BINGO.
I live on the Kentucky/Tennessee border (eastern). And I have teeth.
However, that mentality (people who would rather live in poverty than move away where there are opportunities) is prevelant here. Lots of folks here depend on govt. handouts from cradle to grave, generation after generation.
Both my grandpas were coal miners (one working in eastern Va. and one in Harlan County KY.) when the opportunity came up to work on the Manhatten Project. The govt. actually recruited coal miners, because they were clannish, isolated, didn’t have contact with others outside their local area. Many opted to stay in poverty.
Both my grandpas left the coal mines to work on the MP. It changed their, and their childrens’ live tremendously.
This is a good time to retell the story I read in a local newspaper here once. Seems a woman called police on her husband, after he caught her in bed with another man. They were looking for him because he took the woman’s false teeth and hid them from her. She was reported in the newspaper to be 23 years old I believe. (True story).
I know you’re just a little bit older than me, but my Grandpa worked on the MP, too. He was a machinist in Milwaukee, WI and made a lot of parts for those bombs when he was in his 30’s.
My Dad was also a machinist. He worked on the first Apollo mission to the Moon doing the same.
We have LOTS of reasons to be PROUD of our Blue Collar roots. I wouldn’t have wanted any other life. I am blessed to have had wonderful men to set great examples for me as I make my way through this Life...and on to the next! :)
P.S. You’ll be happy yo know that I have all of my teeth, too, LOL!