I started collecting these interviews in July 2014.  In my limited time at home in the valley I started visiting and recording my friends and neighbours with great plans and hopes for doing something incredible and special with them.  Because they touched me so deeply.  These people always have.

Once I started, I was somewhat overwhelmed with the amount of content I was getting and I had trouble deciding how to proceed, and how to pay proper tribute.  I’m still not sure exactly how to get their messages across in short videos, but I know that I have to start somewhere.  Because their incredible, heartfelt stories fill my soul and I know they will some of yours as well.

In that spirit, I would like to introduce you to the people I have interviewed thus far over the last couple of years.  You can hear them speak about their roots and the history of our community.  You can see the twinkle in their eye, and hear the love in their voices.  I hope you’ll enjoy meeting them and I look forward to sharing more with you soon.  To me these people are real and amazing.  They are role models and inspirations.  I am not great at video editing, and I was filming with my iPhone, so the quality isn’t the best.  But I’m hoping that their spirits shine through to you, and that you can forgive my lack of technical ability!

I hope to delve into each of these people and their stories in more depth over time, and to collect more as well.  I welcome your thoughts, advice and feedback!

I would like to thank these fine folks for so graciously sharing their wisdom and stories, their families for their assistance in setting things up, and my own parents for their time, wisdom, support and encouragement in putting this together.  Love to you all.