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Coast to coast

My mother was the youngest of 15 children, born in the mountains of North Carolina. Her father, looking for work, moved his wife and the youngest family members to Washington state to work in the lumber industry. Upon retirement, my grandparents moved back to North Carolina.

Many years later, my mother herself moved back to North Carolina in order to take care of her ailing parents. As her only child, I moved from Washington across country with her. At 8 years of age, I can remember the absence of a culture shock. We had moved from a small town in northern Washington, rich with forests, to the mountains of western North Carolina. Other than the amount of snowfall, they are very similar.

However, the beauty of this area has compelled me to stay and raise my own two little boys. As an adult, I have been back to visit Washington. I can truly say that I have seen the beauty of this country from coast to coast, but Carolina is my home.

Paula Tate, Morganton, Rutherford EMC

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