08-02-2010

Alabama

I begin with a beautiful Japanese Garden we visited at Bellingrath Gardens near Mobile.

We visited Bellingrath Gardens shortly after returning from Alaska in the spring of

1997. It was hot, humid and very beautiful. The Gardens were filled with wonderful flowers

and we took many pictures. It wasn’t especially expensive

and only a short nice drive from Mobile.

A young man named Bennie Ray lived across the street from us

Once I was frightened there in a strange and horrifying way

I had my first sexual issue there which has haunted me ever since

Dothan was the peanut capitol of Alabama

I remember we drove up and over a smelly overpass

A meat processing plant of some kind was there

There are many things I remember about Alabama

They are mostly divided into two parts

The time we lived in Dothan when my dad was stationed at Camp Rucker

I made my First Holy Communion there and my Aunt taught me how to say the rosary

Linda and I have said the rosary daily aloud together for well over fifteen years

Funny what you remember, the pastor there had two beautiful red purebred dogs

I helped build a small concrete block building there, perhaps it was a garage

I learned to love soda while living there and unfortunately I am a soda addict even now

The second part of my memories about Alabama have to do with driving

We have driven west to east and east to west. We have driven from the southeast to Dothan

and then north to Montgomery and Birmingham and on to Memphis. We also have driven

from Meridian to Selma and on to Montgomery.

I remember trying to explain how Selma was an important place to my children

I never wanted them to experience prejudice as I had

I walked this bridge with many others a very long time ago

It is impossible to drive through Selma without walking across the bridge

As you drive into Birmingham there are rolling hills

We used to stop at the wonderful flea markets I think near Montgomery

As I mentioned before, near Mobile,

Bellingrath Gardens remains a very special place of beautiful flowers

almost like being in Hawaii.

The drive into Mobile across the bay was always fun

We seemed to often stop at a Grandfather Clock shop

This was on old highway 90 or the road between the bay and the interstate

We have stopped and taken the submarine tour near battleship row

Driving out of Mobile into Florida you always climbed a steep hill

Once again a very long time ago we walked down into a state park

There was a small waterfall and Linda had lost tons of weight

I can't remember if she was pregnant or not

We never really liked the far South very much so did not spend much time or effort there

We once stayed in the town right across from Columbus Georgia

I remember because we went to see a movie, Red Dawn, there

Towns like Enterprise, DeFuniak Springs and Ozark I have been through but only have vague memories! Well this is the start!

A flower from Bellingrath Gardens will be my picture!

John