The Lovely State of Alabama

by Ed

I've been to Alabama twice in my life, once while in high school and competing in a Drum Corps competition (Yeah, I was a "Band Geek," wanna make something of it), and last year while on business for my company. The high school trip was to Birmingham and the business trip was to a small town outside of Tuscaloosa. Unfortunately, the most recent trip was like I was stepping back in time 30 years. We all hold stereotypical views of Alabama, but the problem with stereotypes is that the generalization limits our impressions of people. Well let me tell you, my business trip reinforced a number of stereotypes I had completely forgotten about for years. Don't get me wrong, the people were warm and gracious at all times, but the stares my white, female co-worker and I received while out were beyond creepy.

I was reminded of my Alabama trips while reading this week's renter's, Mr. Fabulous, posts describing his recent business trip to the lovely state. His rental car has Pennsylvania plates , so this could get interesting. Please visit his site by clicking the link on the sidebar and ask him to share more of his stories. It's a shame I wasn't writing this blog last year during my visit, because I had at least a dozen stories to tell Mommy Bacchus each evening on the phone. So Mr. Fab, please entertain us.

5 comments

1 jackiesue { 05.08.06 at 10:45 pm }: was in greenville, miss in 1962 (husband going to air force fire dept. school) and was taking the bus to the base and when i got on all these ugly redneck white guys were sitting up front so i went to the back and sat with the women…( all black..but it didnt register at all) and the bus driver stoped the bus and told me i had to get up front ..i said no i wanted to stay where i was..(had no idea what he was talking about and what the big f****** deal was) and he called me a ‘n……. lover ‘ and made me get off the bus..it took about 4 different people to sit me down and explain the ways of the south…during the rest of our 6 week stay there i got spit on, pushed off the curb and called names to nasty even for me to say…so i think i will pass on any more trips to the south…some things change in names only..
2 Bacchus { 05.09.06 at 12:41 am }: Wow, that’s a moving story. Thanks for sharing. Funny thing, when I was in school all the cool kids wanted to sit in the back of the bus.
3 Utenzi { 05.09.06 at 4:32 am }: I saw Mr Fab’s post while voting at Blog Explosion but didn’t read the entire post, only the lead paragraph.I started reading your "100 Things" post but had to stop, unfortunately, at 35. You’ve got a great start there, Bacchus, I hope you finish the list eventually.
4 hanfei (aka sinkales on BE) { 05.09.06 at 5:35 am }: THanks for renting my blog, sir!
I’ll try my best to promote ur blog!
5 TLC { 05.09.06 at 1:52 pm }: Hi Bacchus! You are up on my site. Come check out your new "home" and see what you think. (don’t worry, I told them you are harmless)T.