An Appalachian Life  

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My old Daddy,when I was young did seem cruel.He worked me like a borrowed mule and truthfully,there were times I doubted that I was anything more than a hired hand that lived under the same roof.I was shocked when he was in his 60's and told me he loved me for the first time.I never really considered his upbringing waaaaay back in those mountains.He taught me to hunt,fish and the ways of the mountains but always seemed distant.But,I watched him change from a gruff emotionless man to a kindhearted,caring man as he raced towards his final years.When he left this world in 2017,I realized everything he ever taught me (seeming cruel sometimes)was to make me a better person and Daddy was usually right.Only too late,I realized he was the best friend I ever had.Great video,JD! Merry Christmas to you and "yorn".

I am some of the last that lived with no installation in the wall wood stove heat in a house that never had indoor plumbing until my brother's and I put it in in 2007 I still live here and mom is buried on a spot I made for her I hauled several wheel barrow loads of glass and bottles out of the woods pulled trees out with an old Ford truck to make her burial spot and even just today was told by my oldest brother that I done a lot up here as we walked around her head stone these old stories let me know I'm not alone and I appreciate every one that takes the time to put them together well done

I knew families like Mary's. All our lives, my brothers and sisters and me knew we were blessed beyond belief with the best parents in all of Appalachia or the world as far as that goes. They passed over 50 years ago and I still miss them.

What a beautiful lady

I am lucky enough to hear Mary read from her book in my weekly memoir class in Los Angeles. We comment on her work and are mostly in awe of how one person can tell such a revealing story of depression hardships in Appalachia. No one I know has ever made poverty as beautiful and heartbreaking as Mary. Her work is a prose poem, filled with lyricism. If you want to know what living in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia was like, buy this book, you will not be disappointed.

Mary's parents sound a lot like mine: had no business being parents, at all. Thank you, JD, for this compassionate treatment of Mary's story. Thank you, Mary Bremier, for sharing your story. Love and Merry Christmas to you and your families!

What a truly amazing, sad touching story. Excellently done.

Thanks to Mary for giving you the opportunity to share her story. J. D. wonderful job as always.

My mom was born and raised in Virginia near Bluefield, she never once told me she loved me or put her arms around me. She wanted me to be like her, and in a sort of way she had brain washed my dad to think and act like her. I know my parents loved me and taught me right from wrong. My daddy was born and raised as my brother and I born and raised in Chicago. Now my mom passed away quite young from cancer my daddy changed, he was a loving and giving dad. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 83. I miss my daddy so much but not my mom she was on her death bed and still hard.

I couldn't imagine what life would of been like , having to live without. My mother's life was alot like Mary's but she never told any details.

I am from Africa but my grandparents were english +irish. I love to hear different stories from different parts of the world... many thanx 😊😊

My mother's heart broke with this one! Beautiful, but sad. Especially when the happiness of Christmas was shattered the very next day when Mary realized her mistake.

I really appreciate how you sucked me/ us in to this story and promoting her book, supporting locals. Cuz you know, that despite the sadness of it, I MUST hear the rest of her story. Amazing story telling as always, n I must admit I often fall asleep to your soothing voice...then I have to watch it again when I'm awake - so bonus more views, which hopefully helps. ...I lived on the edge of Appalachia for 7yrs n my son was born there, at home, before we left the country for NZ...fond memories. PS my son loves your stories too.

Wow! The production quality in this video is insane! I can really tell the many many weeks that went into making it. So many pretty drone shots too.

The hills of Virginia are endless and beautiful. I lived there for much of my childhood and teen years and even then was amazed at the little towns and homes tucked into the hills and valleys. I always wondered about the folks that lived there because they were different from the ones I knew. Love these stories.

I love your channel ! True life and feelings felt through your presentation. It was hard times for people back in those times . No work ,no hope ,and a slap in the face to all that had a strong work ethic for earning an honest living . Its amazing how time has a habit of repeating itself . Except this time when it hits we have no control of seeds,gas,farm equipment,canning knowledge, It’s going to be rough I’m 70 years old I hope I don’t outlast the roller coaster ride . Thank you God Bless America🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

My mom was alot like her mom she suffered from mental illness but back in those day you didn't seek help and everyone else in the family just ignored it and swept it under the rug but I sufferd to never knowing if I come home from school not knowing if she would be alive when I got home my grades sufferd because I couldn't think of anything else and she would chase my friends off because we was to noisy it was a sad childhood

This brings me back home to where my family is from and most of them still live in Carroll county and they live Galax, Hillsville and Woodlawn. That Singer sowing machine means do much to me, my Grandma Iva Dalton it had one and gave to my mother (Lanelle) when she died in 1991. I just delivered the Singer to my 1st cousin Charlotte after my mother died from a long illness. I live in Huntingtown Maryland, which is in the south part of the state about 50 miles from Washington. I plan to return home when I retire in a few years, I cherish these videos and thank you for giving perspective on where my family is from and what life was like living in Appalachia. I long to return there and feel the powerful influence that those hills have and spend the rest of my life in Gods wonderful creation. Thanks again and I will be waiting for the next video.

Times were rough back then. People nowadays don't appreciate what they have now. Great story and nice drone video. Cool house on the hillside. Have a great week and a Happy New Year.

I always look forward to your stories They're very interesting and time well spent

So sad that the girls had such a hard life, mostly because of their parents... Thanks JD for sharing this 🎄☃️🎄❤️

Beautiful and bittersweet... Mary's feelings come thru intensely 💗😓

Beautiful, but achingly sad. Then, as now, people tended to raise their the children the way themselves were raised, so a lot of bad parenting got propagated, especially in places where people lived in isolation with no examples of better ways available. Nonetheless, some were able to transcend the rough hand life had dealt them, and it seems Mary will be one of them. Thank you for this lovely, if sad, episode. The blessings we have will seem the sweeter for it.

Thank you for that hauntingly transparent heart felt story! Merry Christmas all!

Hey, JD! I love, love, love this channel! I live in an 1890's log home in Smith County, TN and your stories and your voice warm my soul. I cancelled Peacock and added you! Good swap, I'd say.

Love to Mary and Tom

BRAVISSIMA, MARY!!!!!!

I just found your channel today and I’m absolutely in love!!!

This story touches my heart deep. When I was younger I was a large strapping man who would just assume whip rump as anything. My momma was a good hearted Christian woman and didn't like me being so mean. She would always tell me that she only told me what was good. Well I wouldn't listen and she would tell me, one day you will be looking over my death bed and wish you listened. Well she was right. That day came and 30 yrs later I still cry

That was a sad story I love your channel thank you for telling that story have a blessed Thursday night ❤️

I know life was tough. I grew up in a poor home with hard parents who taught their children to be hard with very little outwardly love. It’s possible to show love and still teach life lessons if your of a mind to.

💕💕💕

Great story

Amazing story

Terrific story!

So sorry for Mary. What a sad story.....

Just don’t know if I can read another sad book or a young lady grows up into a horrible life. But then again I am only assuming that because of the heartbreak of the last book I read of the life of a little girl growing up in hard times. But you never know so I guess I’ll take the chance. Thank you for this wonderful video, JD.

We should have more of these values and discipline. Our world would be a better place. Honor and respect is gone and we need it back

Ive been watching your videos for several months now and we(my wife and l)really enjoy them. I wish we could support your channel but just can't at this time. (Both on fixed incomes)So thanks again and please keep the video's coming.The t-shirts look great

Thanks TAS🎅❤️

RAISED IN DANVILLE VIRGINIA BEAUTIFUL PLACE ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH ❤

Thank you so much for this heart felt story ❤️🙏🎄🏔from Foothills ❤️🙏🎄💙💙🛐✝️🎄I have MY Book THE SHADOWS OF APPALACHIA 👩😊❤️🙏 My Precious Friend ordered it for me for Christmas 🎄 😊❤️🙏✝️🏔🛐❣️💕

Some Folks now-a-days got no idea how good they got it!

Hard times ,harder decisions on making a living and how too keep from starving . Poor children unfortunately were as important as a mule or farm help . Some had to quit school to help out in the garden or woods . My dad was needed in a sawmill had to quit school in the sixth grade . But people in those days had a lot of grit and a hard ,hard ,days work was Normal . Not much love to be shared just something people knew how it was. But the respect and appreciation for family and the chance for another day seemed reward enough for all. I can’t even imagine the hardships As hard as I try to comprehend the realization of it all . I’m old so it isn’t terrible for me but my children or going to have to experience the agony of reality . Nobody is coming to save them and I’m afraid I haven’t prepared for them financially or knowledge of real life . Living off grid with no stores or mind numbing telephones or games Nitty Gritty fight for life situation for you and yours . God Bless us all

Very Sad story 💕🙏

Enjoy your videos.

I really love and enjoy your channel. I got so into the story that I bought the book and FELL IN LOVE with it!! I can relate to it on a lot of levels and I see myself as being Dollie and Mary. I wished the book would have had pictures that way I could put a face with the names and discoverd that you had posted pictures of her family! I was so excited! I have so many questions I would love to ask Mary. By far one of the best books iv read. so well written.

This story reminds me of my childhood during the 1950s outside of Boone NC

My heart is broken for the family 💔

💜🕊💜

This was great. I can't wait to order her book. I love any book that has to do with Appalachia. God bless ✝️🇺🇸

😢

Yes, Mary I remember those old days as Dolly Parton song In the good old days when times were bad. and we eat anything that didn't eat us first the winters were cold with no heat except a cook stove no running water (springs) outhouses. digging ginseng and putting out starvation sticks (pulpwood) no electricity. in a one room shack on the side of a mountain and very little to eat born on Cullowhee Mountain above Tuckasegee North Carolina in the smokies 1939 The Smokies are beautiful but I will never live there again I now live in Northeast Florida. I hate the cold.

A sad beginning of Mary's story and her life. I was born in Tennessee and have lived here all my life except a year in Alabama and a few in Georgia but right next to the Tennessee line always. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Sand MTN.Alabama was where my folks were born and raised. They raised four kids in Tennessee. They're all gone now but me and I hold on to all the precious memories of my childhood. But my dad was a beautiful man that showed me love. So I never experienced poor Mary's fear of her father Good beginning.

Do horse breakers still do it with cruel barbaric ways? I knew this horse whisperer Harry from Mudgee, A REAL MAN

Sounds like my mom. She had 6 of us and resented us every day. We were her terrible burden placed on her for no reason. And she made sure we knew that she could have been happy if not for us kids...

Such a sad story

😢 👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

I love this story…was there another that one after it? If so, I not seeing it Thank you

That is the saddest story ever.

I can't find part 2 to this story

Amazing video and story. Does anyone know what is the location at 4:25?

Oh, I can not listen to abuse to that wonderful horse! No man ought to use a whip to train any animal. Love, kindness and patience will win them.

Can't find the rest of the story.

What is a blessed day mean

I love listening to the stories but I was a little disappointed that the same woman photo was used in the Deadliest duo video ((17.48) as in this video ((2.56) I was just wondering why?

I don't understand why people are showing little baby with no clothes on with all these sick people in this world hurting children 😢

Yes I agree Trump has tried to help USA but people that want to destroy us fight him I don't like his potty mouth 😂

Disappointed in the ending option to purchase full story. This wasn't expressed at onset. Good story, but I decided to no longer subscribe.