As a documentarian, I delight in bringing the past alive by telling stories in film and multi-media. Recently, I have been very interested in revisiting my own roots in Mountain Dance such as Cloggin’ and Flat Footin’. My ancesters are from the WNC area as well as TN and GA. I grew up clogging with my sister Rebekah Raye at family get togethers. Now decades later, I still enjoy listening to “Ol’ Timey” Mountain Music while shufflin’ my feet. Something stirs in my bones– I feel as if I’m bending time… Joy flows in this moment. I find myself reconnecting with my grandparents and their people. I feel grounded as if we are winking at one other through the veil of time. I wish for you all to use the artifacts in your lives of your family’s history to cherish being introduced or reconnected to the old ways, culture and riturals. We all have them; we are extensions of the ones who came before. This lil’shortie represents the folks in my family who would gather on porches, pulling furniture out of the house onto the lawn. Some family and friends would play musical instruments passed down through generations, such as harmonicas, fiddles and banjos. Others would prepare a supper of favorites for all to enjoy. Once the music started, screen doors would fly open, aprons would be untied, folks would start a clappin’ and a stompin’. They’d be full of laughter as they commenced to steppin’ in time with the music. Makes me smile just thinking about how much fun that must of been. This was well before my time… However, I feel perhaps just as strongly as they did when “Ol’ Timey” Music starts. Here’s to keeping the Great Grands alive in our hearts, especially on summer nights here in these mountains.