Alabama Week: “gods in Alabama”

gods in Alabama

“There are GODS in Alabama: Jack Daniel’s, high school quarterbacks, trucks, big ****, and also Jesus.” This first line in Joshilyn Jackson’s book, “gods in Alabama,” sets the tone, as the main character Arlene Fleet escapes her small home town in Alabama, flees to Chicago and swears never to return. 

After twelve years and a deal with God, Arlene makes every excuse to avoid the demons of her past and a missing dead body.   With everything but kicking and screaming Arlene returns home to her prejudice family with her African American boyfriend, but this is the least of her problems.  More importantly she is dealing with an ailing, half-mad mother, an even crazier but strong willed aunt and a past which comes to chase her down on the dirt roads of home.

“gods in Alabama,” relives the pivotal moments of Arlene’s life with strong southern personality, moving back and forth between the past and present to deliver a clever and entertaining storyline.  Catering to a female reader, this book is the perfect quick read for sweltering afternoons in the shade, dusk at the beach, or just curled up in bed this summer. 

If you tend to prefer non-fiction or more serious subjects (which have their place and are also enjoyable), you might choose something a bit more subdued. However, if you are in the mood to celebrate ALABAMA WEEK and need a book to pick up this summer, “gods in Alabama” is a great option. 

Happy Reading and enjoy ALABAMA WEEK!

Alabama Week: Get Mobile to Mobile!

If you’re looking for another destination on your Alabama journey, look no further than Mobile! We’ve already established that it’s a great place to road trip too. Located about 4 hours south of Birmingham, this exciting town is full of history, and present joys.

For a little bit of history, Mobile began as a capital of colonial French Louisiana in the early 1700s. In 1813, Mobile was included in the Mississippi Territory, and the population was low. It became a part of the United States in 1813, but then moved to the Alabama Territory when Alabama was granted statehood in 1817. Population boomed from here.

Located along the Gulf Coast, Mobile is the state’s only seaport in Alabama. But history isn’t its only point of interest. Mobile is known for having the oldest Carnival celebration in the United States, dating to the 1700s of its early colonial period. These celebrations start as early as November with parades and other festivities, but really get started as Mardi Gras gets into swing near January and of course February. There are masquerade balls, but get there before the stroke of midnight. With a heavy Catholic population, as soon as Ash Wednesday begins, Lent puts an end to all the society and spectators.

Unfortunately, many of you will remember the damage done to this gem of a city by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Katrina, but it’s bounced back and is better than ever. There is everything from go karts and bungee jumping and baseball for the kids to historic homes, churches, and cemeteries gardens for the adults to of course, the beach! For those golfers out there, Magnolia Grove is part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, so take in a round.

Below is a long, but certainly not exhaustive list of so much to do in Mobile.

• Battleship Memorial Park
• Museum of Mobile in Old City Hall
• Oakleigh Historic Complex
• Mobile Carnival Museum
• Bragg-Mitchell Mansion
• Richards DAR House
• Conde-Charlotte House
• Fort Morgan
• Fort Gaines
• Blakeley State Park
• Mobile Medical Museum located in the Vincent-Doan House
• Phoenix Fire Museum
• Mobile Police Department Museum
• Gulf Coast Exploreum which houses an IMAX dome theater, exhibits, and a hands-on lab
• Mobile Botanical Gardens (admission is free!)
• Bellingrath Gardens and Home
• Five Rivers Delta Resource Center
• Bienville Square
• Fort Conde
• Spanish Plaza
• Langan Park

Of course, being a Navy supporter, my favorite attraction is the USS Alabama. Make sure to visit this retired Naval ship, where you can enter rooms holding missiles, medical equipment, berthing (beds), and all kinds of interesting historical treats. This is a must, especially if you have boys in your family, or any history buffs.

Mobile, Alabama

Also nearby is Florida’s Pensacola, which holds some beautiful beaches itself (the picture above is actually from a trip to a Pensacola beach, but hey, it’s all the same coast, right?).

Wherever your destination, get thee this summer to the beach somewhere, and our suggestion is the activity packed Mobile.

Any Mobilians out there?