I’ve had Pap on my mind a lot over the last week or so. It happens every summer.
Part of the reason I start missing Pap this time of the year is because he died in April and his birthday is in July. I suppose another reason is that as we garden I’m always a wishing I could have him handy to ask for advice about this or that.
Summer always makes me think of those long gone on and of the home I had when I was growing up. I think it’s because that was the time for visiting when I was a child. With no school for us kids it seemed like Granny and Pap had more time too. We got to go see folks more in the summer and we had more visitors as well.
The other day as I was listening to one of Pap’s old cds the song “I’ll Be Home” came on. As soon as I heard the familiar words I thought that’s what I’ve been feeling—that exact longing Pap must have been feeling when he wrote the song.
I hope you enjoyed the video! And I hope you and your people recognize how wonderful it is to have one another.
Subscribe for FREE and get a daily dose of Appalachia in your inbox
Watching your video and seeing other things on here, was kinda like going back to my younger days. I lived in western Virginia until I was six, then we moved to Indiana. We would go back every year and visit everyone. I’ve had a lot of recalling as watched the video. You do seem like family.
Beautiful song.
Your post about your Pap has me longing for my sister, Janie, that I lost last week to heaven, along with a piece of my heart. She was my best sister and I know that I will go on missing her forever.
This was beautiful! We have so many gone now. Miss them so much. I love the idea of being one of your people!
In one of the pictures–your mama is holding what looks like the tupperware batter bowl I have that was my mother-in-law’s. Is that what it is? I have her measuring cup from tupperware also.
I loved the video and song. What a great tribute. I, too, have been studying on my people. The older I get and the longer those I love are gone the more I long for going home. I as well treasure my family and they are my life but there’s always a yearning that lingers for those gone ahead and of the going to Eastern Kentucky for our yearly visit. I know, assuredly, you can not be physically living where your people are but they live in your heart always.
Dear Folks, I truly miss my Mom and Dad too,Dad’s been gone 30 years in October, Mom 11 years this past April. Thankful for the assurance through Jesus I’ll see them again.What helps me also is the example they were to me after their Moms and Dads passed, they learned to go on living, to smile again, and to have happy times. That let me know I could too.
My people,in my way of thinking are for sure family, but also my Christian Family, and with so many we share similar upbringing and similar interests. Makes me happy to think your my people.
Thanks Tipper! Is that your Pap singing? He has a very nice voice. It was a very professional recording.
Walt-it is Pap singing. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Love the entire video, and this is absolutely my favorite of all your Pap’s songs. Touched me through and through. I read you every day and am so happy to be one of your people.
What a wonderful song and video I noticed a man in the video holding a Dove guitar and wondered who he is and if is the same guitar that Paul plays. Keep up the good work that you do . Ken
Ken-it is the same guitar Paul plays 🙂
How beautiful — song, pictures, and your commentary! I would love to read Pap’s lyrics to “I’ll be Home” — such sweet poetry!
Enjoyed the song & video so much. Many members of my people have gone Home & I look forward to seeing them again. But, first of all I want to see my Jesus who died for me & gave me eternal life. Oh, what a day that will be! Tipper, you & your family are now a part of my family. We are all brothers & sisters in Christ! Thank you again for sharing your family & Appalachia with us! God bless!
I didn’t have to watch the video to know the song, which as you know, Tipper, has a really special place for Susan and me – and our people 😉
Just the other day, in discussing a derogatory comment about the people of Hazel Creek by a fellow who called himself an Historian but whose Smoky Mountain literacy apparently extended no further than reading Our Southern Highlanders, I got my hackles up and said “Those are my people he’s talking about.” Well, while I am kin to some of the folks who lived on Hazel Creek, they are all quite distant. So I wasn’t talking about them as family, but as people who come from the same area I do, and who have been characterized with blanket statements like the one in question, which read:
“The area around Bone Valley, and its major water course, Hazel Creek, was characterized, as was much of the mountain area, by isolation. For generations contact with the outside world was limited, there was inbreeding, and much distilling and drinking of moonshine whiskey. Illiteracy was prevalent, and violence was common.”
Now if that doesn’t get YOUR hackles up, you’re not one of my people.
Those words came, by the way, from a Park Service employee in Gatlinburg named Paul Gordon. He wrote it as part of an application for the Hall Cabin to be placed on the National Historic Register in 1976 .
I too have been blessed in so many ways. I enjoyed the song and the photos. My people means so much to me. I consider you and the Blind Pig followers my people also. Thanks so much to you for reminding us just how blessed we are.
Tipper
Thank you for the video. Those pictures reminded me of my people who are gone on now, but I miss them so.
I love all the music videos. They bless me.
The closest I can get to going home is when I go to the family reunion every September. I look at my people and wonder which one will be gone or unable to travel before the next reunion. Mom and Dad died in July. I’m always thankful for the busy time of the year that helps to take my mind off the anniversary of their death.
I loved the video and the music.
Pap surely was a great musician who knew how to touch the listener’s soul. I really enjoyed the pictures in the video. I especially liked the lady holding up 2 plump babies in front of the horse and I wonder about her life. You’re right about my people, Tipper. They mean everything to us. That’s why I moved back here as opposed to anywhere else in this world. I know where I stand with my people. Outsiders just have no idea how clickish hillbillies really are. I go outside and there’s a guy I went to school with biking up the road. I go to the store and there’s a friend I haven’t seen in years. I go to a festival to see who I can see and it’s a lot of fun living this way. And I long to see my people who’ve gone on from this world to the next. The way I see it death brings new life. The more years that go by, the less of a connection to here and now I feel as my friends and relatives slowly leave one after another. With each one’s passing, I feel myself less attached to this life and looking fondly toward the next and being REUNITED with the oldest and dearest of all!!!! Love to you all- my people!
Perfect song for us today. Yesterday was the funeral for Sharon’s first cousin who was also one of my two best friends from high school. So many are leaving us and the world keeps getting a poorer place. While that sounds bad to the ones left behind, one day they also will understand.
My Dad’s birthday was also in July and he also is gone home. I have a feeling that only there will we ever know the complete measure of what ‘home’ is.
Now I’ve got teary eyes but a precious warm glow after watching your video and that’s because “my people are so precious to me.” I’ve seen pictures like yours of my family and because they are all gone now, and I miss them so much, I’ve had the same feelings as you. I remember my Aunt Mary saying to my Mother, how I wish I could just go home and spend a day with Mama. Even though we know we will see them again, our hearts ache for just having them here for a day. I thank the good Lord for my family cause he sure blessed me with a good one and you have one too.
I’ve really enjoyed this and listened to the song 5 or 6 times on your you tube channel. I think many of your readers feel like you could have put some of our old family pictures in your video and they would have fit right in.
Thanks Tipper and Linda for the get well cards and prayers. Anita really appreciated that and she is doing good in rehab.
Tipper I understand about your not being able to ask Pap questions. Before my parents passed away a close friend of mine whose parents had both passed told me one of the worst things about their passing was not being able to ask them questions. I heard her say that but I really did not fully understand what she meant until both my parents passed away. There are so many things I would like to ask them now that I did not ask when they were living. But as Christians we know we will be reunited with our loved ones again some day. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. God be with us till we meet again.
Tipper, that’s a beautiful video, it and your words have really touched my heart today. As my Dad and Grandparents passed through the pictures today it reminds me of my family and how much I miss them. We have a beautiful and sometimes hard past that has made us who we are today, strong self relient people. Thanks for shining a light on that!
Good morning Tipper! Thanks for making me cry (good tears!) this morning. I also get nostalgic about family members who’ve passed on. God truly made us for relationships – with Him, with our people and extending out from there. The thoughts you shared after Pap’s song really touched a place in my heart. I too am deeply grateful for God’s many blessings in my life. And BPA is a blessing to me for sure!