes you wonder if there might be some of that going on around here in Breathitt County! LOL!

Lisa and I both love musicals. The music and acting in Wicked did NOT disappoint. We had seen it last year at the same place, The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. The atmosphere is great. We stopped off for some preshow refreshments and cabaret music. It was so nice to sit and relax. Lisa loves to people watch...and there were some very interesting characters parading around. Some people even dressed up in witch hats and black dresses! I was just lost in the music. It was great.

We had great seats for the production. We were about 14 rows back in the lower orchestra level which is just right if you ask me. You aren't too close...and you aren't too far away. I like a seat right in the middle. The actors were wonderful. Some of the music just gave me chill bumps up my spine and onto my scalp. Lisa told me that they did the same for her! I thought it was just me! LOL!

After the show, we went back to our hotel. We stayed at the Galt House which was just around the corner. It was such a nice night that we were able to just walk around the corner. It was so close. There are certain advantages to being in a large city. Namely...everything is so close!

Earlier in the day, we had walked down on the riverfront and had eaten at Joe's Crab Shack. We had never eaten there. Since we both love seafood, we decided to give it a try. The food was really good. The casual atmosphere made us both feel at ease. I had the fish, shrimp, and scallops. Lisa had a fish and shrimp basket. Both of us enjoyed our meals. The waitress found out it was our anniversary and made me wear a knight's hat and shield while Lisa waved a "magic wand." While patrons sang "Happy Anniversary," I had to kiss my princess. It was embarrassing but fun! LOL!

Walking back to the hotel after our meal, we passed the Belle of Louisville, a large steamboat. We have already planned on going back this summer for a trip down the river. It looked like everyone was having a great time with drinks, food, and live music. The band was playing some really lively ragtime music that was just fantastic.

On our weekend trip, we also took some time to shop. We went shopping for clothes. We also spent a lot of time in one of my favorite stores, Best Buy. It is amazing at how much technology is changing each day.

As our weekend came to a close, we made our way back home. On the way though, we stopped off at Natural Bridge and ate lunch at the Hemlock Lodge. The lunch buffet was great. We had salad, soup beans, chicken, fish, turkey, and a variety of vegetables. The best part was the blackberry cobbler with ice cream! I feel like I gained about 20 pounds with just that one meal. If you go to Natural Bridge this summer, stop in and eat there. The food is amazing!!!

Lisa and I said that this should be our last childfree anniversary. Our adoption paperwork is in Russia at the moment. Thankfully, there has not been a shutdown of Russian adoptions. I know that it was reported in the news that adoptions had shut down thanks to that stupid woman in Tennessee. However, our adoption agency is still going strong! Lisa and I hope to have our referral in the next few months. After 18 years of just us, we are ready to expand our family. I think that we are ready for children now. Somehow, it just feels like it is time to start.

I love Lisa so much. Next year, maybe we will have Jacob to help us celebrate our anniversary. It may not be filled with musicals, big dinners, and a lot of travel...but it will be filled with love.

Until next week, class dismissed.

Be Proud of Who You Are!

Do this...don't do that. Eat this...don't eat that. Wear this...don't wear that. It seems like as a society, we just love being told what NOT to do. Everyday there is an article or a television show that is screaming at us that we are living our lives completely wrong. Obviously, we should all be wearing the latest designer clothing, eating the latest trendy foods, and working out 300 hours a day so that we can all be underwear models. Unfortunately, nobody can live up to these expectations. How does that make you feel?

The world is made up of all kinds of people. We have tall people and short people. There are fat people and skinny people. There are people who dress up every day and people who think that t-shirts are the highest fashion. And really, that is what makes this world such a great and interesting place.

Growing up in Eastern Kentucky, I've been entrenched in Appalachian culture my entire life. The sad truth is that I didn't really appreciate it. I tried to be like the people that I saw on television because that is what I considered to be "normal." I tried to mold my actions and even my speech patterns after them. I considered their ways of life to be something for which I should strive.

Television and the internet has brought a wealth of information into Appalachian society. That is a good thing. I'm not knocking it in any way. I'm a firm believer that more information is better and that we should all work toward becoming more and more knowledgeable about our world. What is sad is that our true Appalachian culture is disappearing.

In a world of iPods, iPads, wireless this, and hotspot that...we are becoming a global society. We share information and ideas with the world. The mountains used to shelter us and also kept us isolated. It had good points and bad. Mainly, the bad was that we were usually about 20 years behind everyone else in just about everything...lol! And old joke, but there was some truth in it, I'm afraid. What was good is that it kept our culture and ideals alive and well.

Now, there isn't that much strength in a local identity anymore. Just as I strived to become more like what I saw on television, others are working toward an identity that is more globally acceptable. We have gained a lot with technology...but it wasn't for free. We have given up a lot as well. When this is gone, unfortunately, it is gone for good.

Since our world is ever-changing and the impact of technology is growing each day, we here in Appalachia may feel that all is doomed. In some ways, this may be true. Nobody can travel back in time...at least not yet. Nobody can bring the past into the present. However, we don't have to feel that everything has to be lost. We can still flavor our lives with the spice of our ancestors. We can keep our cultural palettes alive by knowing that there is nothing wrong with just being ourselves.

Don't be ashamed to be yourself. Don't be ashamed to keep your family traditions alive. Don't be ashamed if your idea of a perfect life doesn't match what you are being feed by the mass media. Nobody knows you better than you do. Nobody can tell you how you are supposed to live.

It seems like the media loves to portray the image of the dumb, lazy hillbilly. When we think of Appalachia, what images come to mind? If we only getting our information from mass media, we may think of barefoot hillbillies who live in shanty houses with junk and trash all around. We may think of high poverty and ignorance. All of these are very negative images that get the high ratings that television stations love.

However, if we take another look at Appalachia, we may see things in another light. We can see people who are honest, friendly, hard-working, and independent. We see a love for family. We see a love for community. All of these are very positive images. Unfortunately, we don't see these images much in the modern media because they don't get those high ratings.

So I guess that what I'm trying to say is never be ashamed of where you come from or how you live. Every person is a valuable member of this world. We each have something to contribute. Nobody should ever feel that they are less important than anyone else on this planet. And as a culture, we should be proud of our Appalachian heritage. It may be shrinking as we become more of a global society, but we can bring the positive influences along with us. That can our gift to the world.

Take a moment today to be proud of who you are. Be proud of what you have accomplished in this life. And take a moment to consider just how much more you have to offer. You are important. You matter. Smile with that knowledge. And if you want to run barefoot through the grass on a warm spring day...well, then do it. After all, it IS one of life's little pleasures!

Until next week....class dismissed.

Powell County Reading Celebration

Everyone knows that when you start reading a really good book, the characters and events in the story seem to come to life for you. On Saturday, March 27th, book literally came to life at the 2nd annual Powell County Reading Celebration. This county wide celebration held at Clay City Elementary was a way for everyone in the county to get together and celebrate reading.

As a local author, I was invited to attend the event. I knew that it was going to be pretty cool to talk and interact with the kids at the schools in Powell County. However, I was not prepared for the amazing events that I saw! It all started when my wife Lisa and I arrived in Clay City. Immediately we could tell that this night was going to be a really big deal because we started seeing people holding signs that stated "Parking for Literacy Celebration." We hadn't even arrived at Clay City Elementary yet!

Arriving at the school, we unloaded the van and heading inside. I could see that this event was going to be a very big deal. The door was decorated to look like one was attending a major event...the Academy Awards! There were two large golden Oscars beside the door. The door itself was framed with silver and gold. The sign read "Where Books Come to Life." Things were getting more and more exciting!

Once inside, I saw that the events of the night would include more than just author signings. The rooms of the school had been turned into literacy showcases! Students and teachers from around the county had worked extremely hard to create performances based on literary works. For example, there were rooms where people could enter and view student performances of Dr. Seuss classics, Where the Wild Things Are, and even scenes from the Little House series. I was very impressed.

During the evening, other events were happening as well. There were book project scavenger hunts where students competed for prizes. There were rooms set aside as living wax museums where students were dressed as characters from their favorite books. There were prizes given away to the county's top Accelerated Reader students from each school. There was even a free dinner for everyone who attended.

Each student who attended the event was given a free t-shirt that proclaimed the joys of literacy. In addition, each student was given a free book. I thought that this was just simply amazing. Looking around at all of the people, you could see the joy and excitement on their faces. Everyone was so thrilled to be celebrating the joy of reading.

In some of the rooms, performances were being given by professionals performers. There were storytellers, artists, and Native American life performers. I also had the good fortune to meet and speak with Joe Bowen. While talking with him, I learned that he had walked all the way across the United States on stilts...once. He had ridden a bike across the United States...twice! Wow! I was in shock! That was simply amazing.

Taking my place with the other authors in the library, I was awed at the mass of people who traveled through the library. I spoke to so many wonderful parents, students, teachers, and community members that evening during my visit. I sold many of my books. It is always such a joy to me to get my books into the hands of people who love to read. Thanks to all the people who took time to speak with me and to look at my work. I do truly appreciate it.

I was able to showcase my newest book, Dark and Bloody, at this event. I used a nice foam board poster of my book to draw attention to it. It seemed to do the trick because several people were interested in it. I think that the fact that it is a book of short, scary stories helped. I also think that many people appreciated the fact that all of the stories are set in Kentucky...most of them right here in Eastern Kentucky.

I also had copies of my two children's poetry books, Nose Pickin' (and 50 Other Ways to Tickle Your Brain!) and Pumpkin Guts. I was thrilled to get these books into the hands of these excited kids.

At the end of the night, my wife and I packed up. We were pleased to receive a t-shirt as well. I will wear it with pride! The evening had been magical. How wonderful to just stop for a moment and celebrate reading. Reading is so important in all of our lives. It is vital that we express the importance of reading to our children. The Powell County Reading Celebration had done that.

I want to thank all of the nice people who invited me and made my wife and I feel at home. It was a very nice event. I look forward to attending next year.

If anyone wants a personally autographed copy of any of my books, please see my website (www.alonzofugate.com). You can also get them from Barnes and Noble and Amazon. In addition, Showtime Video in Jackson has some autographed copies of my latest book, Dark and Bloody, for sale. Showtime Video is a great place to eat and to get a great tan. My wife and I tan there all the time! Maybe I will see you there!

Until next week....class dismissed!

Warm Days and Elk Horns

Wow...what a beautiful weekend! It seems that Nature has decided to shine upon us for a while at least and give us the gift of warmer weather. Lisa and I went outside for our walk today instead of just walking on the treadmill. We walk up Little Buckhorn on a two-mile trek that we scoped out. It is a nice little walk and it allows us to actually talk to each other while we walk. This is different than the treadmill also. Usually then, Lisa just cranks up her iPod while I watch television. Usually I try to catch up on shows that I have recorded...like Brothers and Sisters. It is a great show but it comes on too late on Sunday night for me! That's a school night...and I'm in bed by then!

I spent most of this weekend giving my latest book Dark and Bloody the final edit. Now, I just have to give my publishers the final okay and it will be available...everywhere. Yes...I will have copies available soon. But the best place to purchase my books...just like most everything these days...is the internet. Don't you just love modern technology?

In adoption news, Lisa and I have all of our paperwork notarized and finalized! We are heading to the office of the Secretary of State tomorrow to hand deliver them. They have to be apostilled by the state of Kentucky. This just means that the state is saying the court system here in Breathitt County was able to verify our notary. Whew! Lots of paperwork! But after this last thing, we can send it to our adoption agency (Children's Hope International). They will send it to Russia and we will get assigned to a region. Russia is big country you know! We will keep you all informed!

This weekend, I was feeling a little down with the sniffles. So instead of going out, we stayed home. In a way, this was a good thing. Lisa and I had stopped off at Kemper Furniture on the way home last Friday and bought a new mattress set. It wasn't supposed to be delivered until Wednesday or Thursday, but they ended up delivering it on Saturday. What a treat! It sleeps so well! I didn't realize how poor our old mattress was until we got this new one. Kemper Furniture is a great place to shop for furniture!

On Saturday, while I took a nap and tried to get well, Lisa baked a cake. It was an oatmeal coconut cake and was very good! We ended up inviting my mom and dad around to share in the cake. My dad said that he was bringing something for me to see as well. It turned out that he was bringing us an elk horn that he had found! This thing is HUGE!

I was in shock when I saw it. We took some pics of it and posted it to my Facebook page. Dad gave it to us because he said that it would look good in our log home. I agree! LOL! We are thinking about getting it professionally mounted.

I will leave you this week with a pic of the elk horn. Enjoy! Remember, you can visit my webpage at www.alonzofugate.com. I am also on Facebook. You can email me at alfugate@yahoo.com.

Until next week...class dismissed!