Why The east with it"s hillbilly reputation?

[Kay Thompson Fields]

Being a native Texan was never a particular point of pride with me.Actually I never experienced any Pride of Place loyalty.So, as a semi-old individual when my recently adopted home got me all jiggy and full of warm and fuzzy feelings, I was a bit surprised..I am totally aware my long suffering family, friends and random" victims" feel I have way "overshared" photos and commentary regarding Eastern Tennessee..East of the Mississippi was never really on my radar..Asking me about what I thought about Tennessee would have elicited a comment about Nashville and country music or as a young girl obsessed with horses I would have quoted chapter and verse an insane amount of information regarding Tennessee Walking horses..I am not certain I realized Dolly Parton was from Tennessee,much less the patron saint of Eastern Tennessee..So since moving here I have tried not to become an obviously transplanted Texan and replicate my prior pursuits and interests.It has been most interesting to observe some cultural differences between the folks in Eastern Tennessee and North Texas..(Margaret Meade I am not, but I do tend to observe) Folks here are not accustomed to driving long distances either to work,shop or recreate. It is not a commuting culture as in parts of Texas.Probably there are multiple reasons for this. There is NO vehicle inspection in Tennessee.. 20+year old vehicles are not uncommon at all.. Unsafe at any speed could and should be the designation for many of these "Cars".. Thusly these vehicles actually could not go very far.Also there is a lot of poverty here.. Gas is a major factor for lots of folks..But on the flip side they do love their ROD RUNS.. Old classic American cars line Route 66 in Sevierville during the "season" on many weekends.. These cars just sit there and then they drive up and down the road waving to folks.. It reminds me of high school when people used to circle their Impalas and whatever endlessly through Lone Star Drive In on Camp Bowie..Often they are well lubricated with adult beverages. Then you factor in the motorcycle culture and stir in the boating folk with their Huge Huge powerful engines and all the little folk roaring around on their hideously expensive ATV"s and no wonder cars are not really a big deal..Bass Pro Shop here is the Biggest Deal Ever unless it is The Knife Works which bears the title of the World"s largest knife museum and store in the Universe or something.. Then there is The Lodge Factory store where all things cast iron RULE!!!!!!!!!! Then my personal favorite is The Christian Outlet Store where I actually worked part time for awhile...This store is HUGE!!!!!! Think giant warehouse...This store is unlike any Christian store you have ever visited.. People come from All Over the East to spend money on bizarre items.. I am located a day"s drive from almost anywhere in the east so tourism is HUGE.. Buses from West Virginia would arrive with kids clutching $20 bills and you could hardly imagine the povery. They would buy stuff at Christian Outlet and be on their way to church camp or wherever..I will include some pictures in this blog of some of our "gift items" My personal favorites  were the wooden spoon angels and the bears kneeling in front of the cross.. Seriously, this stuff was not cheap and people flocked to buy.. Tennessee has the lowest COLA in the Southeast and the 2nd lowest in the United States..It also pays third world wages...In Knoxville a personal friend of mine is the lead designer at an architectural firm and has a masters and is thrilled to make 40k annually.. In the Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Gatlinburg area most folks make minium wage ..That is correct $7.25 per hour.. So many adults work two part time jobs to survive...So why don"t they leave and get a better paying job.. They literally cannot afford to miss work to interview somewhere else or can"t afford the gas to get there..Also this area is defined by faith and family so folks would rather struggle financially then leave.But there is a flip side to this also.. When I first moved here I made a friend at Curves.. She was about my age and a twin..Her name is Donna and her twin"s name is Lonna(seriously).. I asked Donna if we could go to Dollywood together since she was a native. .. The day we were to go she called and asked if I minded if she brought along a girl she was trying to help.. When they arrived it was obvious that Tina had many issues.. She was not Down"s, but was very slow and had never had anyone work on her life skills..She was also obese and had dental issues.. We go to Dollywood.. Donna pays for Tina, rides all the kid"s rides with her, buys her several expensive souvenirs,buys her snacks, and when we leave we go to dinner.. Unfortunately eating is way too big a deal here.. We go to Carino"s Donna buys her meal.. In later discusssions Donna tells me she just felt Tina needed some special attention.. In Tennessee folks see a need, they step up and fill it..This area is about 95% Caucasian and mostly Baptist and Mormon..There are of course many wealthy folks, but not a lot are from here.. The majority of the money is from transplants..Most women who are professionals here are in the medical field or the teaching field..Home schooling is huge here..There are virtually no Country Day type situations and the parochial and Christian schools are limited...So people home school .. Not all their reason do I necessarily agree with.. But the commitment to home school and do it well, I really respect..As far as sterotypes..There is not a lot of dental floss here..Of course the diversity of topography is amazing.. There is something for everyone.. Mountains,lakes, and easy access to the ocean..Then for us leaf peepers.. the changing seasons are a true miracle.. I have been more than thrilled with my experience.. Some interesting pics to follow