Southern Interest
It all started with a tiny boll weevil
With a slow drawl, the Lion Keeper at the University of North Alabama said, “You can’t claim to be a true Alabamian until you’ve been to the National Peanut Festival in Dothan,” so Hoss King, who was a senior oboe major, grabbed his roommate, Billy Mac, and took off to celebrate the famous legume. After…
Read MoreThe bigger the bow, the more mama loves you
If our hair is our crowning glory, then a big fluffy hair bow is the jewel in the crown of all little girls in the South. Boiled down to the bare bones truth, a hair bow represents how much love a mama has for her precious darlin’ lamb. Matching every outfit, with special editions for…
Read MoreThe best halftime show ever
*I’ve always wanted to tell this story, but found it difficult due to the word restriction of the newspaper. There’s so much more to tell, and some of you from my high school who were there, feel free to fill in the rest! And now that I see my friend Jana in this photo, I…
Read MoreHats off at the table
This story can be found in the book, The Majorettes are Back in Town Bless her heart, my long time friend, Fancy Faye is out there in the dating world again. The stunning beauty is smart and successful, but totally out of luck when it comes to love. She’s rather picky, which can be a…
Read MoreIf only Buddy Ray had only known cursive
Tara used her most carefully constructed cursive handwriting to express her sentiments of deep love and devotion to her beau, Buddy Ray O’Hara, but alas, the young lad didn’t know how to read cursive handwriting, so he thought it was another garbled note from his aging granny and tossed it in the garbage. Unaware of…
Read MoreThe Gulf Shores & Orange Beach project
Several weeks ago I told you I was working on a big project with a deadline. I’m happy to say I’ve completed the assignment and enjoyed every minute of it. My task was to write the copy for the 2017 Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Convention and Visitor’s Official Vacation Guide. At around 100…
Read MoreGo to church or the Devil will get you
Yes, it’s a real sign in Alabama on private property. And we all pretty much have grown up seeing it every time we go to Grandma’s house or the beach. Living in a state that literally has a sign on Interstate 65 that says, “Go to church or the devil will get you,” has often…
Read MoreZucchini: the gift that keeps on giving
Southerners are the givin’est bunch of people you’ll ever meet. Anytime we visit one another, we always want to “take a little something.” And even though the “little” is often quite small, it’s truly the thought that counts. Unless of course, it’s zucchini. No one wants to look out their window and see you…
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,…
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