Audio Clips

Here I plan on posting random audio clips from throughout the years in remembrance of Our Colorado Legacy!

Me and Papa - South Fork, Colorado 2007

There was nothing like sitting out in the wide open spaces, breathing the Colorado mountain air, sipping on some cold iced tea and listening to Papa tell stories.  2003 I came up with a series called, 'A Journey Through Time'.  The idea was to sit Papa in front of the TV, film him with a video camera watching/commenting on old home videos he had shot years ago.  I remember as a kid I would come over just about every weekend and spend Friday and Saturday's with him.  Every once in a while Papa would get out of his old chair, walk to his bedroom and bring back a video tape.  He would tell me, "Have a seat, I'm going to show you something."  He stuck the tape in the VCR and pushed play.  We would sit for hours and watch old home videos.  It was great to watch the video along with his 'live' commentary.  So, 2003 I attempted to capture that in a bottle, so to speak.  I learned something filming those interviews with him.  He enjoys shooting video but DOESN'T enjoy being videotaped.  Haha.

Papa's 'Journey' Interview
April 25, 2003

The interview turned out nice, I believe I have around seven hours of footage with me, papa and my camera.  I just didn't get that same feeling you get hanging out with him.  On our 2006 vacation I did something bold.  I was getting my video shots and took a break to talk with Papa.  Sure enough he was telling some wonderful stories about him and the army.  I reached down and pushed record on my camera capturing our conversation.  On the DVD I put together I made this a bonus video.  I added still pictures of us sitting in the exact place we were when we had our conversation.  When I watch/listened to it I realized... That's what I've been searching for!  Summer of 2006 I shot almost seven hours of footage and almost drove Papa nuts. On our Colorado 2007 vacation I decided to do something different.  When people are being filmed you don't really get that person.  People either ham it up (like me) or they withdraw into a shell and shoot you dirty looks (like Papa).  With the 2007 trip I ended up filming only three hours of video for the entire trip, which is half of what I normally shoot.  I even told Papa that, "Hey, I'm going to take a break from filming so much and just relax and ENJOY this vacation."  Papa glared at me like he always did when my video camera was mentioned or seen and said, "Good, you about drive me nuts... just leave the damn camera alone!"

"Turn that damn camera off!"
July 24, 2006 

Actually I just remembered a short funny story.  I know I'm rambling but there will be a point to all of this, Haha.  2006 Colorado vacation, when I was filming my seven hours of footage.  Papa and I were at South Fork.  We had just woke up, made some hot tea.  Papa had a seat, enjoying the morning air.  I immediately sat my hot tea down, grabbed my video camera and began setting up multiple shots for our 'morning wake up montage'.  

Me, 'Camera Happy' James
July of 2007

I got my shots, turned the camera off, walked over to Papa who was still sitting there, only he had an annoyed, jaw-dropped trance on his face.  He just kept staring at me.  I took a swig of my now 'cold' hot tea and looked over at him.  "What?" I asked.  Papa, still staring at me, leans over and says, "You done?"  I shook my head, "Yep, I think I got some good shots."  Papa shook his head, 'no' and leaned over the other side of his chair and pointed his index finger out toward the ground about fifteen feet away.  I looked over at the grassy area, then back at him, "What is it?" I said.  "You see that blade of grass."  Papa said still pointing to the ground. 

Papa and his chair
July 27, 2006

I peered over again.   "What?"  I asked wondering where in the world he was going with this.  "That blade of grass", he paused for a moment still pointing and staring at the grass, then continued, "Right... there."  Papa stared intently back at me.  "You didn't film that blade of grass, you're not done yet."  Papa sat back up and took a sip of his tea.  He didn't laugh.  I did.  Anyway, 2007 vacation I took with me an audio recorder and ended up recording the first three days of I believe six.  I ended up with almost an hour of audio.  Great stuff.  I think its some of the best material of Papa.  Only bad thing is he didn't know I had it running.  Sorry Papa.  The point of this page is to present what audio recordings I have so that you may all get a chance to feel like your sitting with Papa as he tells some great stories. 

Audio Clips - Coming Soon