MagsMac ‘n’ Cheese

#Best09: Almost Heaven West Virginia

This post is written in response to Gwen’s Best of 2009 Blog Challenge. Head on over to her blog and check it out!

December 11: The Best Place. A coffee shop? A pub? A retreat center? A cubicle? A nook?

This one was easy for me. As soon as I read the prompt, I knew what place I would be writing about.

Almost heaven, West Virginia,
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River.
Life is old there, older than the trees,
Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze.
Country Roads, take me home,
To the place I belong:
West Virginia, mountain momma,
Take me home, country roads.

- John Denver

My Mom’s family is from a tiny town in West Virgina named Hinton. It is tucked between two rivers in the mountains and the only place to get a pair of shoes is Magic Mart. They now boast a Subway restaurant (watch out world!) and the only bar in town is a cute little joint called Pop’s.

Of all the places I’ve traveled, Hinton is one of my favorite places in the world because going back always feels more like going home.

In October we went back for my cousin’s wedding. It took place in a tiny cabin high in the mountains and my uncle officiated. After the service we drank moonshine and stayed up all night talking around a fire. Another uncle brought out his fiddle and we sang “Country Roads” by John Denver.

We are a family that is very much in love and we laugh all the time. We value our roots and tradition is important to us. We like passing things along… including names.

The top picture below is one of my favorite of all time. It best illustrates both the beauty of West Virginia and the sense of consistency I have when I am there.

In every generation of our family, there is a Margaret. I am the one that belongs in this generation. Pictured is Grandma Margaret, Aunt Peggy (which is a nick-name for Margaret), Baby Margaret and me.

Every time I look at this picture… my breathe catches in my throat. What an amazing place.

Just the three of us:

The whole crew:

My beloved other half:

A few more cousins:

Cheese served up by MagsMac