The Harper Generations: Country Roads

Homage to my dad

Most of you that have been with me from the start know I wrote from personal experience while incorporating things about my family into the stories. It makes the stories more realistic.

The Gray Brothers was my mom's idea to write about my dad and his brothers. The brothers are loosely based on my dad and his brothers.

My dad was the inspiration for Nash as most know.

Now, here's another tidbit. Country Roads pays homage to the man himself and our trips to West Virginia since he came from the state. I pulled different experiences from my trip with my folks and put them into this book. Some of the chapters have mentions of my experiences with the author's notes or messages in parentheses. Yeah, they were interesting vacations in the great mountain state.

We visited several places mentioned. However, no demon hunting happened, but grave hopping did. We were doing genealogy research of our family.

Some of antics the kids experienced in this book did happen to me while visiting West Virginia. I walked down the steps that led to Blackwater Falls. It was a hike to get back up. I wanted to die while my dad laughed at me. He also didn't think I would climb the hill from my aunt and uncle's farm. Proved him wrong and wished I hadn't. That was a hike!

We took a boring ass train ride to Spruce Knob. Then I got stuck with family members that didn't like me. I don't know since I'm a delight. Eh, I wasn't a fan of theirs, either.

We saw Seneca Cavern. Yes, you need a jacket since it gets cold as hell there. It's also beautiful.

I got to ride on a four-wheeler, a cow stuck its head into my dad's car, and a porch swing collapsed with three family members sitting on it. Fun times. Did I mention I got it on video tape?

My dad would rise early to have coffee and watched the deer. He said it was his favorite thing to do when we were visiting. I had annoying cousins like Brandy. I saw a black bear and copperhead. I didn't encounter black widows or a rattlesnake. Thank god.

Dad had to attend church because I sic my aunt on him when he tried to weasel out of it. His reason was I needed Jesus more than he did. Yeah, okay.

We would got to shop and spend since my mom made the mistake and let my dad loose in the grocery store. My cousin's countertop looked like a connivence store with all the junk food. I understand why Dad didn't go grocery shopping with us when we were home.

We attended my uncle's family reunion. I didn't know anyone except for my grandpa's family. And they had a ton of food. I'm lucky I didn't gain fifty pounds when I returned home.

The truth is I had the best memories because of my dad. So, I returned the favor and bought him a homemade clock in the shape of West Virginia and gave it to him for his wedding anniversary. Did I mention my folks share their wedding anniversary with Elias and Marty's birthdays?

Country Roads is a trip down memory lane for me and my vacations with my folks. West Virginia was my dad's roots, but his family was his home. He's buried in Michigan beside my mom because his family is here.

Enjoy Country Roads.