Beginning...
I am an armchair historian who has always had a deep interest in the stories of the people around me. I come by it naturally. My Daddy asks questions of just about everyone he meets in order to make a connection with them. Usually he can come up with an interesting story to share with them based on their answers to those questions. For instance, often he asks what high school they attended - to which he can then (usually) tell them the name of their high school science teacher (since he taught or supervised many throughout the state during his long career). I have even seen him do this successfully while sitting in a restaurant in Wyoming!
Like Daddy, I revel in learning people's stories. They are all so interesting! I am fascinated by what brings people to northeast Missouri; or what keeps them here year after year. What connects us. What makes us community and what community means to each of us.
My family hosts a summer potluck every year and perhaps my favorite thing is that each year guests have the opportunity to meet someone they haven't met before - even though we live in a small town. I have always believed in the power of connecting people. In bringing together people who live in the same community but maybe don't run in the same circles. Who have opposing ideas in some ways, but find much to agree on in others. I truly believe that when we meet face to face and enjoy one another's company, it helps us to build community. Sharing our stories is a big part of that.
So the intention of this project is to carry that potluck idea even further. I have had this idea in the planning stages for several years now. I even filmed my first two interviews back in 2014! (I will get those edited and uploaded soon.) Finally, I am taking the leap and will attempt to capture and preserve the stories of our neighbors here in northeast Missouri. I hope to showcase the rich, warm, diverse community that we are privileged to live in. And to show that the patchwork of people is what makes it so rich, warm, and diverse. I hope you will come with me as we get to know some of our neighbors - from a lifelong Adair county resident to an immigrant who just arrived from across the globe. We are all what makes northeast Missouri such a wonderful place to call home.
Like Daddy, I revel in learning people's stories. They are all so interesting! I am fascinated by what brings people to northeast Missouri; or what keeps them here year after year. What connects us. What makes us community and what community means to each of us.
My family hosts a summer potluck every year and perhaps my favorite thing is that each year guests have the opportunity to meet someone they haven't met before - even though we live in a small town. I have always believed in the power of connecting people. In bringing together people who live in the same community but maybe don't run in the same circles. Who have opposing ideas in some ways, but find much to agree on in others. I truly believe that when we meet face to face and enjoy one another's company, it helps us to build community. Sharing our stories is a big part of that.
So the intention of this project is to carry that potluck idea even further. I have had this idea in the planning stages for several years now. I even filmed my first two interviews back in 2014! (I will get those edited and uploaded soon.) Finally, I am taking the leap and will attempt to capture and preserve the stories of our neighbors here in northeast Missouri. I hope to showcase the rich, warm, diverse community that we are privileged to live in. And to show that the patchwork of people is what makes it so rich, warm, and diverse. I hope you will come with me as we get to know some of our neighbors - from a lifelong Adair county resident to an immigrant who just arrived from across the globe. We are all what makes northeast Missouri such a wonderful place to call home.
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