With Heirloom, I hoped to document intriguing people and absorb anything they had to share or teach. What I discovered were untold stories, guardians of tradition, and tangible evidence of resilience. I was unfailingly surprised by the eagerness to share their hardest times, to open their homes, and to have any interest in my mind and life. Through their eyes, I was a humble witness to time’s steady and stubborn march, time’s greed, and time’s mercy.