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when I think of Alabama…

April 20, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner 9 Comments

When I think of Alabama

When I think of Alabama, I think of Carlene, my mom’s college roommate, and her son Gary, and how we visited them a long, long time ago, and while I want to say it was summer it couldn’t have been because of the clothes we wore. Those memories are preserved forever by faded polaroid pictures. I thought their house was amazing mainly because it was two-story.  We took turns riding up and down the street in their neighborhood in Gary’s go-cart which was a new experience for my sister and me. Big wheels keep on turning…

When I think of Alabama, I think of Roll Tide and Bear Bryant and his houndstooth fedora that classed up the sidelines every Saturday and college football for years. He was born in Arkansas, you know.

I think of Harper Lee and Monroeville and Scout and Atticus and Boo and Dill and the tree that held gifts.

I think of Hank Williams.

And Alabama Shakes, my new fav.

gulf coast

I think of the trip we made that summer, driving the gulf coast under skies so blue. Moss really does hang from oak trees just like in Forrest Gump.

I think of Forrest Gump and Jen-nee and how life is like a box of chocolates.

When I think of Alabama, I think of Lynyrd Skynyrd because who doesn’t?

And right now when I think of Alabama, I think of the Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery because I’ll be there on Saturday. I’m looking forward to talking with other authors and meeting readers and hopefully (maybe) signing a few books and spreading The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee into the deeper southland.

I hope to see a few Alabama Women Bloggers there.

And if I’m lucky, there will be corn dogs to eat because, hey, it’s a festival.

 corndogs and Gracie Lee

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]When I think of #Alabama…@AlabamaBookFest @Alabama_Shakes @KaaSerpent @ALWomenBloggers[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:
Alabama Shakes, Rise to the Sun

Filed Under: Reading & Books, Travel Tagged With: Alabama Book Festival, Alabama Shakes, book promotion, Harper Lee, The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee, The South

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Comments

  1. Gary Henderson says

    April 20, 2016 at 9:34 am

    Wow. Yep, that would be me in that picture. I don’t remember the helmet at all. 🙂 I do, however, have fond memories of that go-kart. 🙂

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 20, 2016 at 6:22 pm

      Ooohh I obviously misspelled go-kart. Oh well. Cute picture of you!

      Reply
  2. Laurie says

    April 20, 2016 at 11:30 am

    Corndogs and Alabama Shakes! We were destined to be friends, obviously. 🙂

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 20, 2016 at 6:21 pm

      helz yeah.

      Reply
  3. Gwen Sellars says

    April 20, 2016 at 12:22 pm

    Living in Mobile has given me a great appreciation for Alabama and how sugar sweet the people are from here, my own parents came from North Alabama, so my live groes deep. I am from Mississippi County Arkansas, a place called Sandridge, not Far from Keiser. I’m hoping you get to visit our area in June, I:ll be there …. Got to get my book signed….many blessings to you …from Gwen and Doug Sellars

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 20, 2016 at 6:21 pm

      Are you still in Mobile? How far in that from Montgomery? I don’t know a Sandridge but I remember Sandy Bayou. I’d love to sign your book Gwen!

      Reply
  4. Staci says

    April 20, 2016 at 7:06 pm

    That picture is exactly what I remember! Wish I could be there, but business calls :/.

    Reply
  5. Bill R says

    April 20, 2016 at 10:33 pm

    Thanks for the memories. I love my home State! Sweet Home!

    Reply
  6. Debbie says

    April 21, 2016 at 6:47 am

    Know it will be a grand event! Need me to bring some Best-Ever Mac n Cheese and Very Best Meatloaf? Gracie Lee would also want some of Nana’s Strawberry Cake, wouldn’t she? Hope lots of our Alabama friends show up.

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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