Matthew. You said that you were planning/hoping to visit Jean Richie. Since nobody has mentioned it (unless I've missed it of course), I'd better point out that she is extremely old and extremely frail. That doesn't mean you shouldn't visit her of course, but I would strongly suggest that you contact someone close to her and see whether she's up to receiving visitors, how long they think you should stay etc.

If I were her age, and done as much as she's done, I'd be delighted to talk to anyone who'd take the trouble to listen. But a little caution was never a bad thing.