I feel the same. I lost my only child at the age of 28. So, I left the rat race, now I live on top of Ol Smoky, NC. I call it, “High Lonesome “. Sometimes people come back full circle, and only want to be around good folks. Thanks JD. You always make my day. More please 🙏

In September of 1963, I was taken away from my Kentucky home in the foothills of Appalachia. I was 15 years old and was leaving everything I loved. Years later, when I took leave and returned home, everything looked different. Nothing and no one was the same as I remembered. So, I left again. I came back and left two more times. Time changes everything, even me. I bought my own house and land in the foothills of Appalachia and made my own home alone. As Judy Garland said, "There is no place like home". You did another wonderful job with this story.

Truly a legend. Seems like his life is an example of how one should live their lives to the fullest; and even though we fall, the Lord gives us a hand to help us stand again. Amazing Story!

I am the wilderness...great line.Thank you for this heartfelt story!I'm sure a lot of us here can identify.💗

A powerful story indeed. The only thing I will say is that he did not die alone, he had his faithful friend, Panter, next to him x

My two sisters and I spent time in a orphanage in the 1960s and I can relate to the pain of not knowing, I live in Alabama but my heart will always be in those mountains of North Carolina witch we visit several times a year and hope retire there. Thanks for the time and effort you put into these videos.

These stories are nothing short of amazing. Your work is absolutely priceless. Thank you for sharing these stories with us in such a glorious way. Your work helps these stories live on. Again, thank you.

Beautifully done! My dreams to be in the mountains! Thank you for such a wonderful story we all hold dear the past that we all live! There's nothing in this world so dear to all of us than the great smoky mountains, our home!

Rest in peace Uncle Nick, you are not forgotten. This video tribute was beautifully done, and the icing on the cake was the Gentleman who paid his respects in person and climbed that mountain to do it. Bless his heart as well. There's no doubt in my opinion, that Uncle Nick knew he was there honoring him.

Thankfully I was cryin anyway. Thank you for the story of Uncle Nick! Absolutely what I needed tonight. When widowed and once the kids were raised, I ran back to the top of Blue Ridge. And Uncle Nicks story reminded me it’s our commonality by being “from these hills” . And the original song was beautiful as well. Thank you for being the Appalachian Storyteller

Thank you JD, you have memorialized Uncle Nick for generations to come. R.I.P. Uncle Nick Grandstaff

Beautiful

So many life stories that are never been told! A tiny few reaches us thrue writers and storytellers. I appreciated this deep and sad story! Doreen was a gem!

Absolutely Beautiful job sir. Uncle Nick grindstaff touched my heart...i hike and climb the mountains around my home and i can see the iron mountain range from the top of any peak i climb....and uncle Nick wonders through my heart and mind....I love and appreciate this story of his life...thank you sir for your research and time telling this story. And i feel blessed and honored for you to let me be a part. Thank you sir

Awww That last part really touched my heart, I admire that man for what he did, hiking up there to pay his respects. I saw on the memorial for Uncle Nick that someone had made a beautiful grapevine wreath and hung it there. And if you've ever made one you will know its not as easy and one would think. Thanks for retelling this story on the anniversary of his passing. Some day we will meet Uncle Nick, and I hope Panther too,

May none of us ever forget Uncle Nick and the lessons he taught us about life, and how you can indeed go back home.

Always loved this story. I've never heard it told this well. There are great stories from all over the world, but stories like this, especially when they've taken place in a person's home area, seem more special. Wisely and thankfully, rather than let the internet kill off old stories and replace them with modern nonsense, folks like you are using it to keep these stories alive. Thanks! 👏👍

A beautiful heartfelt tribute to truly a mountian man.😢

Nothing like bawling your eyes out on a Saturday morning lol. Great story! ❤

So 100 years later, Uncle Nicks story is travelling around the world to touch my heart in the middle of northern Europe. This world is weird and wonderful both at the same time. Thank you for sharing!

R.I.P. Uncle Nick Gone but never forgotten Thank you JD for another great story Y'all stay safe out there 🙏

Amazing story. You just keep telling them stories so they would never be forgotten. Kudos man and stay safe.

This story is how legends live on! It is a true testament of a good man keeping his story alive.

OUTSTANDING!! What an awesome story about a man who died living his life in the only way he knew how.

OMG! This was a great story and the trip to his grave was icing on the cake. Thank you for your storytelling, and thank All That’s Holy for UTube, otherwise we would never know this. 🤗❤️🐝

JD, at the moment I'm on an ancient (20-yr-old) backup laptop which is on it's last legs. I tried to watch this but the laptop's sound is so bad I had to quit for now. But I saw enough to know (as if any proof was needed) that I'll really love it when my new laptop arrives.

I love these stories. They reveal what true humanity is all about. They go straight to the heart. Your voice is a beautiful gift! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Thank you JD , my husband and I enjoyed this story, and seeing uncle nick's burial site. Life seems to take us in full circle and in the end of our traveling days brings us back home ,where their is truly no place like home . Many thanks to you and the work you put into each story and video. GOD BLESS.

Love the story, So sad it almost makes you cry but so heart felt

What a wonderful, sad story. Thank you for that peek into Uncle Nick's life. He truly was a mountain man.

It's been a long time since a video has moved me to tears. But this one did. Great job telling a story that I had never heard before. Rest in Peace Uncle Nick.

I grew up in Indiana, enlisted in the Army after Sept. 11th when I was 22. Lived all over the place. But there in nowhere more beautiful than the mountains of Appalachia ! My grandparents and all my ancestors grew up in those ancient mountains. Every time i drive through or hike through those ol mountains I can feel my ancestors everywhere. My ancestors arrived here in 1601 in Virginia.

This channel has me so captivated. I almost feel like I was born at the wrong time. Your videos are truly a blessing. So well put together. Honest and full of heart. I’m thankful I found your channel and I wish you well.

My heart hurts. I just cried for a man ive never met. In my heart i know him and his dog still roam them hills together

This is such a beautful story. Uncle Nick was a great man.

Thankyou for making Uncle Nick part of my soul I’ll never forget him

What a story. Humanity never ceases to amaze me.

RIP uncle Nick and my mother who was born when he passed ❤❤❤

Heartbreaking story and breathtaking views of my beloved Tennessee.

This story tore my heart out and at the same time filled it with glee. Seeing how it's sad This man lived his life in the best place in the earth

Beautiful story. His life story was carved into his grave stone.

These stories have me romanticizing of living a life in a long gone era , they also make me realize how absolutely unprepared I would be for the reality of the daily toil and lack of modern comfort’s.

Fascinating story JD. Love the follow up to it and actually, albeit by video, to be able to visit Nicks grave is, in a big way, an honor. Thank you sir.

JD... The love, compassion, and respect you show, to everyone you vlog about, is top notch brother. Keep 'em coming and we'll all be here to watch them when you post them! #WellDone #NickWouldBeProud #ThankYouForSharingTheseStoriesWithAllOfUs

J.D. I simply don't have words to express the sheer wonder of this story! It was just wonderful before the Postscript but that was the "Bow on the Present " this left me in tears. I truly thank the Gentleman who hiked to Nick's gravesite.

What a wonderful tribute to a free spirit.... thanks JD 😎👍

Thank you for getting to know me Uncle Nick. I have 5 daughters who are real nature lovers. I'll give them Uncle Nick's story.

What a great story. Thank you for sharing this man's life with us. I truly love your stories.

First, I want to express my undying gratitude for the subscriber who had taken us along on his journey to pay respects to Uncle Nick, and his faithful companion, Panter. Uncle Nick’s life story is inspiring, heartbreaking, and beautiful. Thank you for sharing Uncle Nick’s life story with us! I highly doubt that Uncle Nick, along with his faithful companion, Panter, ever left that beautiful place. RIP Uncle Nick, and Panter!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

That was a truly a beautiful story. RIP Uncle Nick. Gone but not forgotten.

Sir, for preserving, and retelling the history of a very distinct culture, unique to the world..many thanks

Uncle Nick….more friends in death than in life. Always remembered

I loved the closing of this video. Especially the music. A great story. Thank you.

I cannot send the amount of love and respect coursing through me right now.

JD, this is such a heart wrenching story. Uncle Nick you won’t be forgotten.

My jaw was on the floor the whole time. Amazing.

😍 I love this story! It brings about so many different emotions as the story is being told. And no one tells a story as good as you do JD!

My grandmother was a grindstaff. I still live up here in the same mountains as my family always have. Ive been up and down the eastern seaboard back when i worked but always knew i would come back home.

Love this story! Gone but not forgotten

Im not sure how this popped up on my feed but im bawling my eyes out! thank you for keeping those like Nick alive.

All it takes is hearing your opening music and I'm hook for at least 3 videos. Thank you for what you do JD. You touch lives.

Excellent storytelling .Brought tears.What an interesting man!Thanks for the share😘

J.D. The song 🎵 at the very beginning leaves me melancholy for something from long ago. Those fading memories only remain in the far reaches of my mind. Those thoughts flow brisksly through my mind, like falling leaves from my Maple 🍁 tree and then they're gone.

Thank you so much for this story about Mr. Mick. A truely amazing story sir. God bless you and your family and friends...🙏❤🙏❤🙏

Best story I’ve heard in many years! So poignant 😢

Thank You for this!! It’s very amazing how he endured so much and created his own Heaven on Earth in spite of the challenges.

❤❤Thank you sir for showing us this monument of Uncle Nick. And thank you younman for your great stories of Appalachia.❤❤❤

Thank you for this touching story. My mother lived a similar life and it was her dream to return to the mountains in Virginia and dad moved her there before he passed and she lived there til she passed. Loved ole Panter. Such a loyal dog. Thank you for the ending . Brings back memories. Mama's last words to me was she seen me on a mountain here in Tenn. and I was calling out to her and she was answering me. I'll never forget that.

A beautifully narrated story that I shall never forget, this one struck a nerve with me, on behalf of all of us who follow this channel, my many thanks for bringing this story of Uncle Nick to life with a passion for details and so wonderfully put together! My mother was one year and five months old when Nick died, but I myself can visualize what he was like! Best wishes to all from Tennessee!

I am late watching this I have been down sick. Love this story. I also was born in a snow storm in 1963.

The opening song 🎵 🎶 🎵 has so much Emotion to it. ❤️

Wonderful story. Nick lived the simple hard working life. Great story of a simple man

Terribly sad and what fortitude! Rest in peace Nick You are not forgotten

Thanks!

Once again....a truly powerful story. I could say a thousand words... yet "Thank you, Sir, you have truly moved me x" sums it up. Thank you xxxxx

This channel makes my heart glad. I come from a long line of porch sitters and story tellers, but now the old ones are gone. I am the old one now. So thank you so very much! Peace and roses, Deb the TN Scary Lady

This is so poignant, a meaningful story. Thank you sir! Feels like home.❤

I also walk a lonely road......I truly enjoyed this story, JD. Take care and God bless ya friend.

Thank you, I could write many things about what this evokes in me, but at the end of the day, hearts always break, they are meant to, and love is the only thing that matters. No matter what it is we love. Beautifully told, love in action here 🇦🇺

i was 15 years old when i saw this for the first time my grandfather took me on a month long trip through the mountains an only now have i connected the dots.

Thanks again for sharing J.D., an amazing story, R.I.P.whatan incredible man& incredible dog

This is so heartbreaking! I’m near tears. I’ve never heard such a heartbreaking story on your channel until this one. The music in the first part of the video was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I hope you have a great weekend.

Lovely story. I'm sure a lovely man. So good to continue his memory. Thank you JD.

Another great story. And thanks for taking us along on the hike up to pay respects!👍

Beautiful story and tribute to Uncle Nick. Thank you

Thank you for taking us along on this trip.

Great and moving story of uncle nick. Keep up the good work JD

All of your stories are great JD. But, this one by far is the best. Both my family and my wife's family came from Appalachia and we are planning to return to the area once we retire. Thank you for your gift and sharing it with us. God bless

Theres two story tellers I love you and Donnie Laws I always watch on the tv .Just want you to know your one of a kind Love your channel ❤

Incredible story! Thank you so much. 👍🏻❤️

Uncle Nick Grindstaff... 💗 Forever 💗

wonderful tribute to a great man . Although far removed , I can relate a lot to the strength and determination of our past settlers. JD once again you touch deeply the sentiment and heart through your narrative.

I feel the same way you do. I love that his dog would not leave his side. My dog, Spooner, and I were the same way, inseparable!

I really love the stories. My mom was raised in the Ozarks of Arkansas. There aren't very many as stories. I really enjoy an love to hear bout stories from yall, Ozarks, or any mountain stories. Thank you for sharing.

So interesting that a man who lived a solitary life is remembered by so many

Id love to be able to live like this again 🙏 grew up this way ❤️

Very nice story. Gave me a feeling of longing for West Virginia, my family's home state.

You sir are an amazing storyteller. I've never felt sorry for the killing of a snake. I think we all have a little Uncle Nick in us, else we wouldn't be listening. Keep em coming, from a new sub!

Wonderful story, JD. The part about Uncle Nick's funeral with 200 people in attendance having traveled up the mountain to attend is such a tribute to Uncle Nick. I would love to have known him. It brought to mind the poem called "The Dash," written by Linda Ellis. Just search KZfaq for The Dash poem read by Linda Ellis and give it a listen. It sums up how life should be lived. It's beautiful and profound. A real thought provoker. ❤

You have the best stories and the perfect voice to tell them with