Dear Fellow Highlanders,
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the professionals, businesses and concerned citizens who came to my aid after my 1-year-old son and I were hit by an SUV on Nov. 14 as we crossed Bardstown Road at the crosswalk at Edenside.
Becky, an ICU nurse at Kosair hospital, came to my side before the police or ambulance got there. She called my parents, did a preliminary check on my son and waited till I could be taken home before leaving the scene. Thank you.
The firefighters and police who responded to us were on the scene quickly and the paramedics who treated us were super kind and professional. Thank you.
The staff from Highland Morning brought me a cup of sweet tea and their chefs extracted our stroller from the SUV. Thank you.
My son and I were, miraculously, not seriously injured, which means that, instead of having to think about recovering, I can feel incredibly grateful to all those who helped.
Thank you all again for your professionalism and kindness.
I’m not sure if you would call this irony, but five days earlier, my husband and our two sons (ages 1 and 4) were near victims of a car that ran a red light while they were crossing at the crosswalk in front of Mid City Mall.
I know it’s not easy in this crazy modern life, but please, don’t phone or text while driving, and slow down, Louisville! Help keep the Highlands safe for pedestrians and cyclists.
Very sincerely,
Jenny Thrasher (and Owen)
Love Letter to the Highlands
“One day, I will live in the Highlands,” I told my friend as we sifted through Velocity (not yet mature enough for the LEO) drinking water with lemon at the Bristol. The night before, it had been Bud Light and live music at Wick’s pizza. The neighborhood spoke to me. It made me feel free. Free of responsibility, free of worry, free to be whoever I wanted without the judgment of others.
I fell in love fast. At the time, however, I was merely dreaming. As a poor new grad that had just moved from Lexington and living on the “salary” of a social service provider, I signed a lease on the first place I could afford, which left me living in apartments in the (very) East End. My commute, along with the week’s earnings, made the Highlands feel like a vacation that I had yearned for all week. I just couldn’t get enough.
Fast forward eight years, and my dream has come true. I often think that if I won 10 million dollars in the lottery, I would remain living in this very neighborhood. I walk my son to the farmers’ market on Saturdays, I eat local food at local restaurants, and a whole portion of my life is compiled of the people I have met in Highlands establishments.
I’ve had the luxury of traveling to many cities and towns, and I always go back to saying, “We have something like this in the Highlands.” I can’t describe the sense of comfort I feel when turning onto my street and knowing that I’m home.
So, for the sake of dreaming big, I feel so blessed that I made it here. And even though I have traded the Bud Light for a Cumberland Brews’ seasonal and opt for vegetarian courses from one of their new additions, I won’t forget the reasons that brought me here first: the bright lights, neat folks and a sense of localness.
Samantha Perkins has been a Highlands resident since 2008. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .