Sweet Home Alabama

Eufaula: Picture Perfect and Pilgrimage Ready

Annual Eufaula Pilgrimage

I went on this tour back in the '90s.  I went with my mom.  Several years later, on drive through the town, I stopped off to show my wife the Shorter Mansion.

Sloss Furnaces

 

Sloss Furnaces is the Birthplace of Birmingham

My freshman year at Samford I went out there to hear a band play.  A Pi Kapp fraternity brother (of my brother's) took me.  I was being recruited as a potential pledge for Pi Kappa Phi.

Potsie

I remember seeing Anson Williams at a charity golf event in the '80s.  I was a regular viewer of Happy Days, which was in syndication then.  I loved it!  So imagine what I thought when I saw Potsie in person!  It was surreal.  It was at a distance, he had lots of people around him and he was entering a building.

source

What is the cast of Happy Days doing today?

Missionary Meeting

The Wiregrass Farmer

March 30, 1933

Headland Colored Methodist Church

West Asheville

 There's always some cool art to see in this mountain town.

The Outsiders

 

This movie was released in theaters on March 25, 1983.  I recall watching it at home, either on VHS or TV.  All nine of the actors became stars.  Kade met Matt Dillon in Bangkok in the late 90s.

We may have to see this in the Fall.

President Radhakrishnan

On June 3, 1963, President Radhakrishnan met President Kennedy at the White House.

Lynyrd Skynyrd

They performed at Memorial Coliseum on March 21, 1975.  Click here for their setlist.

A lot of people assume Lynyrd Skynyrd were from Alabama.  However, they were from Jacksonville, Florida.  Still very much Southern boys!

The Lazy Tiger

June '24

Dec '24

The Lazy Tiger

Bear Patrol

 ready for duty

Hey, Shaq!

This happened on March 13, 1992.  I was there!  I actually shook Shaq's hand the day before.  More on this later!

Sure Does

The Wiregrass Farmer

March 13, 1947

Albermarle Park

I often walk and drive by this manor. 

Click here for more history.

The Life of Riley

Our grandmother used to enjoy using this expression, and always did so lovingly and with a sense of humor, of course.  And it was her grandkids who heard it quite a lot.  I can hear her now!  She'd say it after we'd shared some activity we were doing or place we were going.  Compared to her generation, we were certainly living a life of ease and comfort: The Life of Riley.

Click here for a look at the origins of the expression.

Same Here!

 

I had one of these, and a holster.

Royal Treatment

Two years ago, when a friend was in town for a very long stretch, I made these drinks for her.  One of these is a mocktail.

Starting Out

I shared this with a relative in 2012.  

It took me two months of regular walking with a partner for me to build up the stamina and will to do long walks on my own.  A definite breakthrough was when I could go out and walk five miles simply on my own without wanting to quit or cut it short.  Most of my walks now are solo, and my will to keep walking is pretty strong.  Boredom can seep in, but I counter it by walking in areas where there's a lot of natural beauty.  There are many places like this in Asheville, so I would imagine that I could change routes frequently if need be and always be near a waterfall, mountain, park or lake.  Also, when walking, my mind isn't totally empty.  In fact, I may think through some things or talk out some things (like a crazy person!) as I walk.

I now can walk seven miles with 1200 feet elevation.  I still prefer walking partners, but I go out often on my own.  I have walked virtually every road in North Asheville.  I enjoy getting up in the  mountains, and bears are a big highlight now.  Views are still amazing, but bear sightings are my greatest source of motivation (besides exercise).

Fires

 

Headland & Newville

Alabama