DEB AND I PLANNED TO MOVE FROM BOSTON TO UPSTATE NY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007 TO LIVE
ON HER PARENTS' PROPERTY - TO BE CLOSE TO THEM AND PROVIDE SUPPORT AND
ASSISTANCE AS NEEDED AT THIS TIME IN THEIR LIVES. IT WAS A DECISION WE MADE
TOGETHER. MEANWHILE BACK IN EARLY JULY 2007 DEB ASKED ME IF I WOULD CONSIDER
GOING TO VIRGINIA FOR A COUPLE WEEKS VACATION TO HELP A LIFETIME FRIEND AND HER
FAMILY BUILD AN ADDITION ON THEIR HOUSE. I WAS IN TRANSITION AT THE TIME. WE HAD
ALREADY SOLD OUR HOUSE AND WERE LIVING WITH FRIENDS FOR THE SUMMER WHILE
WRAPPING UP OUR WORK LIFE IN BOSTON SO I SAID I WOULD GO. WE PACKED UP MY TRUCK
AND TENT TRAILER AND HEADED SOUTH. WHEN I ARRIVED ALL THE LUMBER WAS PILED UP
ON THE GROUND AND I ASKED WHERE THE FRAMING CREW WAS. DEB TOLD ME TO TURN
AROUND AND LOOK AT HER FRIENDS: A MOM, DAD AND THEIR THREE KIDS - TEENAGE TWINS
(A BOY AND A GIRL IN THEIR LAST SUMMER BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL) AND A YOUNGER BROTHER
IN LATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.. (THEIR ONLY NEIGHBORS - BOTH SCHOOLTEACHERS - WERE
ALSO ON HAND, READY TO KICK IN WHENEVER THEY COULD). I ASKED DEB WHAT SHE
THOUGHT AND SHE SAID IT WAS COMPLETELY UP TO ME. I FELT THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE
POTENTIALLY TRANSFORMING MOMENTS WHEN YOU DECIDE TO EITHER TURN TAIL AND RUN
THE OTHER WAY OR MAKE A SERIOUS COMMITMENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NO SECOND
THOUGHTS. I KNEW I WOULD NOT BE GOING BACK TO BOSTON IN TWO WEEKS!
THAT FIRST DAY I SAID TO MYSELF, JUST SUCK IT UP JOHNNY. THIS IS A TIME IN YOUR LIFE
WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.. THE FAMILY WAS READY AND
WILLING TO JUMP RIGHT IN AND FOLLOW MY LEAD - NO MATTER WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET
THIS PROJECT OFF THE GROUND, BOARD BY BOARD! . THE NEXT DAY DEB AND I WOKE UP
INSIDE MY CAMPER, GOT DRESSED AND WENT OUTSIDE. THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS UP AND
READY TO GO - JUST WATCHING AND WAITING FOR ME TO TELL THEM WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO
FIRST. . THEY HAD PURCHASED AN 1836 FARM HOUSE SOUTH OF CHARLOTTESVILLE IN NEED
OF COMPLETE RESTORATION. TO THE SOUTH IT OVERLOOKED GREEN PASTURES AND
WOODLANDS ROLLING DOWN INTO A VALLEY TOWARD THE JAMES RIVER. THE BLUE RIDGE
MOUNTAINS SPREAD OUT IN THE DISTANCE ON THE NORTH - NOT A BAD WORK SITE! AND,
DOWN ONE WINDING HILL, AROUND A FEW CORNERS, AND UP THE NEXT MOUNTAIN, WAS THE
HOME OF THE ORIGINAL WALTON'S - THE FAMILY WHICH INSPIRED THE TV SHOW "THE
WALTONS". UNBELIEVABLY, THE HELPING NEIGHBOR/TEACHER WAS A RELATIVE!
MAYBE ONE DAY SOON WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THE REAL STORY OF THE WALTONS AND HAVE
THE CURRENT GENERATIONS TELL IT ON LEGACY STORIES!
BACK TO THE PROJECT AT HAND! AN ADDITION TO THE ORIGINAL FARMHOUSE WAS NEEDED
FOR THE FAMILY TO LIVE COMFORTABLY. .I WAS HONORED AND HUMBLED EVERY DAY TO
EXPERIENCE THIS AMAZING FEELING OF A FAMILY WHO TRUSTED ME TO TEACH THEM HOW TO
USE THE TOOLS - WHO WORKED CHEERFULLY AND TIRELESSLY WITH THEIR OWN HANDS AND
HEARTS TO MAKE THEIR DREAM COME TRUE, TO CREATE A PLACE THEY COULD FINALLY AND
JOYFULLY CALL HOME..
THEY ALL WERE EAGER TO PUT UP THAT FIRST WALL THOUGH NEVER HAVING DONE
ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. THE DAD HAD PURCHASED ALL THE HOMEBUILDERS BOOKS
AND HAD BEEN READING THEM FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE WE GOT THERE. HE HAD SOAKED
UP THE KNOWLEDGE AND WAS READY TO PUT IT INTO PRACTICE WITH HIS FAMILY,
NEIGHBORS, AND FRIENDS SURROUNDING, ENCOURAGING, DIRECTING, AND ASSISTING. IT
TOOK UNBELIEVABLE LOVE, PATIENCE, COURAGE, HUMOR AND A TREMENDOUS OUTPOURING
OF HUMAN SPIRIT TO TAKE THIS ADVENTURE FROM THE GROUND UP.
MY VIDEO STORY PROJECT WILL BE CONTINUED FOR VIEWING IN MY STORIES UNDER "MT
ALTO". THE PICTURES WERE TAKEN THE FAMILY.. ACCOMPANYING SONGS WERE SELECTED
AND PUT TOGETHER BY THE DAD! TO CONTINUE NOW, PRESS THE FOLLOWING LINK. IF NOT
ALREADY A MEMBER, YOU CAN REGISTER FOR FREE... AND BEGIN TO PRESERVE YOUR OWN
LEGACY IN PICTURES, STORIES, AND VIDEOS! ONCE LOGGED IN, JUST CHOOSE "VIEW
STORIES" TO CONTINUE THE MT ALTO JOURNEY OR CLICK ON "MY PROFILE", ADD A FAVORITE
PICTURE TO YOUR OWN NEW PROFILE, WRITE A FEW WORDS TO DESCRIBE IT, THEN START
TELLING YOUR OWN FAMILY STORIES, COLLECTING FAVORITE PICTURES, AND PASS THEM ON
TO LOVED ONES.
https://www.legacystories.org/storyboard?view=entry&id=2252&wiz_id=593
(CLICK BOTTOM RIGHT OF VIDEO TO VIEW FULL SCREEN, BOTTOM LEFT TO PAUSE OR STOP)