Once upon a time my grandmother Mom Chapman was a seer who saw signs that she called ‘tokens’. Here in West Virginia, there are many folk beliefs about signs and omens that the older folks believed in passionately. Before the fifty flood my grandmother Mom Chapman saw a vision of rain pouring nonstop in a valley that she felt was a premonition. So, I am somewhat familiar with hillbilly folk beliefs. Signs are seen as a positive and an omen would be a warning of impending danger. A bird or bat flying into the hose would be an omen. Possibly a death omen. A child born with a caul would grow up to be a gifted psychic, natural healer and likely be able to see ghosts. Dandelions that have petals that won’t open foretell of impending rain which can be a good sign or in my grandmother’s case an ill omen. Birthmarks can go either way being a mark caused by an angel’s kiss or as something sinister like witch’s mark. A child with a birthmark on the right side of the head was a sign of high intelligence. A birthmark on either had was a sign of talent. Again, these are old superstition and are not based on science. When one’s ears are itching or burning then someone is gossiping. In the film Coal Minor’s Daughter Loretta Lynn’s mother read tea leaves and I am sure this is hillbilly folk magic. And so, it goes.