Friends with a Mountain Girl

…why these mountain people were shy with strangers. They had never
learned the citified arts of hiding feeling or of smiling when the heart was
cold. Friendship was dangerous to them because they had built up not
protection against it. Once they let you in it must be into the deep
places of the heart….

…The mountain type of friendship was a tie of substance between people with a sort of gallant fealty about it. It had to do with a time in the past when there was no more final bond than a man’s pledged word; when every connection of blood and family was firm and strong, forged in the past, stretching into the future.

And so this kind of friendship was for life—yes, and for eternity, too. One would never deceive or defraud a friend, not allow him to be in need so long as you had one coin, one garment, or one meal to share with him. His sorrow was your sorrow; his joy, your cause for rejoicing too.
~~Catherine Marshall

Being back with my family and all that it is to be part of a proud mountain clan has it's own meaning in the world. Some may think that we are redneck, ignorant, or just plain dumb. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Sure, we have our redneck moments: I think there are at least 3 non-working vehicles and a boat on the property right now, but I can always count on a good Sunday Dinner and someone to show me how to use a weed eater. We love each other fiercely and with a loyalty that can't be matched. To be called friend and to be brought into the fold is an honor of the highest regard. If you are my friend, you are friend to the entire family and all will gladly give you anything you need in the name of that friendship.