02/09/2026
Hi friends! Iโm grateful to have a small piece published in Goldenseal Magazine, a publication that honors the land, people, and stories of West Virginia. Growing up I remember my Pap Leasure reading Goldenseal. I wish more than anything that he were here to read this story. He himself was a symbol of Appalachian grit, heart, and tradition.
I want to say thank you to my high school English teacher, Shelley Hulsey, for always making me feel seen and celebrated and for being a teacher who led with kindness. Thank you to my college folklore professor, Judy Byers, for helping me understand the power of storytelling and the importance of honoring this land and the people who belong to it. Thank you as well to Steve Strother for inviting me to help with the 2025 Marble Festival!
Even when things feel heavy close to home and far away, this place still matters to me. Our hills and hollers, our rivers and back roads, our artists, neighbors, and elders, and the quiet magic that keeps showing up anyway. I donโt want the ugliness in the world to harden me or take away my love for this place. I want to keep giving back to this Eden we get to exist in, to care for the land, and to honor Appalachia however I can, whenever I can.
If you read this piece I hope it makes you feel proud of where you live and grateful for what still exists here: nature, community, art, and connection in one of the most beautiful and magical places there is.
Story link:
Text and Photos By Gabi Cooper Life is a swirl of color and change, full of gentle motion, quiet lessons, and glimmers that guide us forward. At thirty, I
