The human mind is very complex. Contained in it are all the necessary factions that regulate our body and our brain has the ability to store in its cells all of the memories that have been created by virtue of  our living and interacting with people and our environment. Everything, that has impacted us both good or bad is stored and can be easily recalled when stimulated by our senses.  Using my own gift of memory I have been able to write many of my memories down in the form of three books available now in eBook format as well as in print for others to read. Simple short stories and tales about life situations that are not unique in any sense of the word to only me but to everyone.  Real life stories written is a simple folksy vernacular with many having life applications. It is my hope that these stories and short articles will be read by many who will not only enjoy and find them entertaining but will also be able to resonate with the memories  of their own.   All of us have  precious memories and I have chosen to record my own so they will be preserved for my children and grandchildren. It has been a labor of love.  My first book is My Tuxedo No Longer Fits Me-Memories of a Mill Village Brat  ISBN 978-0-557-44642-1 and is a compilation and brief history of the cotton mill village of Tuxedo,NC. An overview of the cotton  mill during the 1950's and a labor union strike. I also included the details of how our volunteer fire and rescue came into being along with chapters on our elementary school.. The remainder of my book is general subjects about life experiences and some of the wonderful people who owned a business in the village. My second book Familiar People and Places in Green River Township  ISBN 978-0-557-28656-0 is also a continuation of my first book and is filled with short life experience articles about the people and in our village. Written is a story teller manner, this book is candidly describes many of the authors personal memories of the people who influenced his life. Using a pen name, Putz Ballard, I wrote Stories to Warm Your Heart and Make You Smile, a collection of over 80 short stories all life experiences.ISBN  978-557374687 Some are inspirational while others have humor. Readers will resonate with the simple stories which will often crinkle their face with smiles and bring a tear.     My latest book   Family Roots-The Ballard's of Zirconia, NC,Kinfolk and Stories from the Journery is one that holds a special interest for me and revolves around the genealogy of my family.  Until recently I didn't know very much about my ancestors but as I began to reseach using normal channels such as the records at our local Court House, I was intrgued as to how much information had already been done and was readily availabe on teh internet. I began to compile these and collated my findings into a book. The book will be a resource for my children and grand children long after I am gone.  This book was completed and using Create Space publishing is now available. Also as a story teller and blog writer, I include some of my stories from the journey. These are simple stories ona variety of subject material whic I feel compliments the intent of my book.   robertballard@bellsouth.net   Sincerely    Robert Elias (Putz) Ballard   .adslot-overlay {position: absolute; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.65); border: 2px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.65); color: white !important; margin: 0; z-index: 2147483647; text-decoration: none; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;}.adslot-overlay-iframed {top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;}.slotname {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; padding: 3px 0 3px 6px; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.45); text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden;}.slotname span {text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-transform: capitalize;}.revenue {position: absolute; bottom: 0; left: 0; right: 0; font-size: 11px; padding: 3px 0 3px 6px; vertial-align: middle; text-align: left; background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.45); font-weight: bold; text-overflow: ellipsis; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap;}.revenue .name {color: #ccc;}.revenue .horizontal .metric {display: inline-block; padding-right: 1.5em;}.revenue .horizontal .name {padding-right: 0.5em;}.revenue .vertical .metric {display: block; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;}.revenue .vertical .name, .revenue .vertical .value {display: block;}.revenue .square .metric, .revenue .button .metric {display: table-row;}.revenue .square .metric {line-height: 1.5em;}.revenue .square .name, .revenue .square .value, .revenue .button .value {display: table-cell;}.revenue .square .name {padding-right: 1.5em;}.revenue .button .name {display: block; margin-right: 0.5em; width: 1em; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: clip;}.revenue .button .name:first-letter {margin-right: 1.5em;}a.adslot-overlay:hover {border: 2px solid rgba(58,106,173,0.9);}a.adslot-overlay:hover .slotname {border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(81,132,210,0.9); background-color: rgba(58,106,173,0.9);}a.adslot-overlay:hover .revenue {border-top: 1px solid rgba(81,132,210,0.9); background-color: rgba(58,106,173,0.9);}div.adslot-overlay:hover {cursor: not-allowed; border: 2px solid rgba(64,64,64,0.9);}div.adslot-overlay:hover .slotname {border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.9); background-color: rgba(64,64,64,0.9);}div.adslot-overlay:hover .revenue {border-top: 1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.9); background-color: rgba(64,64,64,0.9);} .adslot-overlay {position: absolute; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.65); border: 2px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.65); color: white !important; margin: 0; z-index: 2147483647; text-decoration: none; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;}.adslot-overlay-iframed {top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;}.slotname {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; padding: 3px 0 3px 6px; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.45); text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden;}.slotname span {text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-transform: capitalize;}.revenue {position: absolute; bottom: 0; left: 0; right: 0; font-size: 11px; padding: 3px 0 3px 6px; vertial-align: middle; text-align: left; background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.45); font-weight: bold; text-overflow: ellipsis; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap;}.revenue .name {color: #ccc;}.revenue .horizontal .metric {display: inline-block; padding-right: 1.5em;}.revenue .horizontal .name {padding-right: 0.5em;}.revenue .vertical .metric {display: block; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;}.revenue .vertical .name, .revenue .vertical .value {display: block;}.revenue .square .metric, .revenue .button .metric {display: table-row;}.revenue .square .metric {line-height: 1.5em;}.revenue .square .name, .revenue .square .value, .revenue .button .value {display: table-cell;}.revenue .square .name {padding-right: 1.5em;}.revenue .button .name {display: block; margin-right: 0.5em; width: 1em; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: clip;}.revenue .button .name:first-letter {margin-right: 1.5em;}a.adslot-overlay:hover {border: 2px solid rgba(58,106,173,0.9);}a.adslot-overlay:hover .slotname {border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(81,132,210,0.9); background-color: rgba(58,106,173,0.9);}a.adslot-overlay:hover .revenue {border-top: 1px solid rgba(81,132,210,0.9); background-color: rgba(58,106,173,0.9);}div.adslot-overlay:hover {cursor: not-allowed; border: 2px solid rgba(64,64,64,0.9);}div.adslot-overlay:hover .slotname {border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.9); background-color: rgba(64,64,64,0.9);}div.adslot-overlay:hover .revenue {border-top: 1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.9); background-color: rgba(64,64,64,0.9);}