Chapter 1: Tell a Good Story
My family has a motto, “We are making memories.” It’s a motto that’s led us through life’s more chaotic moments. The secret to making memories, of course, is how you tell the story. And in my family we strive to tell, and retell, really good stories. And we’re not the only ones. Storytelling is a southern folk tradition, and I come from a long line of master storytellers, a tradition I’m proud to carry on, because some stories just need to be told. Of course, every story deserves some slight embellishment, that’s a southern tradition too. Like the time I climbed a 50 foot oak tree at Scout camp, as part of the ropes course, and sensing my fear the Scoutmaster shouted up at me, “Remember, when you tell the story later this tree was at least 200 feet tall!”
72 Miles features the stories of three separate interfaith Jewish families–two real, one not, and one mine. Together, they trace 150 years of Kentucky history, with experiences that resonate today—about being Jewish in America, about being Jewish and southern at the same time, and the blending of the two.
So strap in, and take a ride with me, up and down I65, or back and forth on the L&N railroad. In the end the when and the who don’t make as much difference and you might think. But the where sure does. My name is Nathan Jordan Vaughan. It’s 72 Miles til Kentucky. Let’s get moving.
72 Miles Til Kentucky was written and produced by Nathan J. Vaughan.
Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Lofi Girl.
