I heard it said, I ditched Tennessee.

Well, let me just say, as a blind woman, Tennessee ditched me. There was little to no blind services. I had to wait and wait, leap through all sorts of hoops to get anything at all from any social services, and most times they had nothing to offer.

Here, in Verginia, I have already had an intake with the blind services home rehab teacher and received everything I ordered for my house. The worker, unlike the one in TN, knew how to work the equipment and she was able to teach me too.

I’ve already had an intake with an O&M instructor and the only reason we’ve not met yet is because of the weather being so nasty on the dates we chose.

I’ll be meeting with their tech person after the first of the year, for a complete evaluation of all my tech to see what I need, and unlike TN they didn’t balk at my choice of career and in fact unlike TN are open to the possibility of my going for a two-year degree in creative writing.

So, no I did not ditch Tennessee, it ditched me.

But I did not ditch any of my friends from there, although I must say except for a very few, unless I reach out, I don’t hear from or see them.

So, while I know the comment was meant as a joke, I just really felt I should say this because that’s not the first time I’ve heard it and from more than one person.

I left my hometown in Kingsport Tennessee
why?
because it was no longer friendly to me
I met resistance
discrimination at every turn
bridges I decided to burn
yeah I left Tennessee
I left because Tennessee ditched me
in Bristol Verginia I found a true home
no longer do I need to Rome
it’s beautiful
accepting
loving
warm
never do I come back home and morn
I’m where I belong
finally
I’m singing a happy song
so
nope
I did not ditch Tennessee
it ditched me
and I say
blessid be.

I’m finally free to be me

About Patty L. Fletcher

Updated November 2024

Patty L. Fletcher is a woman of passion and exploration.

She studies the art of manifestation and is a seeker of knowledge and the wisdom to know what to do with it when it’s learned.

To learn more visit: https://pattysworlds.com/