About Me—the Melodrama

mel·o·dra·ma  (ml-dräm, -drm)n.
 A drama, such as a play, film, or television program, characterized by exaggerated emotions, stereotypical characters, and interpersonal conflicts.

Old house overlooking Walnut Grove Cemetery, Martins Ferry, Ohio

         

I grew up in a small river town in the Rust Belt of America—Steelers Nation and forever a Purple Rider. In the fall, when the trees became barren, the great Ohio was fully visible from my front porch.  A straight shot down into the river valley.  The porch was attached to our home mounted high atop an abandoned coal mine.  It was typical for the porch to drift away from the house about a quarter of an inch every spring.  This was annoying to my mother who was worried about appearances.  But I thought it was neat.  It gave me the sense that the earth beneath the house was alive and moving.  This was especially true when it would rain. Copper-colored water would stream through the concrete basement walls and flow down to the cement floor.  It could be creepy at times—like a scene from a horror movie—and I think it was eventually fixed.   But the power of the water was great enough to filter through the walls.  It was hopeful.  Similarly, the Ohio flowed propitiously south, towards its destination—the Mississippi.  I always dreamt of visiting the largest river in America.  I eventually did.  Today, I look back to the river when I need inspiration.  I look back to the foothills of the Appalachians which gave me a geographical hug every day.  They were solid support for courage to jump into the river and let myself flow right out of that small steel town.