--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A bit reluctantly, trying to leave my…" description: "\"“A bit reluctantly, trying to leave my bruised ego behind, I was warming to the Appalachian idea. Bourbon and branch water. Dulcimer music. Wildflowers..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/judith-fertig-22510_appalachian_a-bit-reluctantly-trying-to-leave-my-bru_3085218.jpg" --- # A bit reluctantly, trying to leave my bruised ego behind… ![“A bit reluctantly, trying to leave my bruised ego behind, I was warming to the Appalachian idea. Bourbon and branch water. Dulcimer music. Wildflowers in jelly jars. Biscuits and country ham. That did have a certain charm.” quote by Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/judith-fertig-22510_appalachian_a-bit-reluctantly-trying-to-leave-my-bru_3085218.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/judith-fertig-22510_appalachian_a-bit-reluctantly-trying-to-leave-my-bru_3085218.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/judith-fertig-22510_appalachian_a-bit-reluctantly-trying-to-leave-my-bru_3085218.jpg) > ““A bit reluctantly, trying to leave my bruised ego behind, I was warming to the Appalachian idea. Bourbon and branch water. Dulcimer music. Wildflowers in jelly jars. Biscuits and country ham. That did have a certain charm.”” [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator reluctantly embraces a rustic, nostalgic setting, finding unexpected charm in simple, natural pleasures. **In simple terms:** Finding charm in simple rural life. Key Takeaway Allow yourself to enjoy simple pleasures. Themes nostalgia comfort nature Mood contemplative warm Type descriptive personal When to use this quote - travel - cooking - music - decor - relaxation Key Concepts cultural immersion sensory detail Questions to Reflect On - What simple pleasures bring you comfort? - How do you balance nostalgia with reality? A Different Perspective Charm may be fleeting and idealized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appalachian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appalachian/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Wedding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wedding/) ## Related quotes > [“Norcia is an ancient town with Roman ruins and Renaissance structures that exists like a flat island in a sea of more mountainous towns.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-rosen/norcia-is-an-ancient-town-with-roman-ruins-and-renaissance-structures/) Ali Rosen > [“Long wooden farm tables with turned legs that looked like they'd been collected over a hundred years were placed end to end and ran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hollis-huddleston/long-wooden-farm-tables-with-turned-legs-that-looked-like-they-d-been/) Mary Hollis Huddleston > [“Daisies are what boho dreams are made of. 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The villa, which will be our home for the next ten days, is nestled on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-dent/i-am-completely-stunned-by-the-beauty-of-it-the-villa-which-will-be/) Lizzy Dent > [“But this isn't standard Japanese picnic fare: not a grain of rice or a pickled plum in sight. Instead, they fill the varnished wooden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-goulding/but-this-isn-t-standard-japanese-picnic-fare-not-a-grain-of-rice-or-a/) [Matt Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-goulding/) > [“Naturally, Wendell's apartments are absurdly comfortable, and somehow there is the atmosphere of a forest about them, though I know this makes little sense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-fawcett/naturally-wendell-s-apartments-are-absurdly-comfortable-and-somehow/) [Heather Fawcett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-fawcett/) > [When Merle and I started out we called our music 'traditional plus,' meaning the traditional music of the Appalachian region plus whatever other styles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-watson/when-merle-and-i-started-out-we-called-our-music-traditional-plus/) [Doc Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-watson/) > [I've been doing long-distance backpacking since 2002 when I hiked the Appalachian Trail. You start to calm down and relax and get into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mackey/i-ve-been-doing-long-distance-backpacking-since-2002-when-i-hiked-the/) [John Mackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mackey/) > [Born Virginia Marshall but nicknamed Gig, my mother was a home economics teacher who had come all the way across the whole state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-smith/born-virginia-marshall-but-nicknamed-gig-my-mother-was-a-home/) [Lee Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-smith/) > [While writing 'Cold Mountain,' I held maps of two geographies, two worlds, in my mind as I wrote. One was an early map of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-frazier/while-writing-cold-mountain-i-held-maps-of-two-geographies-two-worlds/) [Charles Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-frazier/) > [You kids have fun, and be home by Thanksgiving!" our parents would call to us on Halloween night, as we staggered out the front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/you-kids-have-fun-and-be-home-by-thanksgiving-our-parents-would-call/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“The state of New York had just one important advantage—an opening to the west through the Appalachian Mountains, the chain that runs in rough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/the-state-of-new-york-had-just-one-important-advantage-an-opening-to/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [If you go out on the Appalachian Trail, you have to bring so much more equipment - a tent, sleeping bag - but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/if-you-go-out-on-the-appalachian-trail-you-have-to-bring-so-much-more/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) ## More by Judith Fertig > [“I was beginning to taste it. Something bitter, but warm. A flavor that woke me up and let me see things clearly. A flavor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-was-beginning-to-taste-it-something-bitter-but-warm-a-flavor-that/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“She couldn't see the homemade colored sprinkles, the tender yellow cake, or the pale pink frosting made with strawberry syrup enhanced with a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/she-couldn-t-see-the-homemade-colored-sprinkles-the-tender-yellow/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“I didn't know until I licked the mocha buttercream from my third devil's food cupcake that this was the flavor of starting over- dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-didn-t-know-until-i-licked-the-mocha-buttercream-from-my-third/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“I was starting to think of her as the "Goth Van Gogh" on a good day or "Vampira" on a bad one. She took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-was-starting-to-think-of-her-as-the-goth-van-gogh-on-a-good-day-or/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“Jett's artistic talent was as weighty and emphatic as the heavy black makeup she applied to her lips and eyelids.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/jett-s-artistic-talent-was-as-weighty-and-emphatic-as-the-heavy-black/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“At Rainbow Cake, January's special flavors would be dark chocolate and coffee, those pick-me-ups we all needed to start the day- or a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/at-rainbow-cake-january-s-special-flavors-would-be-dark-chocolate-and/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“Could a flavor be pleased with itself and its position in the world? That was plum. Not the sharp-flavored skin and the sweet flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/could-a-flavor-be-pleased-with-itself-and-its-position-in-the-world/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“At the far end of the bakery, our canvas curtain heralded April's lime and coconut theme. Little bags of coconut meringue polka dots with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/at-the-far-end-of-the-bakery-our-canvas-curtain-heralded-april-s-lime/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“I knew that sunny citrus helped put things in focus, sharpened the memory, just like a squeeze of lemon juice could sharpen and clarify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-knew-that-sunny-citrus-helped-put-things-in-focus-sharpened-the/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“Let's not freak out here," Jett said, ever the diplomat in venom green nail polish and little skull earrings. "People aren't going to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/let-s-not-freak-out-here-jett-said-ever-the-diplomat-in-venom-green/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“People I had never seen before flocked in, their faces showing a longing you never saw for cake. People's eyes lit up for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/people-i-had-never-seen-before-flocked-in-their-faces-showing-a/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“The flavor that came to me was a luscious Suncrest peach that I once had in California. This heirloom variety needed time to ripen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/the-flavor-that-came-to-me-was-a-luscious-suncrest-peach-that-i-once/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“The flavor the came to me was a luscious Sincerest peach that I once had in California. This heirloom variety needed time to ripen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/the-flavor-the-came-to-me-was-a-luscious-sincerest-peach-that-i-once/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“The tantalizing scent transported me to a white, sandy beach lapped by a turquoise sea under a tropical sun. Lime and coconut were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/the-tantalizing-scent-transported-me-to-a-white-sandy-beach-lapped-by/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“I looked up to see the sun struggling behind a gray mass of snow clouds. I could relate. And then a beam of sunlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-looked-up-to-see-the-sun-struggling-behind-a-gray-mass-of-snow/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) [Explore all 27 Judith Fertig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) ## More Appalachian quotes > [If you go out on the Appalachian Trail, you have to bring so much more equipment - a tent, sleeping bag - but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/if-you-go-out-on-the-appalachian-trail-you-have-to-bring-so-much-more/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [“The state of New York had just one important advantage—an opening to the west through the Appalachian Mountains, the chain that runs in rough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/the-state-of-new-york-had-just-one-important-advantage-an-opening-to/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [You kids have fun, and be home by Thanksgiving!" our parents would call to us on Halloween night, as we staggered out the front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/you-kids-have-fun-and-be-home-by-thanksgiving-our-parents-would-call/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [While writing 'Cold Mountain,' I held maps of two geographies, two worlds, in my mind as I wrote. One was an early map of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-frazier/while-writing-cold-mountain-i-held-maps-of-two-geographies-two-worlds/) [Charles Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-frazier/) > [Born Virginia Marshall but nicknamed Gig, my mother was a home economics teacher who had come all the way across the whole state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-smith/born-virginia-marshall-but-nicknamed-gig-my-mother-was-a-home/) [Lee Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-smith/) > [I've been doing long-distance backpacking since 2002 when I hiked the Appalachian Trail. You start to calm down and relax and get into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mackey/i-ve-been-doing-long-distance-backpacking-since-2002-when-i-hiked-the/) [John Mackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mackey/) > [When Merle and I started out we called our music 'traditional plus,' meaning the traditional music of the Appalachian region plus whatever other styles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-watson/when-merle-and-i-started-out-we-called-our-music-traditional-plus/) [Doc Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-watson/) > [“I couldn’t describe the smells of West Virginia, even if I tried. It has something to do with the leaves composting in the woods,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-day-gilbert/i-couldn-t-describe-the-smells-of-west-virginia-even-if-i-tried-it/) [Heather Day Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-day-gilbert/) > [“Or maybe when she realized that he was never going to come and rescue her, she did what all strong women do. She found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/or-maybe-when-she-realized-that-he-was-never-going-to-come-and-rescue/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [I think, being from east Tennessee, you're kinda born with a little lonesome in your soul, in your blood. You know you've got that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-monroe/i-think-being-from-east-tennessee-you-re-kinda-born-with-a-little/) [Ashley Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-monroe/) > [I've never set out consciously to write American music. I don't know what that would be unless the obvious Appalachian folk references.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/i-ve-never-set-out-consciously-to-write-american-music-i-don-t-know/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [Words that in their everyday surrealism have no parallel in contemporary writing... Music that mines the deep veins of fatalism in the Appalachian voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greil-marcus/words-that-in-their-everyday-surrealism-have-no-parallel-in/) [Greil Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greil-marcus/) > [“Henry,that's how you get rid of fleas. You keep them from laying eggs. You go to war with them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-jack-miller/henry-that-s-how-you-get-rid-of-fleas-you-keep-them-from-laying-eggs/) [Jason Jack Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-jack-miller/) > [Some people want to call me an Appalachian writer, even though I know some people use regional labels to belittle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/some-people-want-to-call-me-an-appalachian-writer-even-though-i-know/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [“When he leaned in to kiss me, the future swirled before me, bright as sunlight on creek water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-day-gilbert/when-he-leaned-in-to-kiss-me-the-future-swirled-before-me-bright-as/) [Heather Day Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-day-gilbert/) [Browse all 33 Appalachian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appalachian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A bit reluctantly, trying to leave my bruised ego behind, I was warming to the Appalachian idea. 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