Christopher Toughill's Page

I landed in Ashland about two years ago from Santa Cruz. The move was more reactive than proactive, and I had little in the way of expectations. What I found was one of the real jewels of the planet. At the close, steep end of the Rogue Valley, Ashland is physically prettier than most of the planet. But what has set it apart for me is the people.
In the late 1960's, my dear departed mum made a documentary about the creative side of San Francisco. In it, she stated that the area was "lumpy with talent". Ashland is such a place. From the effusive artists of all ilks, to the vibrance that comes with a college town, to the hard work so many Ashlanders do in front of and behind the scenes to make this world a better place, the fewer than 20,000 residents of this hamlet (pun intended) create a fervor and zest for living and positive energy that I have seldom seen. To be sure, Santa Cruz, Bisbee, Boulder, and a few other places I have been in the U.S. also have a magical feel, but nowhere have I seen more tenacious and determined talent in all areas.
I wonder from time to time whether this gets taken for granted. It shouldn't. Back to dear old mum again - she used to say you could judge a town quickly by the distance at which people lower their gaze when approaching each other on the street. Ashlanders generally don't - they wave and smile and bounce as they go about their business, consciously glad to be in the moment. Thank you for having me Ashland!