1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,399 Hey, thanks for being a part of the conversation. This is Forest Stories. 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,080 I am the Poet in the Forest, a children's series that I pinned 3 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:10,119 out in the nineteen nineties. Now, none of it would be possible if 4 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:13,480 it wasn't for this forest right here in South Charlotte, North Carolina. I 5 00:00:13,519 --> 00:00:17,600 talk about it so much that I thought maybe it's time that you get to 6 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:23,600 know what has inspired me for thirty years. Thanks for being a part of 7 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:29,079 the conversation. Welcome back to the forest. Today, we're standing on Larry 8 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:34,240 Lane. Larry Lane is a special section in the very very front part of 9 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:39,320 my section of the forest. Larry was a black and white rescue dog rescued 10 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:44,039 in Los Angeles, California, that came to my wife because somebody just dumped 11 00:00:44,039 --> 00:00:47,200 the dog out a vet and my wife said, no, no, no, 12 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,520 this dog is too lovable. This dog needs a loving home. Well, 13 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:54,280 she provided that loving home in her rock star lifestyle. That meant a 14 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,600 lot of famous musicians got to meet Larry, and many of them even today 15 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:03,960 talk about it. Was Richard Marx. Richard Marx new Larry. Richard knew 16 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:08,480 of Larry's personality and his incredible warmth and love for all people. This is 17 00:01:08,519 --> 00:01:11,719 a part of the forest that a lot of people do not know unless you 18 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:18,200 uncover the plaque that is inside the forest floor. The plaque explains the story 19 00:01:18,519 --> 00:01:22,959 of Larry Lane and how it served as the beginning of what would soon grow 20 00:01:23,079 --> 00:01:26,640 throughout this entire forest. Because we've talked about the statue, the Nicky statue, 21 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:32,560 We've talked about the bridge where Woji closed his eyes and now he awaits 22 00:01:32,599 --> 00:01:36,120 the day that he can open them and see me again. But Larry Lane 23 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:41,319 was chapter one of really kind of just specializing the forest with true love, 24 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:44,840 my love for all animals. In fact, just over here across from Larry 25 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,239 Lane is what I call the jazz Park. All of my beautiful birds that 26 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:55,400 provided such amazing music in the morning, the afternoon, and at night, 27 00:01:56,200 --> 00:02:00,200 they all are sleeping right over here, and I know, late late late 28 00:02:00,239 --> 00:02:06,079 at night, they gather together and they have their performances. It's like this 29 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,879 gigantic band bringing their own sights and sounds, and those that are present will 30 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:15,080 hear their music. And that's what this forest is all about. The music 31 00:02:15,759 --> 00:02:20,960 from Larry Lane. Larry sings as loud as he can. Nikki and his 32 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:27,599 statue stand so proudly. And the bridge where Woji, Sophia, Misha, 33 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:34,080 and my Chinese crusted Sammy. We all sat there when our eyes grew closed. 34 00:02:35,039 --> 00:02:39,800 But Larry Lane a special little place the first chapter, on this fall 35 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:46,199 day in Carolina. It's covered with leaves except for the plaque where it's lit 36 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:51,439 up with solar lighting. So at night Larry can sit there and watch anything 37 00:02:51,479 --> 00:02:57,319 and everything that's moving by, because in his heart, this is his forest, 38 00:02:57,479 --> 00:03:00,759 and he made sure of it when he was on this planet. He 39 00:03:00,879 --> 00:03:04,879 ran through those waters in that stream, he would make the biggest noises. 40 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,520 He was a child, just like the original family who came to this lake 41 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:13,800 to escape, the family that I spoke of when we were talking about Heartbreak 42 00:03:13,879 --> 00:03:19,560 Hill, Larry Lane, the music, the poetry, the love, the 43 00:03:19,599 --> 00:03:24,039 love, and just think, one day we'll be opening up our eyes to 44 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:28,360 see each other again. Hey, thanks for being a part of the conversation.