EMBRACING THE PAST tells the story of how the author's personal preservation project turned into a study of the people who live in historic districts (areas of a city that are designated as having historic, cultural or architectural significance) and how they navigate the day-to-day realities of old wiring, bad plumbing, crumbling foundations, curious tourists, not-always-helpful city officials and skeptical family members. Interviews with nearly three dozen property owners in three Missouri communities revealed that there are threads of similarities that run through their experiences of looking for, purchasing, and renovating or restoring their old houses. In exploring the concepts of "appreciation," "possession," and "affiliation," the author lets the residents of historic districts tell their stories in their own always honest, often funny, and sometimes poignant way. If you love history, old houses, or just like to watch HGTV, you'll enjoy this book.