Posts by Leslie Anne Tarabella
True love found in the cafeteria
My college son returned home for the summer and I could tell he’d found a new love back at Samford University. It was a shock to realize he’d actually become quite fond of not one, but several ladies on campus. It’s true. The cafeteria staff has stolen my son’s heart. It’s difficult for me…
Read MoreA Father and a (Southern) Gentleman
If your father is a gentleman, consider yourself blessed. And if he’s a Southern gentleman, you won the big prize. But more frequently, we’re seeing a new kind of Southern daddy. One who migrated here from parts unknown. I was introduced to a regular, run-of-the-mill gentleman when I was in my twenties and first…
Read MoreModern brides love Mason Jars more than fine crystal
As the calendar of civility marches on, I can tell by the stack of invitations on my desk that we have now entered my favorite time of year . . . wedding season. But even though these once scrawny babysitters have grown into beautiful brides, something makes me fear for their futures — you see,…
Read MoreMemorial Day — The Meaning of Taps
Memorial Day will be celebrated this weekend with ceremonies across the United States. Often, the traditional “Taps” will be played signaling the somber end . . . the end of the day, the end of soldier’s lives. The origins of the song are mingled with legends and folk tales, so it’s difficult to find hard…
Read MoreThe Ransom of Red Chief self defense plan
This story can be found in my book, “The Majorettes are back in town” Putting aside the current politically correct, social and ethical storm of the bathroom gender issue, we should step back for a moment and realize that from the instant children were invented, mothers have always worried that some type of boogey man…
Read MoreBetsy’s charismatic cottage
After years of fast-paced action raising two boys and operating a large real-estate office with her husband in South Florida, Betsy Adams settled into what has to be, one of the most charming cottages in Fairhope, Alabama. What started out as a plain, two bedroom house soon became a cozy home that’s just…
Read MoreLane cake’s a ‘Lame’ cake for our state dessert
In my never ending quest to sprinkle a touch of class on our dinner table conversation, I approached the topic of current events and informed my son and husband that the Lane cake had recently been named the official State Dessert of Alabama, to which my son replied, “Lame cake?” and my husband said, “Is…
Read MoreNo Privacy!
Let’s face it. Privacy is dead. Our laundry is being aired whether dirty or not, and we can’t always pin the blame on social media. The last haven of modesty and decorum has slowly eroded to the point that now, even the doctor’s office is a berth of lax security and breech of trust…
Read MoreBye Bye Birdie on the Bluff
Well, Conrad Birdie definitely had the chicks a-screaming on the Fairhope Bluff as Bye Bye Birdie played for three straight nights to huge crowds in Henry George Park. To top off the stellar performances was the five-star weather we’ve been enjoying here on the Gulf Coast. Picnic blankets and lawn chairs crowded together to…
Read MoreTips for a perfectly proper audience
This story can be found in the book, “The Majorettes are back in town and other things to love about the South.” Well, well, well … what have we here? Could it be a springtime graduation or recital? How about an end-of-the-year awards ceremony? It’s a good thing the Alabama chapter of the Committee for…
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