INTRODUCTIION
A couple of years ago Russ and I ran across a TV show called Aerial America, on the Smithsonian Channel, and we thought it was so neat that we started taping all the episodes. Previously, we’ve collected state quarters (on a cardboard map specifically designed for that purpose), and currently we are “Plate Watching,” as in “Bird Watching,” marking down every time we see a license plate from a different US state. (Right now we have only ten more left to spot, and amazingly, Alaska is not one of them!) So as you can see, we both enjoy collections that involve States. Probably because 50 states make for a collection that is big enough to be a challenge, yet not unwieldly. This can be done!
Well, actually, we are still shy a few episodes in our Aerial America collection, but have decided not to let that stop us from finally beginning to watch. It was my idea that as we begin this new year, we watch one episode each week (52 weeks in a year, 50 states—works out pretty good, no?) Of course, it’s already mid January and we’ve only watched the first one, so already we’ve fallen behind. No matter. We’re going to do the best we can to stay on track, and hopefully by the end of the year (or thereabouts) we can proudly say that we have traveled the length and breadth of this great land…without ever leaving our living room couch!
And here’s the icing on the cake: it’s also my intention to come here to share my impressions about each episode as we see it. Good intentions, to be sure. Not entirely convinced I’m going to be able to keep up with any of this. But “Well begun is half done!”
So let’s begin.
ALABAMA
Since we’re traveling alphabetically, our first stop happens to be the same state we live in: Alabama! During this episode, we spent a lot of time flying over rivers and forests, so my main impression is that Alabama is a real nature lover’s paradise! In fact, it was mentioned that there are more miles of navigable waterways in Alabama than in any other state. Huh! Who knew?
A lot of attention was given to historically significant places in regards to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s—Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr.’s march from Selma to the state capitol, Montgomery. Yes, I’m sure Alabama was right in the middle of all that, and in some ways, it’s such a sad and tragic chapter in this state’s history. They mentioned Governor George Wallace saying “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!” and it reminded me of being a little kid, and hearing about Wallace, and thinking, basically, that he was the devil. Even as a little kid, I knew it wasn’t right to treat people differently based on the color of their skin. If I was a kid and knew that, why did Wallace not know it? And why did so many people agree with him?
They flew over Tuscaloosa after the 2011 tornado, and I was almost surprised that we didn’t see Russ’ old place of business, leveled to the ground. (It was a very dramatic leveling, as you can see here, that has shown up once or twice on other newsreel footage.) They played sort of fast and loose with the facts, saying “Much of Tuscaloosa was destroyed by the tornado,” which is not exactly true, but it certainly sounds dramatic. To me, the word “much” means a lot, or a greater than average portion, and that’s not how it went down. Most of the town was physically untouched by that tornado. Of course, if you’re talking psychologically, emotionally, then yes—everyone here was touched by that tornado.
Touched…but not destroyed.
We live only a few miles away from Moundville, and seeing it from the air, I finally understood the significance of the name! It seems ancient civilizations built their towns on raised plateaus. I guess to protect from floods, or to give a good lookout in case of an invasion? There’s a museum in Moundville, filled with all kinds of archeological artifacts found in the area, dating back to A.D. 1000 – 1500. Wow! That’s old. I’ve got a yen to visit.
Another point of interest: way up north in Huntsville, the US Space and Rocket Center! We visited Huntsville once, and it struck me as a pleasant little town. I wouldn’t mind taking a trip again, and this time perhaps visiting the Rocket Center, and getting a good dose of a more modern history.
What else about Alabama? Well, how about this: coal, iron, steel. All kinds of industry. And let’s not forget cotton. And catfish farms! And shrimp! Alabama has a vast and varied terrain, with all kinds of things going on.
Did you know the only Mercedes manufacturing plant in the US is just a few miles away from us? And you can go visit that too, and take a tour.
One more thing I’ll say, and it’s not part of the Aerial America series, but it is about Alabama. I recently purchased this book, Alabama Back Road Restaurant Recipes, which details a bunch of state eateries that feature good ol’ fashion down-home Southern country cookin’. Watching this show about Alabama has given me the bug to take some day trips to points of interest not too far from where we live. And if we can squeeze in lunch at Fat Boy’s Bar-B-Que Ranch or The Common Loon Cafe at the same time, well…so much the better!
MUST SEE OR DO: US SPACE & ROCKET CENTER, Huntsville
ALABAMA, THE BEAUTIFUL:
