Above, you’ll see author, editor and publisher, Sonny Brewer, and his little friend Bobby, along with singer/songwriter Grayson Capps and the 2025 Truman Capote Award winner, Suzanne Hudson. And yes, they are all from Fairhope. I’m not sure who took this photo – I found it on Suzanne’s facebook page. My pictures weren’t so great…
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The latest status symbol amongst mature men is a black arm sling. It signifies a life of daring action, with rotator cuff surgery proclaiming to the world that they are, quite literally, movers and shakers. Our list of injured friends includes former football players, tennis champs, golf pros—and now, my husband. His claim to fame?…
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If there was ever a publication that speaks my language, it’s the Scenic 98 Coastal website. Founding editor Zeb Hargett and his staff highlight stories that celebrate the Gulf Coast region of South Alabama and North West Florida — or in otherwords, my home. Since my latest book also covers this area, Zeb was kind…
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Capitol Hill is abuzz with as many new programs as fire ants in Alabama. Each politician scurries to make a statement, promising to fix all the problems, but I think they’re forgetting a few basics. If we truly want to improve the country, let’s aim for something the people in our district actually need—like a…
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My husband is impossible to shop for. He buys most of his own clothes and loves good electronic gadgets, but he’s the expert of those, so I have to leave it to him. Socks? Boring. Books? He likes to read them on a glowing thing-a-ma-jig. But guess what Mr. Know it all doesn’t have? The…
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Here I am with Barbara James on a teacher workday – otherwise, she would have never allowed me to wear a T-shirt to school. She expected all her teachers to dress up every day. I keep this picture on my desk. The best lesson I ever learned in kindergarten was when I was 27 years…
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This story first appeared in Lagniappe News, Mobile, Alabama. South Alabama is usually as hot as the hinges of hell and plagued by hurricanes and humidity, but now our yards are covered in nine inches of glistening snow. It’s one of the prettiest and most unexpected things I’ve ever seen, and it’s made me realize…
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I don’t enjoy the fussing and fighting of politics, but the pageantry and hoopla never fail to enthrall. The recent inauguration had me texting with friends in a frenzy of messages, approving some elements of the pomp and circumstance, and recoiling in horror at others. As star graduates of our childhood Sunday School classes, we…
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My Christmas decorations are packed away except for this framed 12 Days of Christmas collection. I love it so much that I think I’ll let it linger a little longer. Is there a rule against that? The cards depict the original wooden 2 by 4-foot “cards” that were designed and painted by local artist Mary…
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Originally posted in 2017. After she covered her black eyed peas with water to soak overnight, Millie went outside to help her husband wrap the big ball of chicken wire with Christmas lights. Every year, the couple hosted the New Year’s Eve party at their farm just South of Montgomery, and at ten seconds ‘till…
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