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OCTOBER 2022
WALKING IN THE SHOES OF THE BLUE PEOPLE WHAT I LEARNED READING ‘THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK’
I first heard about “the Kentucky blue people” by chance about 10 years ago. I was trying to help a client find a chiropractor in Hazard when I came across Fugate Family Chiropractic online. I quickly Googled the name “Fugate” to learn more about the facility — and images of blue-skinned people popped up! That search sent me down a rabbit hole. I discovered that the Fugate family has lived in Kentucky’s Appalachian Mountains for about 200 years. Since the very early days, members of the family have had blue skin because of a combination of rare recessive genes. The genes cause a blood disorder that can be passed on from parents to children. I thought the story was fascinating, but I mostly forgot about it until 2020 when I picked up a copy of “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Michele Richardson. (Trigger warning: This book includes both racism and violence against women.) I felt a personal connection to the story right away. The main character of the book, Cussy Mary, who loves to read, lives in rural Kentucky in the 1930s. She works for the Works Progress Administration that President Roosevelt created during the Great Depression, just like my grandfather did! But while my grandfather was a lumberjack, Cussy spends her days delivering library books to the isolated people in the Eastern Kentucky hills. To complicate matters even more, Cussy is one of the blue people.
“The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” was riveting to me. It’s fictionalized, but it covered so much real history! I found myself looking up the names of different herbs that many of the characters foraged in the woods (Cussy used them for poultices because she couldn’t afford medicine) and cheering on her love story. Her love interest didn’t look down on her for being smart or feel threatened by her. Instead, he admired her tenacity and gumption and didn’t care what color her skin was or how much money she stood to inherit.
lady sitting next to me struck up a conversation. She told me she’d been in Kentucky researching her family history and had gone to the gravesite of one of her family members to clean up the tombstone. She showed me a photo, and I recognized the name right away! “Oh, the Fugates!” I said, “I read about the Fugates when I referred a client in that area to Fugate Chiropractic years ago.”
This started up a discussion about the book. which she was familiar with. Our conversation got me thinking, and afterward I picked up the second book in the “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” series — “The Book Woman’s Daughter.” It was just as interesting as the first one.
Reading Cussy’s story, I learned a lot about what it was like to be both a woman and a blue person at that time. For example, women back then typically weren’t allowed to have a job unless they were widowed or single. And blue people faced horrific treatment because of their skin color! Cussy experienced the same kind of racism that many Black and Hispanic people do today.
October is National Book Month, and if you’re looking for something to read I’d definitely recommend “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.” Sometimes it’s really enlightening to step into the shoes of someone with different experiences from you.
Cussy’s story stuck with me after I read it, and it popped into my mind again this year. I was sitting on a plane on my way to a conference when a
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HAVE A SPOOKY GOOD TIME
WHILE KEEPING SAFETY IN MIND Halloween is all about letting the ghoul times roll, but monsters and ghosts aren’t the only things parents need to worry about this holiday. Most older kids don’t want an adult chaperoning — they want to venture off with their friends to enjoy the night all on their own.
a curfew time is essential so you know when to expect their return. This way if something happens and you cannot reach them or they aren’t back in time, you have a general idea of where they can be on the route. Pack the essentials. Always make sure your child has their phone on them in case of an emergency, no matter if it’s to call you or an emergency line. You could even share locations so you’re able to track where they are or use another location tracking app like Life360 or FamiSafe that’s available on your devices. If they plan to stay out for a while, have your child take water bottles, flashlights, and even a small first-aid kit with them. They actually come in handy when exploring the Halloween night and the unexpected happens.
Here are a few safety tips so that you and your older kids can enjoy the spooky evening with no worries.
Plan a route and curfew. Some older kids still love the nostalgia of trick-or-treating, or maybe they plan to pull some Halloween pranks with their friends. Whatever the reason may be, they may want to enjoy the evening without a parent. One of the best ways to make sure they’re staying safe is to plan a route and a curfew. Choose which routes you feel comfortable with them going on, either somewhere nearby or somewhere in the neighborhood. And choosing
Older kids deserve a bit of freedom, as long as they can do it responsibly. Consider these tips to make sure the night is trick-free and full of the best treats.
MELISSA’S PARENTS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS TOGETHER THIS IS MY JOY — WHAT’S YOURS?
In our August newsletter, I told you one of my big plans for this summer was to celebrate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. It was an absolute blast! There was an overwhelming amount of joy in the room — as I’m sure you can tell from our faces.
How have YOU celebrated with your family in the last year after months of pandemic separation? I’d love to see your joy!
Take a minute to scan the QR code on this page or visit Facebook.com/ EmeryLawOffice . Then, scroll down to my “Happy Anniversary” post and share a photo of your family get-together in the comments. Let’s fill our Facebook feed with love and laughter, just in time for the holidays!
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IS YOUR CAR WINTER- READY? 3 Surprising Things to Check During Fall Car Care Month October is Fall Car Care Month, and the best way to celebrate it is by getting your vehicle ready for winter. Kentucky’s icy roads and snowstorms can get dangerous! To protect your family now, follow the advice of the Car Care Council and check these three things. 1. Your gas tank. Did you know that during the winter, experts recommend keeping your gas tank at least half full at all times? Keeping a large amount of gas in reserve can stop moisture from forming and freezing in your gas lines. If this happens, you might not be able to start your car, or your engine might sputter or stall. 2. Your exhaust system. To check this, we recommend taking your car to a professional for an exhaust inspection. They’ll be able to spot dangerous carbon monoxide leaks that could give you carbon monoxide poisoning and potentially make you pass out behind the wheel. These leaks are serious year-round, but during the winter when you keep your windows rolled up, they’re more likely to cause dangerous symptoms. If you’re really worried about carbon monoxide leaks, buy a battery-operated detector for your car. You can get one on Amazon for around $20. If it ever goes off, have your car towed to the shop for an inspection and pay a visit to your doctor. 3. Your wiper fluid. Most people don’t realize it, but you can swap your ordinary wiper fluid for cold-weather fluid for the winter. It’s wise to check your wipers at the same time, because the last thing you want to deal with is a wiper blade breaking during a snow or rainstorm. Consider replacing your blades if they’re more than six months old and swapping them for winter wipers. (Yes, there are winter wipers — think of them as snow tires for your windshield.) Want to learn more handy tips? Visit CarCare.org and select “Car Care Tips” in the “Car Care Resources” drop-down menu. The “Motorist Checklist for Fall Car Care Month in October” is a wonderful, comprehensive guide.
HAVE A LAUGH!
INGREDIENTS
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24 oz frozen meatballs 16 oz spaghetti noodles 24-oz jar spaghetti sauce
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2–3 slices of mozzarella cheese
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Sliced black olives
DIRECTIONS
1. Cook frozen meatballs according to package instructions, then keep warm in oven on low heat. 2. In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add spaghetti noodles. Cook until tender and drain. 3. In a small pot, heat spaghetti sauce over medium heat until warm. 4. After everything is cooked, mix noodles and spaghetti sauce together, then put the mixture into a serving bowl. 5. Slice the meatballs in half and mix half of the slices into spaghetti. Top the spaghetti with the remaining meatball slices with the flat sides up. 6. Cut slices of mozzarella cheese into circles and place one slice on each of the flat-topped meatballs. Then, put one black olive over each cheese circle to form the eyeballs. Serve and enjoy!
Inspired by FavFamilyRecipes.com
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call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
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INSIDE
MELISSA’S RECOMMENDATION FOR NATIONAL BOOK MONTH 1
HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS
SHARE YOUR JOY WITH US 2 PREPARE YOUR CAR FOR THE WINTER AHEAD
SPOOKY SPAGHETTI AND EYEBALLS 3
IT’S WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY! 4
IT’S WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY!
Teachers have impacted you and your children's lives in more ways than one. Maybe they inspired you to take a certain career path, always understood you, or were there for you or your child when it was needed. Teachers have a demanding job, so in honor of World Teachers’ Day on Oct. 5, let's take some time to appreciate them. Here are three ways to show your gratitude this month. Donate school supplies. Some teachers spend personal funds to purchase school supplies for their classrooms. This expense can become costly, especially if they provide for multiple students. Donate unused notebooks, pencils, pens, or other school supplies to a teacher. Some teachers even have wish lists available if you want to purchase new items for their classrooms. They will appreciate your kindness, and the children who need these supplies will also be grateful. Write thank-you letters. If you had a teacher who impacted your life, or if your child has a favorite teacher, write them a thank-you note. Handwritten notes are more 3 WAYS TO SHOW GRATITUDE
meaningful than ones you buy at the store. It shows you put in time and effort to create something specifically for them. You can write about a favorite memory you had with them or the ways they’ve inspired you. If you’re feeling extra generous, add a gift card to the note! A small message can go a long way in turning someone’s day around. Volunteer when you can. In addition to teaching in the classroom, teachers need to chaperone students during field trips, recess, lunch, and standardized tests. Contact your child’s school and see when they need volunteers to help with these activities. Teachers will greatly appreciate it because they will have a chance to take a break or organize their materials for the next class. Even if it’s just for the day or a few hours, teachers will appreciate the extra assistance. Teachers play a vital role in preparing our children for the real world. They teach them vital social skills and problem-solving strategies that will assist them as they age. So, let’s take some time to show appreciation for their dedication to our children.
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