The Old Home Place...

"What have they done to the old homeplace
And why did they tear it down
And why did I leave the plow in the field
And look for a job in the town."
--Written by Mitch Jayne covered by Dr. Ralph Stanley

Don't start with me. I know it has been entirely too long. I can say I have been so busy in the past few, but I know you won't buy it. My heart just hasn't been in it. I have so much going on that I could write a blog so long it would lock up your computer. Luckily for you, I won't.

If you haven't heard, we are moving to Raleigh, North Carolina. Beth was offered an opportunity she couldn't pass up and believe it or not, I encouraged her to make that decision. It was right for her. It was right for me. The future was nowhere for me where I was at with my company. I am moving to a place that will give me countless opportunities. I know you have several questions and I can answer them sufficiently.

I have already answered, "JD, why?" I will tell you that this is something I envisioned a while back. I always knew where I would be living in the future many times before. At Morehead, I knew at some point in time, I would live in Mt. Sterling, and it happened. Once there, I knew I would end up living in Lexington. Behold, that is where I have resided for the past five and a half years. About a year ago, I was on a business trip to Maryland and I had a layover in Charlotte, NC. As I was flying in I was looking out the window of the plane. I looked down at the land. I liked what I saw. There was tons of greenspace to be seen. I liked that. Something told me that someday, not knowing when, I would live in North Carolina. Not necessarily Charlotte, but somewhere in the green state of NC. Raleigh. Yes, Raleigh.

Raleigh reminds me a lot of Lexington, especially the southeast side of Lexington where I live. Everything is green and everything seems new. In Raleigh, everywhere you look you see trees. I am a big fan of trees. You can call it the Breathittcountyism in me. I dig that and you can use that term freely if you wish. The only thing missing in Raleigh, other than my loved ones, are the mountains. I can get over that as long as I can travel back to Kentucky. If you didn't know, you will pass by some of the prettiest mountain landscapes God has given us en route to his country.

No, I will not be a Duke fan or Tarheel fan. Come on, seriously, did you honestly think that would happen. Beth and I were UK season football and basketball ticket holders. Big Blue holds a near and dear place in my heart, right next to Mom's wet chocolate cake, lemon meringue pies, and chocolate whoopie pies. If I were to root for any team in the area, I would pull for NC State. Believe it or not, UNC and Duke are minor schools when it comes to fan base in the area.

What I will miss most? That is an excellent question. Thanks for bringing that up. I will miss the early fall mornings of heading down to Commonwealth Stadium for tailgating before a Wildcat's football game. The early morning chill with the grill full of sausages and pancakes on Cooper Drive topped off by a whiff of a cold Bud Light has a smell unrivaled of any tailgating experience I have encountered. The smell of hot burgoo and cigars while sitting on a bench at the finish line handicapping the days races at the legendary Keeneland Race Course. In the couple of hours before the amatuers start to show up on the first Friday in April, the aroma of freshly made popcorn is a sensory delight I will cherish until the end of the no other. I will miss the autumn drives to Jackson the most. The anticipation of seeing those most important to me framed by the smell of decaying leaves...geez, I swear it almost brings a tear to my eyes now just thinking about it. I will miss the the excitement in the air as I make my way down to Rupp Arena on first Sunday in March to watch the UK/Florida final home game of the basketball season. I will miss the smell of kettle corn as I wander through the farmer's market on Vine Street. I will miss the smell of freshly broke Kentucky White Half Runner green beans (is there really any other kind of green bean?). Damn, I could go on. Friday afternoons at BW3's, post BW3's cookouts at Island Pond, Malone's mini burgers, Charlie's Fish Market fish sandwiches, Lexington Legend's games, running into someone you least expected anywhere you go in Lexington. I love this place.

There are so many things I will miss, which hopefully be countered by the new experiences in North Carolina. I am excited to be relocating. Maybe, this is driven by the time I have lost living by myself with Beth in NC over the past month and half. I know we are doing right by us and Him. I know our loved ones are dissappointed and saddened, but understanding of our decision. I know I will be so regretful of missing the majority of the growing up of our nieces and nephew, Emma, Paige, and Simon. I guess that is part of the choice we have made. I know we will be happy to give them respite or place of safe harbor along with any other family member who will oblige us. Our door will always be open to you, whenever we will be so fortunate.

I hope later in life, we have the opportunity to find ourselves back in the Bluegrass. This truly is God's land. You really don't know what you have until you are telling it goodbye. I know where I am going will treat me right. It has all the makings of a great future. But, I swear by my Lord, Lexington and Kentucky collectively are the places where my dreams have come true. I just hope once I leave here, my dreams haven't run out. God bless Lexington, God bless the Bluegrass, God bless the hills of Eastern Kentucky, and God Bless the Commonwealth. I will miss you intensely. You are my home, no matter where my UK hat will hang. I will miss you.