This & That

When I think of the Appalachians, I think of strength and endurance, pride, resourcefulness, and a strong love of family.  It wasn’t until I was in college that I realized that maybe this wasn’t a common perception.

I’ve heard the many stereotypes about hillbillies, and I know that I, and many others, can offer a different perspective of these mountains and the people who live here.  But that isn’t what this site is about.  Growing up here, in the shelter of the oldest mountain range in North America has helped shape who I am, and this site is simply a venue allowing me to share my voice, my writing, and my love of Appalachia.

One of my greatest loves in life is a good story, a trait I inherited from my dad, the best storyteller I’ve ever known.  He’s like a painter with a rich unlimited palette of colors, painting an adventure as big as a mountain for you to get lost in.  Even now, I can conjure up a story I haven’t heard from him in years, and imagine him as a boy mounted on his pony, Sir Echo, galloping across his grandpa’s farm, the wind in his face and the sound of thundering hoof beats in his ears.

But, instead of oral storytelling, I’ll write down my adventures and sometimes even my ramblings. And if I’m lucky, I may even be able to convey some of essence and culture of my home, the beautiful and majestic Appalachians.