My Old Kentucky Home

It's been a long time since I have done anything at all.  I ride my bike to the library to borrow Six Feet Under DVDs.  I've made it through seasons 2 and 3 more quickly than I'd like to admit.  Sad, yes; entertaining?  Also yes.

Yesterday, I was able to go on to the Naval Base just 1.5 miles from my house--near the airport.  It was one of my jobs' (I have more than one which is "uniquely American" according to good ol' W.) graduation day.  It was freezing cold in the morning (probably around 60.  Not freezing exactly, but freezing none the less), but it turned out to be a great day.  The graduation speaker was the owner of Taylor Guitars.  His commencement speech was all about following your dream, but more importantly, knowing what your dream is.  A good speech, but not anything dramatically different from any other commencement speech.  But--BUT--BUT--he admitted he wasn't the best guitar player although he had a passion for building them.  He invited his friend to the ceremony to actually play the Liberty Tree guitar.  And the guitar struck my heart strings, and I became very homesick.

He played music that one would hear at the Grand Ol' Opry (he was traveling there this week), music that makes me feel comfortable.  There is just something about the Grand Ol' South that makes me want to smile.

While living abroad, the other expats might say something negative about the US and I could always let it go...It never really bothered me.  But the minute ANYONE said ANYTHING negative about the south, I would lose it.  I remember this one idiot I met in Hongdae with E.  She brought him to our table and was like, "This is Casper."  First of all, dumb name.  He sat down.  We began asking the usual expat questionnaire:

Me:    Where are you from?
Him:  Boston, what about you?
Me:    Kentucky.
Him:  Kentucky?!?!  Oh I bet your dad has 5 different wives and you live in a trailer park!  HAHhaha..
Me:   (Slamming beer onto table) GET THE F*** AWAY FROM ME, A**HOLE!

There was more to my response, but you get the drift.  Later he explained to me that he was just testing me...to see if I was cool.  Only people with low self-esteem test other people to see if they're cool.  Especially that way.

Maybe it's Father's Day.  Maybe it's the guitar pickin'.  Maybe it's the June Gloom.  But I am seriously missing my old Kentucky home.