More Than Just Sittin’

The front porch wasn’t just part of the house—it was part of life

Sometimes it was random silliness. Other times it was life‑altering discussion. But most of the time it fell somewhere in between — likely non‑substantive and holding no real purpose other than to pass the time.

I miss sittin’ on the front porch.

You see, the front porch might bear witness to tall tales, house deep secrets, feature stage‑worthy entertainment, or serve as a lookout point to see what strange car goes up the holler — maybe even resulting in some shenanigans.

Sittin’ on the porch — that must be one of the most underrated ways to describe what was, and in many ways still is, a comprehensive Appalachian cultural activity. It was always much more than just sittin’.

The cool thing is, the front porch is universal. It could be your front porch, your grandmother’s front porch, or the porch of a neighbor. The basic ingredients never change: people and conversation.

Sure, the front porch may have morphed a bit. It might now be a back deck or even a fire pit in the yard. But no — the ingredients haven’t changed.

Because I miss the comfort of sharing life on our humble Kentucky front porch, and because I dearly love to write, I’m attempting a weekly Substack entry in 2026, with the goal of publishing each Friday.

I’ve aptly named it Front Porch Files, and in true front‑porch fashion, you might read about just about anything here on any given Friday.