Haley, Kentucky
Photo and Interview by Haley
Do you remember what going through your head when you first saw me?
“Oh thank god, She’s out” That’s exactly what went through my head, ‘cause I had a rough pregnancy with you. You’ve heard all about that.
What was I like as a baby and as a small child?
Well as a baby you was pretty normal, you were funny, you was always grinning, laughing at something, you use to do nascar in your walker, round and round the island in the kitchen. I remember one day, Robyn and Casey was in school, and you was in the walker, I had the video camera, the big hand held ones, you know the dinosaur kind, this was before they put cameras on phones, which made it so much easier. I put it down on the island, it had a shoulder strap, and you pulled it off, and that camera hit you in the head. Wasn’t funny then but it is now. Cause you didn’t [cry], It must not have hurt to bad, I think it scared you more then it hurt. Because you didn’t cry long, should’ve known then you was gonna have a short attention span. (Me as a child): Very short attention span, and it’s still that way. It’s hard to keep you on task, how many time have I had to remind you ‘Haley, come on now’ … Cause your like going and going then all of a sudden “Squirrel!”
How did you choose my name?
I just liked the name Haley, it was just, you know, I liked the name Haley. Nobody else had that name in the family, and it took me a hot minute to figure out the middle name. And the only thing I could come up with was “Kay” And it fits, [Me: was there a second option you were going to pick for my middle name?] No I was coming up with a blank, nothing went with ‘Haley’ And I would not get rid of Haley, So, Kay it was. Which just so happened to be my Middle Name, and your [late] Aunt Missy's middle name, and your grandmomas middle name! uh.. Zelma Kay, that’s her name.
What was the hardest moment you had when I was growing up?
Eh.. I don’t know, never really thought about it. Let me think on that a minute. Maybe when you started School, Kindergarten, yeah, but you was already to go. You didn’t need mama no more. That was rough, [Me: I still need you] Not at that age, not back then, you finally got to ride the bus like your older sisters; you just didn’t get to ride it with them. [Me: I’ve always had to ride it by myself] You’ve always had to ride it by yourself. That was.. That was hard too.. That big age gap, That’s the only thing I would change if I could, I would’ve had you sooner then I did, but like I said, I tried, god said nope, not yet. So he saddled me with that challenge, and it’s been a challenge, you know because know I got, 2 adult children with kids of their own and it’s hard for me to enjoy the grandbabies and spoil them the way I want to, when I still have a kid in highschool, that is just as spoilt as the grandbabies are, and she tends to get a little jealous [Me: OKAY, I’m not gonna deny that.] That is hard for me.
Are you Proud of me?
Aw hell- Oop, my bad. Yes, yes I am. I’m always proud of you. [Me: proud of what?] The only really thing you really been dedicated to is your art. I think your an awesome artist, I really do that’s why I push it. I’ll buy you the stuff you need, I may complain about how expensive it is but that’s my right, but I’ll get it for you. You know, I mean that’s why I did, The other girls never showed.. The deer hunting! Aw, Your daddy is on cloud nine, when it comes to that deer huntin’ especially this year, when you went by yourself, THAT was hard for me, that was hard for me, I walked the kitchen floor, don’t think I didn’t, coffee in hand. Because you were gone when I got up, cause you went that morning, and then you went back that afternoon, [Me: I didn’t get anything that day so I went back the next day but in the afternoon] That’s when you got your.. your.. How big was it? [Me: 9 point] Nine. Yeah, [Me: by myself, dad was working] Yeah, that was hard for me, cause my baby’s out here packing a you know, a high powered rifle, by herself, and her daddy ain’t no where on the farm, he’s workin’ But, I survived it, so did you, your daddy was awful proud, yeah he was awful proud, Pappy, is extremely proud, cause see the other two, Robyn did but she didn’t start really getting into the deer huntin’ until later, like after she moved out, and then even now it’s not like you are. You don’t miss a day, if it can be helped, she uh, her and Casey, they never got into it as good, as deep as you did. You just have that competitive you know, nature, Like “I’m gonna get it, I’m gonna get one” Now if you set your mind to something say like driving… [Me: I-i’m getting there lol] Or, if you set your mind to stuff like.. Because of your social anxiety, if you could set your mind like “I’m it, I’m the life of this party, I’m gonna be the life of this party” Tell yourself that, and you will be, but you like to.. you shy lol, See I was when I was little but I outgrew it! I don’t know what your Daddy thinks of my because I’ve never been shy, I’ve never been shy around him, I’ve never been shy in public, I mean if someone talks to me, I’m gonna talk to you.