Soul Miner's Daughter

“Soul Miner’s Daughter” obviously alludes to the song by Loretta Lynn (and subsequent movie), “Coal Miner’s Daughter”.  Of course, because it was popular when I was growing up, I assume it's "obvious" to everyone, but the truth is I’m getting to that age where eh, maybe not so much.  So to people under 40 who are reading this, you can Google it if you want. I am in fact, a coal miner’s granddaughter.  My paternal grandfather, Eldon Cardwell, was a hard-working, hard-living coal miner.  Though I didn’t know him, I’ve heard stories from my dad about the taxing physical labor, danger, and low wage the job bore. At 46, he went to the doctor and learned that he had black lung and emphysema, and alcoholism wasn’t helping his case.  The doctor told him if he would quit smoking and drinking, he could live a fairly normal life.  He asked the doctor, “How long do I have if I don’t quit?” The doctor told him, about 8 years. ...