Sunday, May 17, 2009

My People

A couple of weeks ago, Keith and I made a day trip to Pigeon Forge, TN for a car show. What kind of car show? I dunno! Cars aren't my thing. Ironically, I work at a super-high-end auto restoration shop. A shop where men spend as much as 10 times more on restoring one vehicle than I earn in an entire year. Yeah, that kind of "super-high-end". Keith, being the car buff that he is, drools every time he steps foot in the shop. I joke that he first decided he loved me when he discovered where I work...lol! Don't think that's necessarily true, but it sure didn't hurt. Back to my story. Pigeon Forge is only a reasonable 1-1/2 hours from my house, making it a perfect Saturday adventure. We loaded the car with snacks and two 10-year-old little girls and took off. After meandering through the mountains of Tennessee, battling major traffic and fighting for a parking space we did what we came to do...look at cars! Cars like this...





And this...



And trucks like this...



It's pretty easy to see why this was a guy's real-life fantasy...cars, cars and more cars.

However, I burned out after the first, oh say, 30 minutes. After that it all became a blur. Each car looked the same, well, except some were different colors. So I did what any good wanna-be photographer would do and I turned the camera on the people.

What I saw through my lens that day was entertaining as well as enlightening. To fully appreciate this statement, you must first understand the term "red-neck". You see, Tennessee is a mecca for the stereotypical red-neck. And the car show only serves as a beacon for red-necks far and wide to gather and drool...literally...over these beautimus hunks of metal.
If only I could capture the sounds of that day. Statements like, "D'ya git a load a that thar truck bed? Itz a nice un." (Spelled phonetically for your benefit!) "She-it, tha' uns a good 'un! Purty now ain't it!" "Ooo-eee! Ain't tha' a nice 'un!" "I'd shor' like t'uh git my hands on that 'un!" "How much d'ya think that 'un cost?" "Shor' nuf it'd be a pruty penny!" These phrases reverberated through the air over and over, mingled with the sound of tobacco juice being splattered on the pavement.
Of course, being the country girl that I am, this was nothing new to me. These are my people, people! And a lovely lot they are. While many a joke has been cracked at their expense, nowhere else on earth will you find more genuine, loving folks. They will welcome you with open arms and give you the shirt off their back. That is, if they happen to be wearing one. lol!

When I first began snapping photos, I was doing so with a bit of unintentional maliciousness. Honestly, I was snapping photos for a blog post entitled "Crimes of Fashion...What Not To Wear!"...a funny recounting of a multitude of fashion mishaps. But the sensitive, loyal-to-my-people side of me couldn't quite bring myself to poke fun. Laughter is just not medicine-for-the-soul when it comes at the expense of others. It's way too bitter going down.

The more I clicked away, the more guilty I felt. And then a thought entered my mind. I have a "friend" (quotations used for emphasis that this person wasn't really a friend) that always made a single snide comment about the people living in this area. She constantly asked this question, thinking someone would really answer. Her question was this:"Where are all the pretty people?" She would always ask this with an annoying air of arrogance. Those 6 words were vile to me. My blood would boil and my temper would flare each time she uttered them. But I always bit my tongue. I never said a word. I knew nothing I could say would get through to her. She was literally unable to see inner beauty.

As I mulled this over, I began to visualize a different blog post. The images I wanted to share were those that showed the enormous amount of beauty I witness on a daily basis. The beauty of people who are happy with the simple things. People who are joyous over being with those they love. Simple people, living simple lives, knowing the secret to having it all.

I present to you the pretty people.




The original post included a slide show of these beautiful people. However, the host site no longer exists. I will update with the images soon.



P.S. I had many a laugh that day. Everyone was so open to having their photo taken. But one couple tipped my giggle box. After posing for my photo, the husband turned to his wife and said, "Now I wunder which paper we're gonna be in! We jus' might be famous, huh?"

I thanked them for the photo, smiled a heart-felt smile, then walked away before I chuckled out loud! :)

33 comments:

  1. I love Pigeon Forge and I am so in love with this post! You are so awesome and I love these beautiful pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's in the simple things that we appreciate the most. Your article is written with real emotions, very nice pictures and beautiful people.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My hubby us drooling over those cars!!! LOL :):):):):) AND AMENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN to YOUR PRETTY PEOPLE slide show!!!!!!!! I HAVE FOREVER FOREVER FOREVER seen the BEAUTY in all PEOPLE....never being a "pretty person" to most....I have ALWAYS been hurt that people only look for the "skin deep" beauty....sooooooooooooooooooooo I LOVE you EVEN MORE for this POST! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well I'll be danged, Lisa! She-it, you sho know how to make me smile :)
    I think it's great that you can see the true beauty in people. What a eye opening post.
    Enjoy your Sunday ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love this post! LOL!!!!! Life is all about doing what we love with those we love...your photo gallery sure does show that!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a tribute to the person that you are!!!! Now I know why we are so connected. Look at what you saw and shared with us!!! The real in people!!! Not the pretentious, but the real, life loving people!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!!! Hope your weekend was wonderful!!! I miss you, you haven't spoken in a week and it feels like forever!!!!! I talked with Sandra and we are so all getting together!!!! I MEAN IT!!! Love you sweet friend!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I totally love your spirit, lisa. I love that you turned your photo taking into something posititve, and I love even more that you are able to see the pretty in everyone. We need more people like you in this world!! I got a total giggle at you describing your day and how all the cars started to look the same - I would have been the same way ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love love love your pretty people slide show. The cars are purty cool too. You should submit the photo you took of the couple to the paper. I bet you could write an awesome story and submit it, too. We need those wonderful thoughts to be shared these days. Makes us look at the world in a whole new perspective. Happy simple people!!! Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. OMG!!! Lisa I just love this post and your take on "real people" I grew up with a Dad who is an antique car buff, restoring cars, and the whole shebang.. Oh the car/ truck stories we could share.. You have a great eye for photography and captured the essence of those who love that hobby!! Hats off to you!
    You truly wrote a great post today, and I definately like your style friend!!
    P. S. The silver Camero is mine... lol

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sounds like a FUN day with the people you ♥ most! And even if you did end up bored after awhile, you made it interesting after all! :-)

    Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love your post and can relate. Grew up in a small town, every one know every one. Moved away for 30 years and moved back about 5 years ago ( my parents are still in Lake City). Over those 40 years I lived in Orlando, Miami and most recently in West Palm Beach for 15 years ( BIG difference in the people-no explaination needed).

    Grateful, happy, friendly people live in Lake City!

    Just last week I was walking up to a door at work and a yound man came running up to the door to open it for me.

    Was telling my husband today about this kid and it reminded me of a time that my daugter and I were at the mall in West Palm Beach. She was about 12 or 13 and we were at the entrance of the mall. She opened the door for an older couple and a slew of people proceeded to go in the door she was holding open. Of the 8-10 people that went in the door not one of them thanked her for holding the door for them. I told her how sweet she was for being so kind and thanked her.

    It is nice to see that some people still teach their sons manners.

    I bet most of these beautiful people treated you with kindness and manners. Have a wonderful week.- Gayle

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the slide show my friend and your post!! YOur blog is a treasure girl!!! Hope you have a great day!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow, you really did capture some beauty!! The smiles, hand holdings and arms embracing... what a great site!! I agree, them there folks may be simple, but how wonderful is it to see people find joy in the simplest of things?! Oh and the car pics are great too!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. love this slideshow. it's the country where i live too :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love the pics that you captured. Truly beautiful. At 18 I couldn't wait to get away from my small town. Now I have moved back here to be around "my people" while I raise my babies. I totally relate to this post. Glad you had a good weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  17. what a FUN day! I would love to go to something like this... well.. at least once.. lol
    i know what you mean.. (in fact I just made a 'comment' bout that on my blog post today..
    I live in a very "beverly hills 90210" area, but surrounded by exactly what you are talking about. but, I would say that those people don't have nearly the stresses.. b/c they just 'be'. they take life one day at a time. have no ambition to 'get up the ladder' , they'll stand and talk in a parking lot, b/c they have all the time in the world.
    I still need to get to a big city one day(mine is about 140k), butI appreciate the folks at a slower pace.. actually enjoying each moment!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I hear ya, on the cars! I don't 'get' cars... if they have 4 wheels, you put in gas and passengers, groceries, etc.... it's all the same to me..

    I love your pictures!! I should take a look around through my camera the way you did... I guess in a way you see so much more! Thanks for sharing that! :o)

    Hope you had a great weekend!
    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  19. Which paper should I look for the reviews in? I love happy fun people. Not a big fan of car show but I do love to see the older mustangs. I would love an older barbie pink mustang with zebra insides. DH says hell no. lol

    PS. I use photoshop for sketches. It has so many features, I use it for everything.

    ReplyDelete
  20. How fun! I love all your photos of the real people. They make the world go round, know what I mean? And i'm not into cars, but some of those cars looked beautiful!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love your post today Lisa. Thank you for the smile!

    ReplyDelete
  22. We had a couple of car shows in town this weekend and hubby wanted to go, but we missed them both.
    I loved your take on the 'pretty people'. I find the older I get the more I realize that the 'pretty' people are the ones that keep their mouths shut, and their hearts open.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Another great story Lisa! Who would of thought a bunch of old cars would make an awesome post? My BF has an old truck that his grandmpa gave him and he can't wait to restore it. Love Pigeon Forge, I found a store there that makes the best turkey jerkey!

    ReplyDelete
  24. what an amazing blog post! Loved it! I have a brother in Denver that works for a shop that restores cars...this would be right up his alley!!! Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hilarious. I think I saw someone I knew in there! (Kidding.) OMG, you crack me up.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow...this is an awesome post! It brought tears to my eyes to read your words and view the pictures after them, and kudos to you for being a bigger person :) I am from a very rural, "red-necky" area as well, and while sometimes I get SOOO frustrated with some of the choices people make, it is just amazing to see the love and the bond and the help-your-neighbor attitude among hill people. Yep, that's me, I'm a country hill person from the foothills of Appalachia (and proud of it! lol).

    I have been begging hubby for a trip to Pigeon Forge (about 4 hours for me)...if it ever works out that I could go you so should meet me there! I have never met an online friend IRL before...

    PS--You need to check out my spotlight post from Friday/Saturday.

    ReplyDelete
  27. first of all, some of those people are my neighbors! jk ;) i know what you mean though. it's the spirit of a certain way of life that i think is so amazing. they don't need to pick up a cosmo mag and feel like crap b/c they don't care. i think more of us need to embrace that but then there is that whole "media" issue..dont' get me started on that

    ReplyDelete
  28. How funny! Those are my people too! No one really cares that I carry a Louis Vuitton purse and wear Chanel and Versace...I still ride a Harley and say y'all...I can tell ya about jumping terraces on the back 40 growing up and wearing gum boots to feed the pigs because it was so muddy outside...Those are my people...that is where I come from. p.s. we rode through Tennessee on the way to North Carolina and Tennessee has the best, smoothest roads...which is nice when you are riding a thousand miles on the back of a Fatboy! :)
    Thanks for the post!!!!! Takes me back!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh Honey...I just want to say THANK YOU for my goodies box and those cookies are awesome!!!!! I cannot believe that they deliver them hot!!! I would weigh 800 pounds....maybe Joe and I should not check out NC as a spot to retire!!!! Love ya chickie and again THANK YOU!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a beautiful style of writing. This post is really nicely done. Thank you for your insight.

    ReplyDelete
  31. when I was married...my husbank was into restoring corvettes...needless to say I went to every car show there was..and your right...they are pretty but you can only see so many!!! Nice video girl!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Great article Lisa and the photos were awesome too...
    I'm with ya on the car shows though!
    Have a great week!
    Hugs....
    Dedra

    ReplyDelete
  33. I like this post Lisa, and I love those pretty people-pictures. This is so you, or at least this is definitely the you I imagine you to be and who I love.
    xxx Peggy

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.