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It was while growing up in
the mountains of West Virginia, that I felt the first stirrings of
wanderlust. The sound of a distant train whistle, or the drone of an
infrequent DC-3 crossing high above our sleeping village, would set
me off. |
A
misty summer morning on the blue bridge crossing the Tygart River in
the village of Arden, where I live. |
The
mighty Tygart at low water |
And Like Daniel Boone, I yearned to
know what lay beyond the mountains that surrounded our home on the
banks of the wild, free-flowing Tygart river. Years later, my work
in aviation let me realize my childhood dream, far beyond any
expectations that I had. Now I know what lies beyond, not only my
home mountains, but beyond the far distant peaks. |
The activities of aircraft sales and
my time on the airshow circuit with Bodacious, have let me visit
every state in our nation and many foreign lands. I have, as someone
once said, "seen the camel" and satisfied my old itch. |
"Bodacious
and I, looking up at the crowd." |
Seneca
Rocks, in the eastern panhandle. Thats me wandering around in the
parking lot. |
My point here is, that all of this
travel, to so many places for so many years, has given me the chance
to compare my life and my home to other lives and other lands.
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In doing this, I have been given the
gift of appreciation. I can now see my home state for what it is and
what it has been all along. The mountains and rivers of my youth are
still here, but I no longer try to look past them. I now absorb
them, and I know that I am blessed to live in one of the most
beautiful places on earth. |
A
"secret place", not far from where I live. Probably not
more then a few dozen people know this is here. |
How
do you trap a deer in West Virginia? Lock the screen door after they
follow you into the house. |
I would like to invite you to come
and see my West Virginia. You will find that there are more things
here, to see and to do, than you will have time to accomplish. |
But the best of our land comes to
those who slow down. To the explorers who stop to watch a West
Virginia sunset and let the mountains whisper their ancient secrets
to them. To the travelers who linger and let the sweet people who
live here win their hearts. |
First
Assistant Dude. He is in charge of positive outlooks and outdoor
activities at my house. |
"Best
Buddies" |
So come on down
and visit West Virginia. Give our mountains a chance to work their
restorative magic in your life. You will, I promise, never be sorry.
West
Virginian |
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