Tomfoolery

No Regrets

2012-01-14T11:19:00.000-05:00

The Bushmen, who walk immense distances across the Kalahari, have no idea of the soul’s survival in another world. ‘When we die, we die,’ they say. ‘The wind blows away our footprints, and that is the end of us.’

Sluggish and sedentary peoples, such as the ancient Egyptians – with their concepts of an afterlife journey through the Fields of Reeds – project onto the next world the journeys they failed to make in this one.

[Bruce Chatwin, ‘Songlines’]

Mila & J.J.

2012-01-05T19:10:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of my late aunt Mila Espy (Woods) when she was a young girl. She's playing the organ in the music room in her childhood home on Main Street in Headland, Alabama. On the wall is a portrait of my great-grandfather, John Jolly Espy, Sr.. I also have added another J.J. Espy obituary that I found somewhere.

John Jolly Espy

2011-12-20T10:26:00.000-05:00

Espy Farms

2011-12-09T11:21:00.000-05:00

Click to enlarge. Notice my dad in top-right photo.

Headland Observer Ads, 1967

2011-12-07T19:42:00.000-05:00

Boy Scout Council

2011-12-05T20:22:00.000-05:00

Family Fun

2011-12-02T10:30:00.001-05:00

Dad is the boy on the left looking directly at the camera. To his left are his father Major, sister Mila, aunt Mary Owens Vann, mother Edith and sister Marilyn. It looks like they are in a glass-bottom boat - possibly down at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

The 70s

2011-11-30T20:49:00.000-05:00

These are random pictures of my paternal grandparents, Major W. Espy, Sr. and Edith Vann Espy. In the 1975 photo, their oldest daughter (my aunt) Marilyn Espy (McClendon) is sitting alongside Major. On the wall behind them is a portrait of Marilyn.

All these scans actually came from albums belonging to Aunt Marilyn, who has done a remarkable job cataloging, by date and event, an entire lifetime of pictures. I wish we all could be as organized!

Mother's Day, 1967

2011-11-27T01:25:00.001-05:00

At the home of my paternal grandparents, Major and Edith Espy of Headland, Alabama.

Mom (Dinah), Dad (Mark), Sis (Leslie), Deedee (Edith), Grandmother Vann (Kate)

More Watt Espy

2011-11-20T12:52:00.002-05:00

The first five scans are of a photograph and some newspaper articles that UAlbany had in their Watt Espy files. They were some I had not seen before. The last couple of scans are of documents Beverly Espy Dayries had in her home in Atlanta.

Anthony Bourdain

2011-11-11T16:20:00.002-05:00

The other night Kade and I had a chance to see Anthony Bourdain of No Reservations. Here's a video I made. See the video description to find topics that interest you.

Dining in "Little Paris"

2011-10-17T13:37:00.003-04:00

These are three of our favorite restaurants in Asheville. Lobster Trap really has emerged on the scene, in my book, because of their raw oyster specials between 5:00-6:00 PM.

Sweets

2011-10-10T17:41:00.000-04:00

Watt Espy's Office

2011-10-05T10:08:00.007-04:00

Mark Jenkinson took these six images of Watt Espy for an article that was published in Esquire Magazine back in the mid-90s. Mark teaches photography classes at NYU in New York City and maintains a getaway cabin in Woodstock, NY, which is about 30 minutes from Albany. Mark said he enjoyed getting to know Uncle Watty, and he thought a lot of him.

"The most interesting story I have about meeting Watt was that I mentioned an inmate that I had photographed in Maryland that was the only person I believed to be innocent (I've photographed over 200 Death Row inmates). Watt immediately knew exactly who I was talking about and pulled a file on him. As I read the file I knew that the inmate had conned me. He was guilty as hell of a horrific and brutal sex crime. Watt's knowledge of every single case was encyclopedic."
Mark Jenkinson

What's interesting is that all these years later, Mark uses the negatives from the original photos to teach his students high-resolution scanning. Three of these are the most recent scans he did in one of his classes. Thanks Mark!

On the Watt Espy Trail

2011-09-30T09:36:00.002-04:00

Well over a year ago I started imagining taking a trip to the University at Albany (SUNY) in New York to have a look at Uncle Watty's death penalty research. He had donated his vast, one-of-a-kind research to UAlbany not long before he died. Once I got Uncle Jim on board, and I started thinking about things Kade would enjoying seeing, we mapped out quite an agenda. First, very clearly, we'd meet at the Boston airport (Uncle Jim flying in from Panama City), rent a car and then drive west to Albany, NY, where we'd stay two nights. I had already been talking with some key figures at the university and in the "death penalty world" (people who knew and appreciated Watt Espy). They were going to give us an official tour, and they were making arrangements to have dinner with Kade and me so that we could reminisce about Uncle Watty's life and accomplishments. I arrived in Albany full of excitement!

In my YouTube account you can find specific videos we made walking around downtown Albany, NY and of our stop in Troy, NY before heading back east.

Vermont & New Hampshire

2011-09-24T10:48:00.002-04:00

After our stop in Troy, NY to see one of Uncle Watty's friends we drove through the Southern part of Vermont and New Hampshire, working our way back east. Brattleboro, Vermont was a particular destination I had in mind. It was where I almost went to get my master's degree at the (SIT) School for International Teaching. Several years ago I had thought about getting a master's in ESL (English as Second Language), and had heard wonderful things about their program from my colleagues in Bangkok. Anyway, this trip I wanted to drive through Brattleboro. We did, and I was greatly impressed. It reminded me of Asheville with the lovely mountains, active downtown and thriving arts community. Keene, NH also turned out to be a city that impressed us quite a bit. Uncle Jim, once again, provided our comedy! The scene in the video where he comes out of the porta-toilet is hilarious.

Beantown

2011-09-17T12:39:00.000-04:00

We turned in our rental car and then took a cab into Cambridge, where we checked into the Harvard Square Hotel. Taking the advice of friends and fellow travelers we opted to rely on Boston's highly efficient subway system for our day-to-day transportation. In one video below, you can get a taste of what it's like on the subway. See if you can spot Uncle Jim! Each day we had a quick breakfast and a coffee before heading out to explore the sights, tastes and sounds of one of America's most historical and modern cities. As you can see, the famous Boston Cream Pie lived up to its sterling reputation! When thinking back on our time in Boston, my favorite activities were: going to the top of the Prudential Building for a view of the city, having an exquisite dinner in North End's Little Italy, standing before Paul Revere's tombstone in the Granary Burying Grounds, visiting the JFK Library and Museum and going on the Duck Tour. If you find the videos below enticing, you might enjoy checking out the extended ones on my youtube channel: majorkade. Uncle Jim and Kade both were great subjects to film!

Cape Cod & Martha's Vineyard

2011-09-07T19:02:00.007-04:00

Cape Cod proved to be my favorite destination of the whole trip. It didn't hurt that Kade and I stayed in a lovely, relaxing B&B By the Sea in the coastal town, Dennisport.

My personal highlight - and I would say it was Uncle Jim's too - was taking a late afternoon swim in the Atlantic, on the outer cape at Coast Guard Beach. Another cool thing Kade and I did was tour the JFK Museum in Hyannis. On our last full day on Cape Cod, we took a boat to Martha's Vineyard. On "the Vin" we saw the beach where JAWS was filmed, we saw the home where Dr. King penned his I have a Dream speech and we took a bus down a street where Jackie Kennedy Onassis used to ride her bicycle. And, I must mention that we spotted (and I videoed) two celebrities - well, one TV personality and one music legend. The clips below are the shortest of the videos I made. Extended versions of these - along with a few additional Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard ones - can be found on my youtube channel: majorkade.

During the time we were on Cape Cod, there was a shark sighting.

Fall River, MA

2011-09-03T15:24:00.003-04:00

After an amazing time on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard, Kade and I decided that, en route to New Haven, we'd take Uncle Jim by one of the creepiest homes in America: the Lizzie Borden House. Video one shows us arriving at the home and getting Uncle Jim's reaction. Then, I follow with some pictures of our tour inside the home, and end with a short biography of Lizze Borden.

Lizzie Borden took an axe / And gave her mother forty whacks. / When she saw what she had done, / She gave her father forty-one.

Three ghosts in the mirror.

Lizzie Borden through the years!

The tour guide stands on the spot beside the bed where Mrs. Borden's body was found. The view from the staircase, where I took the picture, is where investigators first saw her body.

New Haven

2011-09-01T16:47:00.003-04:00

A rain-soaked day kept us from doing any serious sight-seeing in Newport, Rhode Island. Therefore, we decided to drive on to New Haven, Connecticut to the spend the night. The following day we drove around the Yale Campus, had a fabulous burger and later got an afternoon coffee. Then, we drove over to a friend's house - a lady I taught in Uzbekistan many, many years ago. We were greeted at the door with big smiles and we left with full stomachs. Traditional Uzbek food was made from scratch, and we got to participate. Thanks, Shahnoza. Uncle Jim, as you can see in the second video, loved playing with the children. And they loved him!

Drums & Tapas

2011-07-21T14:34:00.002-04:00

Every Friday night in downtown Asheville you can see and hear the drummers, and even dance if that's your desire. I made this video early in the evening. Believe me, the darker it gets, the bigger the crowd and the louder the drums.

And, just last night, I paid a visit to one of Asheville's newest restaurants, Cúrate. It had an energetic atmosphere combined with some delicious tapas and wine. Truly, it felt like I could have been any of the world's food capitals - Paris, New York, Barcelona et al.

July 4th...A Day Early

2011-07-03T22:43:00.003-04:00

Enjoying a July 4th Party on July 3rd!

Birthday

2011-06-30T22:57:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Mom I have made it from this to

THIS

Obama says WAR EAGLE!

2011-06-11T21:49:00.000-04:00

Senator J. B. Espy

2011-06-07T14:07:00.000-04:00

On down the page I posted an article on Professor J.S. Espy. This is his son.

Campus Views

2011-06-04T12:59:00.001-04:00

When I was walking to my car the other night on the AB Tech Campus, this was the surrounding view. Quite marvelous!

Sunsets

2011-06-01T23:03:00.001-04:00

Friend and neighbor Kenny Yan took this sunset image at Beaver Lake in North Asheville. Kenny and his wife May regularly walk around the lake and in surrounding neighborhoods. I used to do these walks but now just seem content driving on by in my new car.

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T00:40:00.003-04:00

That's a virtual silhouette of me making a phone call underneath Old Glory. This flag flies atop Chimney Rock, a popular tourist spot on the outskirts of Asheville. On this solemn day I want to remember my relatives and countrymen (and women) who died in various wars. I also want to remember people all over the world who have died in wars. The bodies keep piling up. In the famous words of Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"

Professor Joseph S. Espy

2011-05-29T00:11:00.000-04:00

This is my great-great-uncle, Joseph S. Espy. He was the son of my paternal great-great-great-grandparents, Robert Marion Espy and Elizabeth Watt Espy. He was the brother of my great-great grandfather, Thomas Franklin Espy. Thomas Franklin Espy is featured under Espys in Categories (right sidebar). Thanks Larry Smith for this research and biography.

Bo Sightings

2011-05-27T00:10:00.009-04:00

Bo, Allen and sister Leslie, New Orleans Hotel, Sugar Bowl 1984

Thanks to Dad, who's been getting Auburn sports tickets for over three decades, as a child I not only watched the great Bo Jackson play during his storied career on The Plains, but also had the chance to meet him a few times. At that time, in the '80s, this was really big-time. I will never forget the Auburn-Michigan Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. We went inside the Super Dome for a practice and saw Bo and his teammates getting ready for the game and speaking to the media. Later, we hurried back to the team's hotel where we greeted the Tiger players and coaches. That's where my sister Leslie and I had the above photo taken. Then, the next day or two we were back at the team hotel. This time I got word of which room Bo was staying in. Of course, being a sports-crazed 13 yr. old, I went up the elevator and knocked on Bo's door. Wearing his bathrobe, Bo opened the door and stepped out into the hall to talk with me. His backfield mate/best friend, Lionel James, was singing in the shower, and we could hear because the door was propped open a bit. It was quite funny. Bo, who was already a huge star, was very nice and courteous. I was certainly awestruck.

I had a chance to meet Bo two other times. Once, in Athens, Georgia, after a victory over the Dawgs, Dad took us around the backside of the stadium where the Auburn team was walking to the bus that would take them back to their hotel. Bo walked out, smiling from ear-to-ear. He was wearing camouflage and holding a box of KFC chicken. I walked up and got his autograph. On another occasion, after Bo had left Auburn and begun his professional sports career, I was back in Auburn getting ready to see a basketball game. Bo was working out on the baseball field, and he happened to be wearing a Kansas City Royals uniform. When he finished his workout, he left the baseball diamond and started walking across the basketball coliseum parking lot. He was with his girlfriend (perhaps wife at the time). And, strangely enough, they were by themselves. I spotted Bo and walked over, spoke with him and got his autograph once again. Bo was his usual nice self.

While I am sharing Bo stories, I need to throw in that my sister had a class with him at Auburn. She asked him if she could get his autograph for her brother, me! If he only had known of my other successes! Leslie said that Bo jokingly asked out loud, in front of the other students, how much he should charge my sister.

Finally, if I had to really, really brag about my one Bo moment, it might just be the following picture and story.


A-Day Race of '84

I was one of the kids who raced Bo that day. My cousin Jeff sent this photo w/ article to me and thought he spotted me in the picture. I believe I was further to the right of Bo and out of picture. All I know for sure is that I certainly didn't outrun Bo, even with a 30-40 yard head start.

Thanksgiving, 1985.

What triggered all these Bo Jackson memories was Auburn's recent national championship and an e-mail an ole Samford University fraternity brother sent. He attached the above picture and the following description.

Hey Allen -

This picture was taken near Auburn at my uncle and aunt's (aunt is my mom's sister) hunting lodge on their land. Bo went there quite a bit to hunt - with my uncle while in college, and after. They were much a family to him, and of course he loved hunting. My family always gathered every Thanksgiving there at the lodge for the whole weekend. Bo spent that Thanskgiving day with our family- eating, hunting, playing pool......and came back to hunt the next morning.....then the following day is when he played in the Iron Bowl that they lost on the Van Tiffen kick.

For Thanksgiving dinner after hunting, I remember thinking how weird it was to be sitting at the table right next to Bo - along with my two brothers, and three of my cousins....just hanging out, and then him showing us a few pool tricks. A memorable day to say the least. After the iron bowl, we were all still at the camp house, and Bo called to ask if he had played well enough to come back to hunt some more!

Happy New Year!!

Andy

Tornadoes

2011-05-23T13:03:00.002-04:00

Not long ago my dad got me a subscription to The Abbeville Herald, a weekly newspaper published in the county in Southeast Alabama where I was born and raised. My primary focus when the paper arrives is to dive right into Historian Larry Smith's column, Henry County Siftings. Just recently Larry wrote about a devastating tornado that hit my hometown in the early 20th Century.

Another outbreak of tornadoes hit the US last night. And, of course, who can forget the deadly tornadoes that hit Alabama several weeks ago? I also decided to post a video of President Obama touring Tuscaloosa in the days after the storm.

Cruising

2011-05-19T23:34:00.003-04:00

These videos I made will give you a taste of what it's like driving around this charming mountain town.

Spring is Here!

2011-05-18T23:53:00.004-04:00

Asheville has tons of Tailgate Farmers Markets where you can find flowers, herbs, vegetables, smoked trout and much more. I stopped by this one the other day and made this short video.

The other day a friend of ours spotted a large black bear in a community just near a park where we walk. Kade and I decided to take our car and drive around in search of the bear. Couldn't find the bear, but we did spot some other wildlife.

Kade's Family Tree

2011-05-15T14:50:00.004-04:00

On our last trip to Bangkok Kade did her own look into her family tree. One weekend I went with her and her dad to visit relatives on his side of the family. They mostly live in the Thai capital, Bangkok. Kade's dad is the youngest of nine children. Like many Thais, his parents came from Chinese immigrant families who left Southern China for a more prosperous life in Siam in the 18th and 19th centuries. These Thai-Chinese, as they are called, are one of many Asian ethnic groups that make up the Thai people.

Fun Mondays

2011-05-11T02:42:00.004-04:00

On Monday we went to Blowing Rock, NC, a very scenic mountain town north of Asheville. It was Uncle Bumps' favorite vacation spot, so says his son and my cousin, Bill Vann. After spending the afternoon in and around Blowing Rock, we made it back for a nice dinner at Limones, a restaurant we had not tried in downtown Asheville. I was very impressed with the ambiance and the quality of the food at Limones. Divine! Enjoy my latest video creation.

Honoring Mothers

2011-05-05T23:24:00.000-04:00

Derrick Rose's deeply sincere expression of love for his mother and all she's done for him is truly magnificent. It truly moved me. When you hear his words and see his face as he says them, well, it's hard not to think better about the human race. Bravo Mr. Rose!

Lampooning Trump

2011-05-02T22:05:00.002-04:00

Sometimes a good dose of humor is all it takes. Watch The Donald squirm.

“Very few people have ever been hammered like he was hammered,” says veteran GOP strategist Ed Rollins, who says the Washington Hilton dinner—where Seth Meyers of SNL also called Trump a “joke”—was a key moment. “The message was he’s not a serious guy. It now gives legitimate journalists, not that they needed an excuse, but a reason to look at him seriously.”

“All of a sudden the media started looking at him as a real candidate, and he didn’t like it,” Rollins says. “I don’t think Trump is going to like it. They’re not prepared for the assault that takes place.”

Actor in the Family

2011-04-28T22:03:00.031-04:00

Pictured above is Thomas Marion Espy. He was an older brother to my great-grandfather, John Jolly Espy, Sr.. In fact, the two of them were partners in a law firm in Dothan, Alabama before my great-grandfather relocated up the road in Headland, which is where I was born and where my father lives today. As a result of my family research, I have connected with a couple of Thomas Marion Espy's grandchildren: Griggs Espy and William (Bill) Gray Espy. Griggs is a financial investor and resides in Dothan. He's actually the one who sent me the photo of his grandfather. His brother, Bill Espy, is a former actor who starred in some very well-known day-time soap operas back in the 70s and 80s. The rest of this post reveals more about Bill and his career. I would encourage you to google William Gray Espy to find more information about him. He was quite a handsome guy in his day. Since his retirement Bill has done some wonderful work raising awareness and money for Alzheimer's research.

Bill played Snapper from 1973-1975. The actor who followed him in that role was David Hasselhoff.

Later Bill played Mitch on Another World.

Bill appeared in a couple of Miami Vice episodes. In this video, if you scroll to the pool table scene, Bill and 80s heartthrob Don Johnson are in a scene together.

Leslie Ann Espy Arrives!

2011-04-21T23:12:00.013-04:00

Theses are letters Uncle Watty kept for over 40 years! He must have been proud of his new niece, Leslie Ann Espy. Leslie is the first child. Mother and Dad produced four in all! Leslie, Mark, Miles and Allen, in that order.

Take note of Granddad Major holding precious Leslie, his first grandchild. Also, you can see Dad's profile and Granddad Major in the last image. Mother, naturally, is looking beautiful in all of them. What a great mother she was! As our neighbor Hilda always said, "You came from good stock."

These rare pictures came from slides belonging to Aunt Marilyn.

Young Watty

2011-04-18T01:27:00.001-04:00

See how quickly you can spot Watty Espy in these kindergarten photos. The photos were taken on the town square in Headland, AL circa 1938. Click to enlarge.

Badminton Saturdays

2011-04-13T22:00:00.009-04:00

Now I'm playing badminton three times a week. Just recently we set up a new court at Warren Wilson College. Here are some recent games. In the second video, I actually jump in early to replace a guy who had to leave. It turned out to be a fabulous game.

Watty's Maternal Grandparents

2011-04-07T23:43:00.012-04:00

Watty Espy's maternal grandfather was Dr. Walter Scott. Dr. Scott married "Bunch" Lindsey and they had one daughter, Mary Jordan Scott, who was Watty's mother. Dr. Scott and Bunch divorced. Bunch moved back into her family home - the home Watty inherited and where he founded his Capital Punishment Research Project.

Average? or Not?

2011-04-04T22:37:00.017-04:00

A photographer took 1000s of images of women's faces of various nationalities and then used a software program to create an average face for each particular nationality. It's my initial take that the women are all attractive and perhaps these faces represent the average "attractive" face from each nationality. Nonetheless, my own travels have enabled me to be more aware of the differences (and similarities) among people of the world. Not all Asians look alike. Not all Africans have wide noses. Eastern Europeans tend to have prominent cheek bones and foreheads compared with their Western European counterparts. I can go on and on. Click here to see the fascinating photos.

Prince

2011-03-30T11:31:00.003-04:00

Kade and I saw Prince in concert a couple of nights ago. It was funky! W even carried our own foot spray!

Take a moment and hear Prince describe his Coming 2 America tour. Then, take a look at a couple of raw videos we made at the concert. Keep in mind I had to use my cell phone camera, so the picture/sound quality is way below average. There are 5 videos all together, but don't know how long I will be able to keep them up on YouTube. You can go to My Channel @ majorkade to see the other videos.

One highlight of the concert was Prince singing his own rendition of the Michael Jackson hit, Don't Stop Till You Get Enough. What a tribute to the King of Pop! It's the last of my Prince concert videos (P5). Enjoy!

To see Prince interviewed recently on Tavis Smiley, click here. To hear a quality recording of Prince's tribute to Michael Jackson, click here.

Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor

2011-03-27T17:30:00.003-04:00

My mother always liked Elizabeth Taylor. She thought Liz was so beautiful.

The King of Pop and Liz had a deep friendship. Here Michael sings a song to Elizabeth at her birthday "party."

Old Espy Home

2011-03-25T22:17:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Gordon Marley, who took all these photographs back in the mid-70's, we have a fabulous record of what the Old Espy House on East Church Street looked like during that period - both inside and out. Everything but the upstairs bedrooms was captured. Gordon is the grandson of the late Roby J. Lee. Uncle Roby married my aunt, Sarah Frances Espy Sidney, after their spouses had passed away. It was a second marriage for both of them. At the time these photographs were taken, Aunt Frances had recently died. The home decor and the outside grounds both reflected her exquisite taste and style. In the video, be sure to take note of Uncle Roby relaxing in his chair. To learn more of the history of the Old Espy House, and to see how the home looks today, be sure to look under Espys in categories.

Henry County, Alabama

2011-03-22T12:34:00.005-04:00

This is the county where I was born and raised. After reading Larry Smith's article below, you may want to go to the Henry County Historical Group website. And, just recently, my hometown was mentioned in the New York Times.

Doubles

2011-03-18T23:44:00.008-04:00

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I play badminton with the Asheville Badminton Club at the Montford Community Center. Here's some footage of some recent matches. The first game started out slowly but had a dramatic ending. The next ones are more competitive. You can go to my YouTube channel majorkade for more badminton videos.

Say "Cheese"

2011-03-14T02:05:00.011-04:00

All nine plus Granddad Major!

I was born in June 1971. Perhaps you can pick me out in these photos. My cousins Jeff and Natalie were born around the same time - three in one summer.

BTW, I must thank Aunt Marilyn for organizing these pictures in her photo albums, and for permitting me to scan them.

Truly Lucky

2011-03-10T17:37:00.003-05:00

The first couple of pictures are from 1975. These were slides that Aunt Frances once had. In fact, Cousin Beverly had inherited a bunch of Aunt Frances' old slides and had stored many of them in her garage in Atlanta. Late last year she turned them over to me to have me look through them. Lo and behold, these two gems were found! In 1975 I was four years old. I am with my siblings: Leslie, Mark and Miles. The lady in the photo is a bit of mystery. I think it could be Pam Woods. Our dog is Lucky, a beloved Collie that we had for many years. I added another picture of us with Lucky. This photo was taken on Easter Sunday, 1978.

One last thing to point out is the missing shutters in photo two. I'm assuming that they were being repainted or simply replaced.

To have found these scans was truly Lucky!

Here are a couple of videos I did outside Mom's home a few years ago: 1 and 2. Our family home was completed in early 1969.

Dinah Jen Grace

2010-12-31T23:29:00.006-05:00

This is one of my favorite pictures of Mother. She was a Senior at Abbeville High School and was on a class trip to Washington, D.C. A special thanks to Mother's classmate, Lenora Grider (Hancock), for sending me 'The Washington Trip' picture plus the names of everyone.

R & R

2010-12-30T01:00:00.001-05:00

Victor Allen Grace and Dorothy Barnette Grace, seated in the front. Not exactly sure who the other people are, but Mother could be the taller girl standing on the right. Victor and Dot would take trips to Panama City. This photo was taken in 1957.

Henry County Remembers

2010-12-28T01:54:00.003-05:00

Charles Hayes was Mom's first cousin. Charles' mother, Jeanette, and Mom's father, Victor, were siblings. Charles was a paratrooper hero of WWII. The Abbeville Herald ran a seven-part series on his exploits during the war. This is a scan of one of the stories.

Mom @ Christmas

2010-12-24T15:07:00.001-05:00

These are some random (but special) scans of Mother enjoying Christmas. Some of our best memories of Mother naturally have to do with Christmas. She was a master decorator and was a phenomenal party organizer and hostess. We rallied around Mother at Christmas, and there was great joy in our home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Take note in the first couple of scans that Mother is with my grandmother, Dot. Dot herself was quite a treat during the holidays. She was renown for her broccoli casseroles and orange congealed salads. Dot was also the chief entertainer in the house, and that says something with all the quick-witted jokesters we had around.

Young Dorothy

2010-12-23T00:06:00.005-05:00

This is the filling station in downtown Dothan, AL where my grandmother Dorothy Barnette (Grace) worked when she was young. According to Mom, "she did it all," from working the register to pumping gas. This filling station was owned by Pat Murphy, the husband of Dot's first cousin, Lois. At the moment, I am not sure what year(s) Dot worked here, but I do know she attended Dothan High School for a time.

Dorothy Barnette (Grace)

I'm not exactly sure who the people are with Dot in the next these three pictures. However, I know that Dot lived for a bit with a relative in Montgomery, AL, in the Garden District, not far from Huntington College. These pictures could possibly have been taken in Montgomery. These could be relatives, colleagues or friends. Dot worked for the Sears Roebuck regional office in the state capital, where she did some bookkeeping and payroll work. In the future, I plan to work on a short biography of Dot's life, explaining her movements between the Wiregrass and the Montgomery area and her subsequent marriage to Victor Allen Grace, which landed her in the farming community of Shorterville, AL.

Pat and Lois

2010-12-21T13:06:00.003-05:00

Pat (on the right) and Lois Murphy. Lois was my grandmother Dot's first cousin, which would be Mom's first cousin once removed. Pat and Lois were pretty regular fixtures at our home on Solomon Rd. when Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled around. When I was riding around in Dothan with Dot, she would take us to "Pat and Lois' house," just a few blocks from the old Sears Roebuck store.

Pat Murphy, me, Colon Hartzog

Dinah, The Early Years

2010-12-20T02:26:00.011-05:00

For more pictures of Mom when she was a baby and young girl in Shorterville, Alabama, simply go to Mom's Side in categories, then scroll, click older posts and keep on viewing.

Young Dinah @ Shorterville Baptist

2010-12-19T00:52:00.005-05:00

Easter Sunday, 1954! Dinah Grace, front right
"We are in the old wood frame church which was torn down in '57-'58, and replaced with the present brick building. I am the "young boy" in the center of pic, with shirt and tie." Robert Edward Phillips

In a classroom at the Shorterville Baptist Church. Dinah was 15 or 16 yrs old. She's third from right.

A church outing at Kolomoki State Park outside Blakely, GA.
See if you can spot Dinah.

Dedication of Watt Espy's Collection

2010-12-18T00:46:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Mark Wolfe, the IT guy @ the University at Albany, I was able to take files he redid for me and then upload them to YouTube. The dedication of Uncle Watty's collection is now on YouTube (not just the UAlbany link) and therefore many more people will have access to it. Since YouTube has size restrictions, there are six parts. Follow related links or simply click here to find all parts.

Bench Dedication

2010-12-17T16:51:00.004-05:00

Today is my dad's birthday, so Happy Birthday! Not long ago, Dad spoke at a dedication ceremony on behalf of our family. Our family was dedicating a park bench in the Headland town square in the memory of Major Watt Espy, Sr. and Edith Vann Espy. This park - and the town itself - is currently going under a huge transformation thanks to a renovation grant the town was awarded. My dad is wearing the sunglasses in the photos below. My step-mom is wearing black. My dad's sister is wearing the pink outfit. What's fitting about the project is that the bench is right in front of the bank where Major Espy made a huge mark, and where many other family members and Headland citizens have worked or have had some kind of strong connection.

I Do Love Lucy!

2010-12-15T00:05:00.000-05:00

In the late '90s I was Mark's guest on a trip to Hollywood that he had won due to his high performance at Bank of America. For him, the trip was part bank convention and mostly vacation. For me, it was all vacation! Besides experiencing our first ever earthquake one evening while sleeping in our Culver City hotel room, we managed to do an array of fun touristy things: a Gray Line Tour of Rodeo Drive, a stroll around The Huntington and a day at Disneyland. By far my favorite thing, though, was a cocktail party and dinner with Star impersonators. The Sharon Stone look-alike was quite amazing, as you can see below.

A big moment was when I was selected to be an actor in an "I Love Lucy" skit. At moments, I had some real trouble reading the cue cards! Here is my performance:

Mom & Friends

2010-12-14T23:09:00.010-05:00

Over the past several years Mom really reconnected with some of her Abbeville High School classmates. Here are some photos from some of their get-togethers.

2009 Reunion

SB in Asheville!

2010-12-13T00:18:00.006-05:00

My niece Sarah Beth and her friends have braved the icy roads and snowy terrain the past couple of days in Asheville. Today Kade and I gave them a tour of Greenlife, the gourmet organic market where Kade works. On Thursday, SB and her cohorts make their way back to the Deep South.

Sarah Beth, Graeson, Cam, Valerie

Town Mountain Road

SB with Mark and Mick

SB + Graeson + The Biltmore

Cam, Valerie, Graeson, Sarah Beth, Kade

w/ Sarah Beth outside Vinnie's on Merrimon Avenue

Saturday Nite Potluck

2010-12-11T22:44:00.040-05:00

Kenny and May Yan hosted a wonderful potluck dinner that we had the pleasure to attend.

Kenny II, Aaron, Andi, Kade, Lucy

On the menu: Cantonese Duck, Pork with Basil, Stir-fried Sweet Rice, Stir-fried Chinese Broccoli, Vegetable Clear Soup, Dim Sum, Burmese Noodle Soup, Vegetarian Delight, Sesame Cake, Sesame Rice Pudding

Front: (l-r) Andi, Kade, Marilyn, Lucy

Back: (l-r) Joyce, May, Dorothy, Payan

Kenny, Lwin, Kenny II, Allen, Aaron

Christmas in Headland

2010-12-11T00:11:00.008-05:00

A White Christmas in South Alabama! The Espy home on Main Street in Headland, Alabama. This picture is probably actually from the late '70s or early '80s.

The rest of the photos are from 1967. Above, Leslie and Mark were the center of attention! Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Don are bottom right. Notice the bench Granddad Major was sitting on. I have it now, and I use it quite regularly. The bench is at least 43 years old, and I can say it's got the original cushion and the piece is in great shape.

My dear mother holding my brother Mark.

(top) Siblings, Major, Sarah and Bud John (bottom) Uncle Roby and Aunt Frances

I am especially happy to have this picture. It was one that Watty had not developed because the negative was damaged. You can see the shadows. I found the negative in an envelope, got it developed to see what it was, and viola! It went with the set of Christmas photos above. In this one, we have (l-r) Aunt Mila, Aunt Frances, Dad and Deedee (Edith Vann Espy). Leslie is the child in the foreground.

Roby J. Lee

2010-12-10T00:01:00.001-05:00

This is Roby J. Lee in France in 1918 during WWI. Marc Willis sent me this picture. He got it from Peggy Marley, Roby's daughter.

Roby's first wife was a teacher at Headland High School. Enlarge this photo to spot her. She passed away at a fairly young age, leaving Roby a widower. Later, Roby married Sarah Frances Espy and became my great-uncle.

Uncle Roby looks on as I pose while standing on Granddad Major's exercise bicycle.

In this photo I am holding a Big Bird doll and showing it off to Uncle Roby. My brother Miles stands behind me, and one of our young cousins is in front of him. That may be my mother wearing the white pants.

When I receive a bio of Roby J. Lee from the Baptist church, where he was the pastor for many years, I will post it on this blog.....possibly in this exact post, so check back later.

Espy Home - 1970s

2010-12-09T10:14:00.003-05:00

The first image came from a slide of the Old Espy Home. The year was 1975. It was in a batch of slides that belonged to Sarah Frances Espy Sidney Lee. The other images below came from negatives belonging to Gordon Marley, a grandson of Roby J. Lee, who was married to Aunt Frances for many years.

I'm supposed to get more photos from Gordon soon. When I do, I will add them to this post. Be on the lookout. To read more about the Old Espy Home, go to Espys in categories. Today the home has been beautifully restored by Rick and Lisa Burris.

"I'm not sure of the year but they are from the seventies when I was a student at Auburn. An architecture professor wanted to offer a photography elective so he had the school set up a b&w dark room for us and that is when I first got into photography really. One of the class assignments was to photograph an "environment", and I chose the Espy place." Gordon Marley (grandson of Roby J. Lee, pictured below)

Atlanta Fun

2010-12-06T17:38:00.036-05:00

On Saturday evening, after Auburn's big victory, we went to stay the night with Bud and Beverly Dayries. Beverly Espy Dayries is a first cousin once removed. She is a big contributor to this blog and has a tremendous love for family history. After a night of family genealogy talks and gossip, we carried our fun to a local Olive Garden for Round Two. I attached a three-year old photo of Bud and Beverly's family, including the sons-in-law and grandkids. Another grandchild is now on the way! Beverly's late father, John J Espy, Jr. (Bud John), was Major's and Sarah Frances' brother. You can research more under Dad's Side and Espys.

I decided to add four more scans. These photos were a part of Uncle Watty's collection. Cousin Beverly is in all of them! She's the only adult in the first picture. She's holding her daughter Carolyn while her other daughter, Amy, looks their way. I am wearing the maroon shirt, in front. With me are my brothers Mark and Miles, my sister Leslie and my cousin Melanie.

Left: Watty and Beverly, Right: Beverly

Sarah Frances Espy

2010-12-04T14:11:00.005-05:00

These pictures are of Aunt Frances. I intend to add a few more images to this post in time. You can also find more scans of her in Family and Espys categories, and there are also a couple of write-ups on Aunt Frances. Let me know if you have trouble finding them.

Politicking

2010-12-03T13:45:00.008-05:00

Watty Espy served as a Democrat Delegate to the National Democratic Convention from the 3rd District of Alabama in 1956. The first article shows the results of the election for that seat. Running against Watty was none other than George Wallace. Incidentally, Watty's grandfather J.J. Espy, Sr. served as an alternate Democrat Delegate from the 3rd District of Alabama to the 1916 Democratic Convention.

Then, two years later, in 1958, Watty Espy ran for State Senator. You can see by the results in the article below that he fell short. Thus far, Watty is the last in a line of family politicians. Watty's father M.W. Espy, Sr, grandfathers J.J. Espy, Sr. and Major Carroll, and great-grandfather Thomas F. Espy were in the Alabama State Legislature at one time or another. J.J. Espy, Sr. actually also served as Headland's town mayor for a period.

Star Gazing

2010-11-30T13:18:00.003-05:00

The stars in these photographs are Pat Sullivan, Mel Blount and Pat Dye. You have to admit that Dad found a creative way to make sure he got Sullivan's autograph.

My Inspiration

2010-11-28T19:18:00.006-05:00

We all grow up with the weight of history on us. Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiraling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies. ~Shirley Abbott

When a society or a civilization perishes, one condition can always be found. They forgot where they came from. -Carl Sandburg

It is indeed a desirable thing to be well-descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors. Plutarch

In different hours, a man represents each of several of his ancestors, as if there were seven or eight of us rolled up in each man’s skin,—seven or eight ancestors at least, and they constitute the variety of notes for that new piece of music which his life is. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrations and revolutionists. Franklin D. Roosevelt

The Vanns

2010-11-27T01:27:00.006-05:00

In total, this interview has seven parts. Once the remaining ones get uploaded to YouTube, they more than likely will be set to private status. If anyone wants to view them, just shoot me an e-mail and I tell you how you can access them. Thanks!

The Vann Thanksgiving was another big hit. Word has it that 96 folks showed up at Lake Espy last Thursday. To see a unique aerial map of Lake Espy, click here.

Turkey Day

2010-11-25T03:00:00.000-05:00

We had a very nice Thanksgiving at Mark and Ralph's. In attendance were nine adults and one precious child, Esther.

This is the menu that Mark put together. Mark made the turkey and dressing. The dressing was made using Mom's recipe, and it lived up to her greatness. Mark also prepared a delicious caramel cake. I think you will have no trouble guessing who made the fruit salad.

Cocktail Hour 4:30pm
- Sparkling Wine
- Smoked Oyster Roll
- Pate
- Nuts or cheese straws

Dinner 5:30pm
- Roast Turkey
- Real Giblet Gravy
- Orange Cranberry Sauce
- Thai Spicy Fruit Salad
- Mom's Cornbread Dressing
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Braised Dill Local Carrots
- Relish Tray

Desserts
- Pumpkin Pie
- Mincemeat Pie
- Caramel Layer Cake
- Orange Macaroons w/ chocolate

Good wine to drink
- Red, White or Sparkling

Pigskin

2010-11-24T22:02:00.003-05:00

During the '80's I was captivated by Auburn athletics, especially football and basketball. Some of my fondest childhood memories involve the Iron Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Bo Jackson, Charles Barkley, A-Day games and more. I posted several photos from some of Auburn's A-Day Spring games as well as one photo from the Sugar Bowl in 1983. In a couple of pictures is Pat Dye, one of the best coaches ever on The Plains. Look closely at the photos to spot my brother, my sister and my step-mother.

The day after tomorrow Auburn will face their nemesis, the Crimson Tide of Alabama. The Tigers and Tide will undoubtedly be fighting one another in the biggest game of this college football season. Even if #2 Auburn loses, the Tigers are bound for the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta the first weekend of December. Kade and I will go with my dad to that game, and it will be my first game in years, and Kade's first college game ever! My other brother Miles and his kids will also be going to that game. In fact, after their Thanksgiving feast tomorrow, Miles and his boys are off to Tuscaloosa for the Auburn-Bama showdown! Let the fun begin!

Rocket Man

2010-11-17T16:53:00.005-05:00

To say last night's show was fabulous would be an understatement. Of course, for $137 a ticket I was certainly expecting a stellar performance from Sir Elton John. He delivered, and my return on investment was quite good. The photos above are the property of the Asheville Citizen Times. Click here for an album to see more photos from last night's concert. For a review, you can click here.

Tigers & Dawgs

2010-11-12T17:28:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow Auburn and Georgia will play in Jordan-Hare Stadium on The Plains. It's one of the oldest rivalries in college football. My very first Auburn game was in the late '70s. It was the Auburn/Georgia game and we had end zone seats. That day, Auburn surprised the Dawgs by sporting orange jerseys. Joe Cribbs and James Brooks ran wild. Years later, when Bo Jackson was the top running back in the country, I went with Dad and Mark to a game in Athens, GA. Bo scored a touchdown and Auburn won a close game. After the game, we waited outside the stadium where the Auburn players walked to the bus. I remember seeing Bo. He was wearing camouflage and was holding a box of KFC chicken. War Eagle!

Sir Elton

2010-11-10T10:08:00.004-05:00

Here are a few of the acts appearing soon at the Asheville Civic Center. We're looking forward to seeing international singing sensation, Elton John!

Snout to Tail Wine Dinner!

2010-11-08T21:38:00.010-05:00

I treated Kade to a wonderful evening last night. Read the article below and see the video I made to get a "taste" of what we experienced. What was most remarkable is that by mere chance the couple sitting at our table knew my brother! In fact, they are neighbors! This connection was not learned until more than an hour into our dinner, and after spending lots of time talking about international travel, life in Asheville, Alabama, etc. Another facet we had in common was they were from L.A. (the real one!) and I am from L.A. (lower Alabama!). Life is good!

Small Bites
Pig snouts, tea house and a teeny-tiny sandwich shop
by Mackensy Lunsford in Vol. 17 / Iss. 14 on 10/26/2010

Heads or tails

The Admiral hosts a five-course wine dinner with the Appalachian Vintner on Sunday, Nov. 7. Chef Drew Maykuth (half of the Admiral's exec-chef duo that also includes Elliott Moss) not-so-jokingly dubbed the event "a snout-to-tail pig dinner with good wine" when Xpress spoke with him over the phone.

"We've never really done any sort of special dinner before," he says. After a conversation with Mike Tiano of the Haw River Wine Man, however, the two chefs put their heads together and decided that a fun way to break into wine-dinner territory would be to order an entire pig from Hickory Nut Gap.

"We want to do as many courses as we can from the same pig," says Maykuth. To facilitate this goal, he says, a 200-pound animal has been selected for a feast that will serve up to 65 people. "We're going to butcher it, which is something I've never done, so I'm excited about it," says Maykuth. On the phone he mused over which tool to use for the task, speculating that a skill-saw would probably make more sense than a hacksaw or chainsaw. (Come on, it's almost Halloween, people.)

Maykuth says that the chefs intend to cull as many pork preparations as possible from the one animal. To that end, they intend to present a charcuterie course, which will include some cured meats and likely a head cheese. And yes, there will be sausage. Another course will feature pork-belly, another a slow-braised, hearty preparation and another will include a basic grill technique.

Also in the works? A bacon dessert. Maykuth says that he may try to repeat the home-run dish that had everyone in hog heaven at the WNC Magazine Chefs Challenge, battle bacon, this summer: a bacon-chocolate bar sprinkled with sea salt and smoked paprika, finished with a bacon creme anglais and a bacon powder. "People seemed to like it. I think bacon lends itself to sweet things, especially chocolate," he says.

Jamie Ager, the Hickory Nut Gap farmer who raised the pig, will be present at the dinner to talk about the farm. Tiano will also be available to talk about his wines, which will mostly come from France and Italy. "There will probably be a big Italian red that we serve with some tomato-y pork-butt braise with gnocchi or housemade pasta," says Maykuth. Even though he concedes that the food they'll turn out will be based on old-world cooking techniques, the flavors will be "all over the place." Sounds like the Admiral's food to me.

This 5-course event (with a couple of goodies thrown in for fun, adds Maykuth) will cost $85, which does not include tax and gratuity. Dinner starts at 7 p.m. The Admiral is located at 400 Haywood Road in West Asheville. For more information, visit theadmiralnc.com. To make reservations, call the Appalachian Vintner at 505-7500.

Here's the actual link to the article. Another great writeup is here. Also, click here for a couple of websites that feature The Admiral.

Ghouls & Goblins

2010-11-02T15:35:00.001-04:00

Halloween weekend was quite thrilling! Kade invited several of her friends over for a party Saturday night. She served some of her delicious baked goods: dark chocolate brownies and butter cookies. She also made scrumptious coconut soup and fried won tons. Everyone seemed happy! Then, on Sunday, Halloween, we had a few more friends over. More Thai food, more desserts and more fun was had! Luckily for me, the festivities gave me ample opportunities to don my Michael Myers mask one last time. I also made sure Jason got in on some action.

I must mention one more thing. What a real treat it was when two guests arrived with bouquets of lovely flowers.

Outdoor Badminton

2010-10-31T10:24:00.002-04:00

I'm very lucky to have a friend who has a badminton court in his yard! This is a real court, and it's one he's just put in. It's virtually finished, except for a line or two. If you click on the images to enlarge, you can spot me in the green shirt. My teammate is Qin (pronounced Chin), and our opponents are Jeam and Kenny. Kenny, in the black shirt, is the one who owns the court and the lovely house that's next to it. During the winter months, all of us will simply play badminton at our regular indoor facility, the Montford Community Center. Come Spring, however, I will get in some extra playing time at Kenny's.

Fall of '67

2010-10-30T09:03:00.003-04:00

Read the caption card (below, from Watty's album) to get details of these photos. The photo that was simply of Mark, I can't find.

Boo

2010-10-28T13:49:00.004-04:00

Click the image to see some photos of Uncle Watty and two of my siblings on a Halloween night back in 1967. Watty had these photos (and caption card) in one of his albums.

He's Back

2010-10-26T20:40:00.009-04:00

Last week I attended a weekday rally for congressman Heath Shuler, who is up for re-election in Western North Carolina. The "racehorse" flown in to stir the masses in favor of Heath Shuler, who is in a surprisingly tight race, was none other than former president Bill Clinton. Kade and I decided to get passes for the event, simply so she could see Clinton, arguably the best political orator of my lifetime. I had seen him during the '08 Democratic Primary when he was stumping for Hillary. I had even got to talk with him and shake his hand. Click on Clinton in categories to see photos from that particular event. Now, at last week's event, we didn't get close enough to "get personal" with the former president. Also, the set-up was not conducive for getting too close, unless you were a VIP. Nonetheless, we did get within 30 yards or so. I took the images above, and I made the YouTube video. Unfortunately, when I used the zoom while videoing, there was a lot of shaking.

My impression of the overall event was that the wait to hear the president's speech was way too long, and the local Democratic party did a poor job in organizing what we expected to be a superb day. Still, when Bill Clinton walked onto the stage, there was an electricity in the air and we were grateful to have the chance to see him. I can't say the same about Shuler! Here are some nice photos of Pack Square Park, where the event was held.

Although the tide, predictably, has turned in favor of the Republicans this time around, Asheville and Western North Carolina are still "in play" for the Democrats. Let's see what happens. I still am amazed at the ability of this charming, diverse mountain town to attract people of all stripes. Politically and socially, it's a liberal town, which happily welcomes the likes of Obama and the Clintons. However, due to the fact the city is surrounded by more traditionally conservative communities, Asheville has hosted rallies that welcomed Palin, McCain and other conservative figures. The Rev. Billy Graham also lives up in the mountains overlooking Asheville. This unique ability to attract a wide range of people is one reason I enjoy calling Asheville home. Kade likes it as well.

Tricks and Treats

2010-10-24T15:07:00.005-04:00

Michael Myers has been out in full force in Asheville. Here are a couple of videos I made. One is of Michael Myers out on the town. The other starts with the filming of a jack-o'-lantern party at a friend's home, and ends with appearances by Michael and one of his horror film cohorts.

Cousins & Sports

2010-10-16T15:49:00.006-04:00

My first cousin Jeff and I are practically the same age. Growing up together in Headland, we naturally spent lots of time with each other. One interest we shared was sports. We collected baseball and football cards, for example. We also went to tons of Auburn football games, often riding together in the same vehicle with some friends and our dads. Another thing we did was play on virtually every single baseball team up to high school. Here are some photos from our days in tee ball, little league and pony league. You can probably spot our dads in a photo or two. They enjoyed coaching us!

Two Auburn Stars

2010-10-15T15:38:00.003-04:00

************Dad with Marquis Daniels of the Boston Celtics************

My dad and step-mom recently got back from a fall foliage tour of New England. On one of their stops, in Rhode Island, they stayed at the same hotel as the Boston Celtics, who were in pre-season training camp. Above, Dad is pictured with Marquis Daniels, a former Auburn star. Dad also saw Shaquille O'Neal walking around the hotel lobby. As for the changing of the leaves and the New England sights, I hear Dad and Regina had a great time.

A Thrilling Time

2010-10-13T16:19:00.003-04:00

Last weekend a special guest from the Wiregrass paid a visit to Asheville, NC. It was my duty and privilege to show her around. Make sure to turn up the volume when watching these entertaining videos. Close out pop-up ads in order to read the captions. Finally, be on the lookout for some cameo appearances by my dad and by Michael Myers (of Halloween infamy!).

Mission Accomplished

2010-10-06T18:05:00.008-04:00

Our last visit to South Alabama yielded some gems. My main purpose in visiting was to scan Mom's photos and documents so that they are forever protected. These 250 new scans, combined with the 100 plus Mom helped me collect and scan the past few years, mean virtually all her best photos and Abbeville and Judson College mementos have made it to the digital age. I am already making hard copies of some of her best portraits. This week alone, I have framed several for my office wall. They look really good. Below, the first image is a sample of a photo of Mom that I recently scanned.

During our Headland visit, we also got to visit Aunt Marilyn (image two). After catching up on the latest news over coffee and sweets, we sauntered over to the dining room, where we looked at some old family photos. I ended up scanning many, including the photo (image four) of our cousin Beverly Espy Dayries, her husband Bud, one of their children and Granddad Major. {On our return through Atlanta, Kade and I actually got to have a nice visit with Bud and Beverly at their home in Sandy Springs.}

Image Three is of Mother's "resting place" at the Shorterville Baptist Church Cemetery. Her parents' graves are to the immediate left. Next week we are hoping to have Mother's headstone in place.

Treasures

2010-10-02T20:24:00.004-04:00

This card is an example of the kindness and love my dear mother showed her family and loved ones. Kade shared this at the memorial service.

My Precious Mother

2010-09-23T20:31:00.020-04:00

Today is my mother's birthday. Hard to believe she's no longer here with us. I chose to post this photo because I think Mother looks as beautiful as ever. It was taken last year. I also posted some thoughts on Mom, including much of what I shared at her meaningful and emotional graveside service. That day, I barely could get my words out, and even forgot some things I wanted to share. It was just very tough.
This evening Kade and I are driving to Headland, where I will stay the weekend, scanning old family photos and visiting the cemetery. When I return, I will add an additional poem (a semi-original one) that I shared at the service. I also will post a lovely card Mother had sent Kade on her birthday last year.

When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. - Kahil Gibron

Mother was our delight.

Mother was AVAILABLE. When I came home to visit she always made time for me. I wouldn’t leave Headland without one or two good talks, just one-on-one. Before getting to Headland, I would tell Kade, “Now, tomorrow morning I plan to get up and have coffee with Mother, and you can do whatever you want down in the sunroom. I just want to have some quality time with Mom.” That was our arrangement. Other times, I would sit in the den with Mom or out in the sunroom with her, and it would be just the two of us, talking about whatever. Kade was always gracious enough to give me that special time with my mother. She knew how much it meant to me. When I lived in Headland and worked at the bank, I had so many chances to spend lots of time with Mom. Some of my best times with her were during those years. Later, when I lived in Thailand, I would return to Headland for a month each year. I'd always stay with Mom. The two of us would go out to eat or go have coffee or hang around the house (often with coffee), and we’d talk about anything and everything. I'm so thankful for those times.

Mother and I talked frequently by phone. Just in the past year, when doing my three-mile walks in Asheville, she’d call me, often just as I started my walk. The next thing you’d know, I was finishing my walk and I’d say, “Mother, my gosh, I’ve already finished my walk and we talked the whole time!” An hour had passed. This happened three or four times. When you’re doing something you love, Time Flies, they say. Well, when I talked with Mom, time just flew.

Mother was BEAUTIFUL. I am not talking about inner beauty. Others can talk about that. I just want to focus on her outward beauty. It got confirmed by tons of people who aren’t even family. That’s when you know you’re beautiful. Just look at her pictures. She was a beautiful baby, a beautiful cheerleader, a beautiful mom, a beautiful Gran (as Sarah Beth liked to call her) and a beautiful patient at Flower's. Our cousin Bill Vann told me that “back in the day, if you were seeing Dinah Grace, you were in high cotton.” All of us here (her family) were in high cotton, just knowing her and being connected to her.

Mother was CARING. Ceola, Martha, Ella Mathis, the lady in Headland years ago who was in the wheelchair. The list goes on. I think about the kids in Mother’s classroom who didn’t have a $ or $2 or $5 for some activity at school. Perhaps their parents forgot to send the money or didn’t have it….who knows? What I do know is that Mom told me that there were teachers in her grade level who, either because it was an unofficial policy or it was their own viewpoint, decided the best thing to do was make the kids who did not bring the money for the activity or field trip stay in the classroom while the other kids from “responsible” homes and backgrounds went and had fun and were learning something. This did not sit well with Mother. A group of teachers went against Mom, and she battled them. We know who won that battle, at least when it came to her own kids. In the end, Mom paid out of her own pocket to help them. I remember hearing of this episode "in real time" and feeling very proud of Mom. She was that caring. Maybe that’s one reason so many of her students loved her. It was not uncommon for Mother to see one of her former students, long after they had become adults, and hear from them just how she had impacted their lives. Mother's teaching was superb, but her heart was even more superb.

There was the time when I was young, when we had a pet gerbil that was dying. It was in the last stages of life. I can’t remember the year, but I was small enough for Mom to be holding me in one arm. In her other arm (her hand actually) was a shoebox, without a lid. Inside, was the gerbil. Mother had taken the gerbil out of the cage, put it in the box, picked me up in her arms, and walked out the front door of our home. It was in the evening and was starting to get cool. I was very sad that the gerbil was dying. Mother comforted me(and the gerbil) by explaining that we were “going outside to give the gerbil some air because it might help it.” She walked around the yard a bit, then back up on the steps, and back in the house. Then, we did it all over again. Looking back, Mother’s actions were done to make me feel better, but they were also done for that little gerbil. Mother cared about animals (the little creatures) even then. She did “for the least of these.” I think that’s one reason she and Kade bonded so. Kade loves animals. Mother didn’t fully get into the digital age and only recently started piddling around with a digital camera. When she had Rockie, she hadn’t taken many photos of her. When we would visit, and stay down in Dot's old place, Kade would get up in the morning and take digital images of Rockie. When Rockie died, we made Mother an album of pictures of Rockie. Mother was very surprised, and loved the album.

Mother could be VULNERABLE. She told me her biggest fear was being alone. Maybe that’s why she had four kids. Maybe that’s why she cared for Dot the way she did…..because she didn’t want Dot to experience being alone, say, in some nursing home or something. When Mother was in the hospital, and we all gathered around her, touching her and massaging her and talking with her, we never left her alone.

Mother could cry. When Rockie and Rusty died, she called me up crying. She loved them so much. When she talked about problems in the past – her regrets and some bad decisions she made – she cried. She could tell me she was sorry. I loved her dearly for that. Because Mother could be vulnerable, she made it easy for me to be myself and be vulnerable in front of her. We cried together, and she helped me through some of my most difficult struggles – for example, the heartache over deciding to leave the bank. She was there with me, suffering with me.

Mother was REAL. During my last visit, we had a pretty “spirited” conversation where we strongly disagreed on something. She took her stand, and I took mine. We butted heads like two rams. Our coffee talk in the kitchen started out calmly and then progressed to something pretty intense fairly quickly. Then, as we talked, and we gave each other some room to breathe, it calmed down again. And, over the next several minutes, we settled down and had one of our best conversations. It wasn’t the first time this had happened, by the way. I had spirited conversations with Mother on several occasions – always respectful, but candid as best they could be. I really enjoyed them, because they were so lively. In fact, after my last visit, within a day of reaching Asheville, Mom called and said, “I sure hope that conversation didn’t bother you. Aren’t you glad we can be real and not wear masks when we talk? Let’s always keep it that way.” I am going to miss that part of Mother.

Mother was A BIRD OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER. An Obit, my comments today, your personal thoughts, stories about Mom her friends may share, etc., are mere bits of a more complex person. Mother was more open-minded than many may imagine. Mother was more flexible in her thinking on a wide range of subjects. Publicly, this may not have always been seen, but you and I have seen glimpses and even clear facets of this. Whether it be politics, religion or any other hot subject, Mother was able to go places where others were afraid to go. She was able to think reasonably, and was able to maneuver between her public face and her private life pretty cleverly. An example would be what she told me she shared with locals who wanted to know if Kade was a Christian. Mom would respond, “I don’t know if she is or not, but looking at my family and my community, and after spending lots of time with her, I’d have to say she appears to be more Christian than most of us.” A pretty smart answer, if you ask me. Mother, of course, knew the real answer, and what she knew about Kade and her background and culture, in the end, didn’t matter one iota to her. In this sense, compared with a lot of folks, Mom was indeed a bird of a different feather.

The Great Outdoors

2010-09-21T14:43:00.010-04:00

On Saturday Kade and I, along with our friend Andi, accompanied Kenny Yan and his family/friends to Pisgah National Forest, where we saw some lovely waterfalls. Sunday, Kade and I drove back to the area, this time seeing some amazing waterfalls in Dupont State Forest. Here are some videos and images you will enjoy. The first video (Moore Cove Falls) and the last one (Dupont State Forest) are the most entertaining. Good music and funny captions lead the way! The others are good too, and have mostly live talking and natural forest sounds. By the way, the guy at Hooker Falls did end up dying. You can read about it here. We arrived a few minutes before this happened, and saw the ambulance carry him away.

Chimney Rock Park

2010-09-05T00:21:00.002-04:00

Thomas Franklin Espy

2010-08-31T23:01:00.007-04:00

Henry County's leading historian, Larry Smith, writes a column in The Abbeville Herald. Not long ago he wrote about my great-great grandfather, Thomas Franklin Espy. To read the article, click each image below, once. Also, Larry just recently wrote a great piece on the Old Espy Home, a landmark in Headland, Alabama. You can read it here.

A Graceful Lady

2010-08-27T23:08:00.017-04:00

This heartfelt and thoughtful tribute to my mom was in The Abbeville Herald recently. I appreciate her classmate's kind words and the sincerity I believe in which he shared them. Mother was indeed a rare beauty, she did have a heart that was kind, loving and caring, she did think fondly of her Shorterville church and she did live a life full of grace. Thank you Mr. Wills for expressing this so beautifully in the paper.

There is one aspect of the tribute that needs to be carefully corrected, however. Mother did communicate very clearly with her kids and her husband about her health, and did so throughout the years. It was never a burden to us. Also, let me be clear about this: there were no life-threatening health issues Mother was dealing with prior to the tragic episode that led to her death. If there had been, and if doctors had known and communicated this to Mother, she would have certainly told her closest loved ones. Her medical records and the information we received from her doctors bear this out. Therefore, the statement in the tribute above is very misleading. I certainly believe Mr. Wills did not intentionally intend for that happen. My feeling is that Mother's unexpected death, which shocked us all, and Mother's desired wishes not to have a visitation and public memorial perhaps led to some confusion about the circumstances surrounding her death. As her child, I just want to set the record straight.

Mother was looking towards the future in a strong, vibrant way. She had told us numerous times that she was destined to live a long time. I always believed that. She had many plans for the remainder of this year: visiting Sarah Beth in Auburn, possibly seeing Mark at Amelia Island, coming up to Asheville and much more. In addition, she was always asking about when Kade and I were having a baby, and she was excited about the prospects of having a half-Asian grandbaby. She said she was looking forward to coming to Asheville to spend however long she needed once Kade had a baby. It was a big source of joy for her. She had other big plans for the future as well. We had even talked about going down to live with her someday or her coming up here so we could take care of her the way she did Dot. I remember Mom being tickled by the prospects of this, saying with a laugh, "I won't be thinking about that till I'm 75." Mom was thinking long-term, and that's what's most heart-breaking. I never anticipated this happening, and losing her is enormous.

Our family is relying on fabulous memories, strong faith, old-fashioned time and close friends and family to help us deal with this huge loss. The Headland, Abbeville and Shorterville communities have been extremely kind and thoughtful, and we appreciate it very, very much.

September 23rd is Mom's birthday. On that day, I plan to post Mom's obituary and perhaps share a slideshow of old photos using one of her favorite songs. Stay tuned.

What a Lady!

2010-08-16T14:52:00.017-04:00

I am really going to miss Mother. In time, I hope to be able to share some personal stories about her and even the remarks I shared at her memorial service this past weekend. The older pictures below were some I had scanned a while back and just hadn't posted. The first one, though, was taken on my last visit to Headland...not long ago. The pictures of Sarah Beth and Leslie with Mom were also taken fairly recently. I'm grateful we have these photos and all the wonderful memories. To see more pictures of Mom, go to Mom's Side in Categories on the right.

Remembering Watt Espy

2010-08-12T12:15:00.030-04:00

A year has passed since my uncle, Watt Espy, died. Here's a tribute to him. The only video here that may be hard to detect is the dedication ceremony of his death penalty collection at the University at Albany (SUNY). If you read this post carefully, you should be able to spot the link. It's a 45 minute video that's well worth viewing. Also, more info about Watt's life is under Watty Espy in Categories in the right sidebar. Watty was the name his family called him. Enjoy this tribute. Uncle Watty is missed by all of us. If someone reading this has information or photos of Watt, please contact me at majorespy@yahoo.com

On September 26, 2008, the National Death Penalty Archive at the University at Albany held a dedication: Executions in America, The M. Watt Espy Jr. Collection. Although Watt was unable to attend the dedication due to his health problems, he was able to view a DVD of it. I'm sure he was very proud. To see the dedication, click here. You may first want to see a program from the dedication. Click each image to enlarge. Many of the names you will recognize from my youtube video (above).

The University at Albany also just announced that they have received a federal grant to help with the indexing of Watt Espy's papers. You can read about the grant here.

Brian Keough was instrumental in helping land the grant. In an e-mail to me recently, Brian said, "The grant we are just beginning will greatly enhance the ability to find material in the Espy Collection. We will be able to digitize selected correspondence, photos, and other material for you that can quickly be identified and digitized from a box. For an example of what a finding aid will look like for the Espy Papers, see Hugo Bedau's Papers."

According to Professor Jim Acker, the indexing of Watt's papers "ought to be a boon for researchers when completed."

The following are some clips of Watt from the mid-to-late '80s.

This is a photo of the home in Headland where Watty lived during the '80s and '90s. See if you can spot Watty in the picture. The home is called the old Edgar Lindsey Home.

Larry Smith, our Henry County Historian, provided a brief history:

Edgar Lindsey and wife Margaret Oates Lindsey had a daughter, Malinda Oates Lindsey who married Dr. Walter Scott.

Dr. Walter Scott married (1) Malinda Oates Lindsey Scott and they had a daughter, Mary Jordan Lindsey Scott 1912-1958, who married Major Watt Espy. Dr. Walter Scott married (2) Letchie Gary in May of 1930. She already had a son, Charles Gary. He lived in Midland City, Alabama.

Major W. Espy and (1) Mary Jordan Lindsey Espy had one son, M. W. (Watty) Espy, Jr. M. W. Espy and Mary Jordan divorced.

Watty inherited the Edgar Lindsey house from his mother Mary Jordan Lindsey Scott.

The following are some images of the home today. These images were taken by Larry Smith. You can see the front yard has been cleared and the home has been extensively renovated. Again, this home is where Watt Espy, the Death Penalty Historian, did most of his work.

Larry Smith recently took these images at the First Baptist Church Cemetery. Unlike the Methodist Church Cemetery across town, our Baptist one is in dire need of some maintenance/landscaping. Nonetheless, these images will have to do for now. I have been told by Dad that the tombstones of J. J. Espy and the other Espys are supposed to get some professional cleaning very soon. Once that's done, and some flowers are placed at Watty's grave, better images will be posted. Still, you should have no problem spotting Watty's slab in the first image. I have seen it personally, and it looks very nice.

The video below is one I made a while back. It happened to be really sunny that day, so we had to cut it short. Beverly Espy Dayries assures me that we will return in the Fall to film something a bit more creative.

Dinner and Movie

2010-07-19T22:58:00.005-04:00

After two days of sculling (rowing), it was time for dinner and a movie on Sunday evening. One of my sculling partners, Miyako, highly recommended Umi, a Japanese restaurant in nearby Hendersonville. It more than lived up to her praise. After dinner, Kade and I went to Carmike Cinemas to see Inception. It turned out to be another wise decision. One of the best movies I've seen in years!

Tomorrow's THE Day

2010-07-16T23:43:00.009-04:00

Tomorrow I start my first class with the Asheville Rowing Club. I am really excited. It goes for four weeks, Saturday and Sunday, 10-Noon. I even think Kade's thrilled that I will be out of the house. There will be more Internet time for her! For me, I hope to meet some new people and get a good cardio workout. Rowing has been recommended as a high-level activity that can keep me moving while I'm trying to rebound from a nagging knee injury.

Here's a photo of Lake Julian.

Cherokee & Smokey

2010-07-12T00:14:00.005-04:00

Evidence of another fun outing in Western North Carolina.