* * Receiving kind words

One of the more interesting people I met during the research for The Spine of the Virginias was Tazewell’s Bob McGraw, an amateur Civil War historian and re-enactor. When Bob died during the process of bringing the book to print, I printed a memorial page in the introductory section.  His widow, Anita, ordered several books for his brother, sister, and son.  When she received the books, she sent me a kind letter that included these words.

“(The books will make) meaningful gifts to them. I don’t think any of them knew how deeply my husband felt about his history and how much he cared about this community.  I suspect most siblings and children lack understanding of their parent’s or brother’s life outside the family.

“Thank you for your work in the world.  Thank you for honoring my husband, Bob McGraw.”

Makes all the work worthwhile…