Dirt Roads and Daydreams

I decided to start this blog to introduce the world to my life growing up in Alabama in the 1980s and 1990s. I was born in 1981 in a very small rural community in Northeast Alabama. I have one older brother. My family has lived in the same house since my parents were married. I jokingly refer to the area where they live as the “family compound” because as of today, I am the only one from mother’s family who does not live on that land – my parents, brother and his family, grandmother (mom’s mother), uncle and aunt (mom’s brother), and both of their daughters and their families all live on this family land.

Growing up, I was surrounded by family and friends. We lived a very blessed childhood where we could go outside and play for hours, ride our bikes for miles down the road, and never have any fears. Our neighbors invited us for lemonade or a homemade cake. We were family – literally and figuratively. We lived a simple lifestyle, growing up on meals of vegetables grown in our garden and fruits grown on our apple or pear trees. We were always outside playing for hours on end. Times were much simpler than they are today and I long for that feeling most days.

Today, I am in my mid-40s and I know those times are fleeting. Memories are slipping away and if I do not put them down in words, they will be long forgotten. This is going to be a diary of my childhood for myself and my own memories as much as for anyone else’s memories and entertainment.

Come on in and have a seat and enjoy the ride down memory lane.