"Growing up in a home under the strict guidance of a Blue Ridge Mountain father, we learned to accept responsibility, to live frugally, to appreciate what we had and how to cooperate like a team. We developed a strong work ethic and learned that if we wanted something, we had to work for it.Dad believed in "tough love," and at the time, we felt he was extremely hard on us. But, he forced us to work diligently, and even though he seldom expressed his love for us openly, we knew deep down he really cared. Through this collection of memories from my childhood, I believe you will see the perserverance typical of the displaced people from the Blue Ridge Mountains and how they struggled to eke out a living."