Tags
Appalachia, Cora Adkins, history, inspiration, life, Lincoln County, love, Pearl Adkins, U.S. South, West Virginia, writers, writing
“My dear, dear dream boy came one evening,” Pearl wrote in May or June. “He stayed all night. After supper I was sitting on the porch. Cora was out there. My heart dearest came and sit down at my feet. He talked to Cora of first one thing then another. He changed the subject all at once and asked Cora if the doctors thought there was any chance for me ever to walk. I don’t remember the talk for I felt slighted and hurt. To think he would sit at my feet and then ask some one else about my walking powers, if there was any chance of me ever.
“Well, I spent another sleepless night for he slept in the next room. I can now see him as I write next morning at the breakfast table. I looked across the table straight into those clear but sad eyes — those eyes which sent the blood over my neck and face to burn my fevered brain. He is gone and left a heavier heart and a sadder face behind him than was there when he came. I don’t guess he ever thought of the joy he brings to a sad and lonely woman when he comes or even dreamed of such a thing that I loved him. Well, I don’t care if he ever knows. I love him just the same.”
Brandon Ray Kirk 
Hi Brandon… What a surprise to find all of this. Before daylight this morning I was clicking through FB messages posted by others and found Willa Thompson’s post. Pearl’s diary is wonderful. I once saw a few pages of her diary several years ago but had no idea it was this extensive. Do we have any idea who Mr. Nobody is? “His eye were like lurking shadows of those on a forest pool.” She shows a bent toward writing for sure. I wonder about her education. She certainly was articulate and wrote well.
I love the pictures you’ve posted. I’d never seen these. I would never have guessed that was Big Mommy (Inez) with Aunt Cora. I’ve called Mother to tell her what you have shared here. She has a cold but is going to come down later if she’s up to it. Mother was diagnosed a couple of years ago with MDS, a form of leukemia which is being treated. Her health is fairly good, considering. She still drives at age 84.
Throughout the years I’ve tried to write things down as Mother meanders through the past, but those efforts are buried somewhere in decades of notebooks containing my own journal efforts. Overall I write on the computer these days. This is all personal stuff of course and started out mostly as a way of prayer, back in the early l980’s. The writing became part of a daily ritual that has served me well on many levels, from therapy to the nudge to preserve something of daily life as we live it. I no longer pray, or if I do I speak to Grandmother Wealthy or one of the other mothers long gone. Anyway, I so appreciate Pearl’s efforts to speak through her diary and am grateful to feel her presence thorough what’s you’ve shared. I have some vague memory of sitting with Larry Zane on the footrests of Pearl’s wheelchair. I look forward to reading everything else you’ve written. Thank you for making all this available. Thank you, too, for Christmas cards received these past two years. Our address has changed from the one you have. We now live at l4l5 Washington Blvd., in the same neighborhood. Hardly anybody sends cards anymore so those few that come in the mail are especially appreciated. I hope to do better with this old holiday ritual in the future. Thank you again for all your work in preserving history. Jan
Jan, it is so good to hear from you. I am glad you enjoy the blog. It means a lot to know that, especially from you. Please give your mother my best regards. I hope we can see each other soon.
Hi. My husband Cliff Brumfield is a very distant cousin of the notorious Paris Brumfield. I am doing research into the Brumfields and was most interested to read all the information on your site.
Also, I was very moved by the extracts from Pearl Adkins’ diary about her unrequited love for the un named man. I would love to know more about her, as I don’t know where she fits in the family tree. Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Rosemary Brumfield
Torquay, Devon, UK