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when I think of Alabama…

April 20, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner

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, 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. 🙂

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 20, 2016 at 6:22 pm

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

  2. Laurie says

    April 20, 2016 at 11:30 am

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

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 20, 2016 at 6:21 pm

      helz yeah.

  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

    • 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!

  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 :/.

  5. Bill R says

    April 20, 2016 at 10:33 pm

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

  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.


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 (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: May 25, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: May 4, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition
  • Spiderwort: my love-hate relationship
  • Sunday Letter: March 23, 2025

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