I've lived my entire 44 years in and around Knoxville, Tennessee.

I'm very sad to say that as each year goes by, The Great Smokies, as they're known to locals, are leaving us.

The traffic that goes thru this tremendous tourist attraction are killing trees. It barely resembles what I remember as a child, teenager and young adult.

In case you're not aware, the mountains are called the "Smokies" because as you drive up into the mountains you gaze upon, what looks like small clouds just sitting there between the valleys of these beautiful mountains.

They are also known as The Appalachan Mountains that run thru several south eastern states.

Now I don't go anymore and haven't in a few years, because I know each trip that I take to drive across the mountain to venture into Cherokee, North Carolina kills a few more trees, possibly also plants that can't be located anywhere else in the country, maybe even the world.

It TRULY is such a beautiful, unspoiled, vision to take in. And the AIR, can you say CLEAN. You almost knew where you were without looking. The smells were so pure and clean and just wonderful. Always a hint of a cool breeze. Just a wonderment to behold, and I do not stretch the truth. Ask anyone from around here over the age of 35 and they will tell you the exact same thing.

From the small creeks, to the large fast flowing water rapids, that people love to ride large truck-tire innertubes down the mountain waters and also kayak in. 

But I am sad to announce that the beauty is leaving us because of car emissions.

The scientists have told us that these are the exact reasons that plants and trees are dying at an alarming rate, and when I say alarming, I truly mean from year to year you notice MORE DEAD TREES.

Again, as I stated, I quit going. I couldn't take the heartbreak anymore.

Now I just recall it in my memories and enjoy the beautiful scenery in my imagination. It was just as magical as anything you could imagine anyway.