Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives – Kentucky Days by Kevin Cooper

Another post from the archives of Kevin Cooper and here is part one of his time of living in Kentucky.

Kentucky Days by Kevin Cooper

Morning View

My first, ever car was a 1974 Cadillac sedan deville. It was my second year over in the states and I had just passed my driving test. Considering that I almost got run down by a car my first week over there makes this look like a miracle. I had looked the wrong way before crossing the road. The language coming from the driver who swerved to avoid me, I’ll never forget. Then he was gone and I was left standing there, dumbfounded.

I remember, Doug, my pastor from the Free-Methodist Church we attended laughing his arse off. I rang him almost immediately after getting it; I couldn’t wait to go and show it off to him. “Couldn’t you have found a bigger car, Kev?” He almost doubled over as I pulled up outside the church. He put his arm around me when I got out, still laughing.

It was something of a novelty seeing an Englishman driving an old cadillac that was bigger than his house. Doug wasn’t the only one who laughed and patted me on the back. “You crease me up!” They would say, and they meant it.

Our first big outing was a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio. It was just a road trip for me to get used to the car. About 180 miles distance. Morning view, KY is just outside of Ohio. It’s a beautiful drive, hence the pics. I flew into Cincinnati Airport when I immigrated the previous year and wanted to get a feel of how far away it was, without the jet lag.

The Car drove like a dream. It had automatic trans, cruise control, air conditioning and it was total luxury inside. I loved that car.

I only have pics of my car and Rich Road. The first pic is Doug and I. The pic with the teeny tiny house in the back that looks about half as big as the car, that was the first house we rented.

Barren River

Barren River is one of the first places I visited when I immigrated to the US. I lived in Bowling Green, Kentucky in Warren County and Barren River which is 135 miles long, flows into Bowling Green from Monroe County, (Named after the US’s fifth president, James Monroe.) also in Kentucky.

I was a little dubious when I first visited Barren River due to strange wildlife there. Rattlesnakes and spiders in particular, BIG spiders. My eyes were all over the place as I walked through the green. I had already seen wasps that were so much bigger than I was used to. (Ours are like gnats in comparison.) They scared the hell out of me. Insect life was something I had to adjust to.

My uneasiness didn’t last long. Once I saw the beauty of the river, all was forgotten. Even on my way back, I was still thinking of the river with its beautiful surroundings and totally oblivious to the wildlife around me. 🙂

The first two pictures are where I lived when I first immigrated. It is a twin apartment complex called, The Towers. The third pic is of an US Mail Jeep…I had never seen the like before and just had to have a photo of it. 🙂

About four to five years later, Mike, my brother-in-law and I took Wesley, my son (he would have bordered on two years at the time) to the river so he could appreciate the beauty of its surroundings.

They were happy days folks and I wouldn’t exchange them for the world.

©Kevin Cooper 2015

My thanks to Kevin for sharing this post on his life in Kentucky with part two next week.

About Kevin Cooper

Kevin Cooper was born in Hull, East Yorkshire, England in 1963

He moved to the USA in 1985 when he was 21 years old. He graduated with a BA in Psychology from Asbury College in Kentucky with recognition on the Dean’s List. He continued his studies at the Grand Canyon University in Arizona, where he obtained a Research Fellowship and graduated with a M.Ed with a strong focus on writing and grammar.

While in America, Kevin has been a College Lecturer of General Studies, a Manager for The Hertz Corporation, who acknowledged him with awards of recognition for his service and dedication to the company, a Substitute Teacher, and a Private Tutor.
He now resides in England and is an established Author of several works.

Kevin founded Kev’s Author Interviews and Author of the Month to help promote fellow authors worldwide through his website and across the social media networks.
He recently re-branded his website to Kev’s Great Indie Authors with added features for authors including an editing service and book reviews. He is always developing his services as he comes across new ways to help promote indie authors.

A selection of books by Kevin Cooper

About Miedo 2: A Reckoning With Fear.

Miedo’s story continues in this chilling sequel to Meido: Living Beyond Childhood Fear. As Miedo comes into young adulthood, he is confronted with new demons while he searches for answers to his past through Spiritualism. But, rather than finding answers, he is left with more questions as a plethora of paranormal experiences occur in his life once again…

One of the recent reviews for the book

A uniquely told and addictive story. By Diana on July 6, 2017

I enjoyed Cooper’s first memoir, Miedo: Living Beyond Childhood Fear, and when I finally picked up this sequel, I liked it even more than the first. It continues the story of Cooper’s early life through his teens, including his struggle to find his place in the world, understand the role of faith in his life, and control the demons that continue to plague him.

Told in the 3rd person, the memoir reads like a story, and Miedo is a highly sympathetic character. I related to his feelings of displacement, and the rambling style of Cooper’s narration perfectly reflects that time of life when young adults are stumbling about and trying to define who they are. In some ways, the narrative reminds me of Frank McCourt (Angela’s Ashes) as it picks up on the day to day seemingly insignificant events that make up a life. People and jobs, plans and friends come and go like water through Miedo’s fingers. His sense of belonging never seems to have a strong anchor though there are some relationships that he relies on.

Cooper does an excellent job of telling his story in Miedo’s authentic “voice,” reflecting his age and education at the time events unfold. The narrative also happens in the moment. In other words, this is not a memoir that the authors relates with the benefit of hindsight, but one that unfolds for the reader as it happens.

Miedo 2: A Reckoning with Fear isn’t a long read. Cooper’s style is unique and his story is addicting. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys memoirs and stories about the struggle to overcome difficult childhoods. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Read the reviews and buy the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miedo-2-Reckoning-Kevin-Cooper-ebook/dp/B00SC35UG

And Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Miedo-2-Reckoning-Kevin-Cooper-ebook/dp/B00SC35UG

Read more reviews and follow Kevin on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/460158.Kevin_Cooper

Connect with Kevin

Author page Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kevin-Cooper/e/B00EWFEYKQ
Author page Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Cooper/e/B00EWFEYKQ
Website: https://lovelifetearsnlaughter.wordpress.com/about/
Blog:https://kcbooksandmusic.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevcooper63
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrtIndieAuthors
Google: https://plus.google.com/+KevinCooper/posts

Thank you for popping in today and I am sure that Kevin would love your feedback.. thanks Sally