Coal Camp Teens

Join this, often humorous, walk down memory lane. Find out: Why an apple rolled down the Isle of the Putney church, If Ed got the point, Where Gobbler's Knob is, Who cooked Steve's duck, Where did Jody get that prize beagle, What was Jerry's surprise, Why Emma's play was canceled, How David got into such a tight situation, Why did Jesse James get kicked out of school, Who in the world is "Pampers," Why did Raymond un-quit, How come Larry's Lincoln was only a two speed, And who Sparky is. We survived, with some wonderful memories. This teenage stuff isn't always easy, but it can be great fun.

Teenagers are a strange mixture of hormones, guts and uncertainty. Add in a healthy dose of orneriness, a lot of rock-and-roll, a dance step or two, a few likeminded friends and you'll get trouble enough. If however, you throw in, a little coal dust, a swimming hole, a taste of Roy's moonshine, a bunch of school skipping, some military service, red blue jeans, Judy's bottle of Listerine, and a thick layer of snow and ice, then you have real West Virginia Coal Camp trouble. To say that we grew up poor is an understatement, but don't forget, we grew up in a great country that afforded us luxuries and opportunities that make us seem very wealthy in the eyes of most of the world. For that I am very grateful.

"Coal Camp Teens" weren't so different from other teens, or were they? The rich culture of the mines and the hills, blended together to fashion people who were especially strong. No one ever said that teenage years were easy. Sure there were fun times and memories that will be cherished for the rest of our lives. There were also lessons to be learned. Learning lessons is especially hard when you think you already know it all. There is nothing good about a paddling, unless you learn something from it. There is not much good that can be said about war, except when it is necessary to preserves our freedom. In much the same way, the trials and temptations that filled our teenage years are nothing to brag about, except that they made us what we are today. "Coal Camp Teens" explores the strange world of the teenager. In particular, the teenager growing up in the coal camps of Campbell's Creek, West Virginia.