Yesterday started with a routine trip to Paintsville, KY, for an eye doctor appointment. The news was mostly good—everything looks stable—but since I’m managing diabetes, I’ll be back for a follow-up in three months to stay on top of things. However, there is something we have to watch closely. They saw a spot on the scan, and honestly, without an interpreter there, it was hard to fully grasp what is happening.
I used the Live Transcribe app on my Android, which is usually great, but it struggled to capture the conversation between the doctor and my dad. It missed words, messed up the spelling of technical terms, and made it difficult to be certain about the details. It's frustrating when you have to rely on tech that isn't quite 100% when it comes to your health. I’ll have to sit down with my dad today to see if he can clarify what the doctor said.
Moving forward, I’m going to be proactive about my care. Since my next appointment isn't until June, I have plenty of time to ensure they arrange for a live interpreter. I'll be reminding them frequently to make sure the communication is 100% clear next time.
Since it’s an hour-and-a-half drive each way, we decided to make the most of it and take a detour to check out where Loretta Lynn grew up. Our first stop was the Loretta Lynn Museum. It was a cool experience, and my dad even picked up a new T-shirt and a hat there.
From the museum, we headed toward the childhood home. The further we went, the narrower the roads became, winding deep into the hills. When we finally reached the cabin, I was struck by the "wear and tear" of the wood—it’s amazing the structure is still standing after all these years. It must be a massive challenge to maintain a home like that for so long.
We couldn't go inside this time, but seeing it tucked away in the hollow was worth the extra miles. Here are a few shots of the cabin:
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On the way back out of the hollow, we passed the entrance to the old Consol Mine. Seeing it in person really puts the history of this area into perspective.
📚 A Little History Geek-Out:
The site is Mine No. 155, which was active from roughly 1910 to 1946. Van Lear was built from scratch by the Consolidation Coal Company to house thousands of miners. This is the very same operation where Loretta Lynn's father, Ted Webb, worked for years, just a short distance from their family home.
On the way out, I thought about my own family’s history in the mines. Both my Papaw and my dad worked underground for many years; seeing these old mine entrances really reminds me of the hard work and the personal sacrifices they made. It adds a whole different layer to the trip.
It started as a simple medical appointment, but it turned into a pleasant journey through the past.
I hope we’ll do more detouring like this on our future trips. It makes the long drives much more meaningful.
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