Born in Winston–Salem, NC, my family moved back to the mountains when my Dad entered the navy in WWII. I grew up in the rural, mountainous area of Flower Gap and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountai... Read More
Born in Winston–Salem, NC, my family moved back to the mountains when my Dad entered the navy in WWII. I grew up in the rural, mountainous area of Flower Gap and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. I attended a one–room school for five years before moving to Lambsburg High School with grades 1–12. This school burned in 1959, and I went to Hillsville High School from which I graduated. I was the first in my family to attend college or get a Master's Degree. I became an elementary school principal at the age of twenty–four. I was married after graduating from college, and we had one child. I became principal of two schools at the age of twenty–six. After fifteen years as a principal and enduring an unsuccessful marriage, I changed professions and left my wife to explore other avenues and career paths. I remarried, bought a general store, and settled in a new career with my second wife. We sold the business after twenty–two years. I was elected to the school board in 2004, and we were partners in a tax preparation service; I began selling life insurance and Medicare Supplements in 2008. This book is a collection of stories to depict different times and situations I have encountered throughout my life as I grew up in Flower Gap, and how this impacted my life right up to this day. Growing up on a farm and apple orchard taught me responsibility, good work habits, and a closeness to God which served me well all the days of my life.
