About the Bama Steel Magnolia

I was born in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in east Tennessee on an early Saturday morning. I missed New Year’s Day by a few hours and have jokingly said that’s the story of my life…a day late and a dollar short.

My parents were young…19 and 20 and I was their first born. Daddy was an engineering student at the University of Tennessee and Mom had been the pastor’s daughter. Daddy later worked at the famous Oak Ridge facility, and his engineering career carried us many places. I had my second birthday in Fort Worth, Texas.

We eventually settled in Birmingham, Alabama when I was 12 years old where Daddy worked for an international engineering firm. Momma and Daddy had two more girls. They raised us to be strong, educated women. We were never treated as “just girls” and had nothing to be liberated from. Daddy made sure we took our education seriously. My baby sister is the “special” one in the family…she has cerebral palsy and has lived at home for 45 years. The 3 of us are Daddy girls…as most southern girls are…and I tell everyone…Mom made us that way…she is Daddy’s biggest fan.

I grew up and spent most of my adult life in Alabama. I met and married someone from there. I thought it was a good marriage, until out of the blue he walked out 27 years later for a co-worker. It had been a marriage to nowhere. Looking back, I see signpost from the beginning…even the courtship and have asked myself more than once, “Girl, what were you thinking?!” But, hindsight is 20/20. Fortunately and unfortunately, I have a son from the relationship. Fortunately because I love him dearly and he is the reward for the sentence of my bad decision, unfortunately because he has had to suffer.

I am a two time non-smoking lung cancer survivor, and have several chronic health problems. As a result, and because of my sister, I am very concerned about the rights of the disabled.

I have many interest, some might say I’m eclectic. I love to read, collect several special items, antiques and interior design. Quilting and genealogy are part of who I am. Before my health became such a bother, I gardened, and almost completed a degree in horticulture before dropping out of school to take care of my ex after he had a car wreck and broke his neck 18 months after we married. Writing became a passion thanks to my high school senior English teacher. I love my computer, and yes, I love computer gaming. I love music…most kinds, but hip hop and rap…sorry kids.

And, I’ve save the best for last…I remarried a few short years ago to the sweetest, kind heart man around. My tall and handsome cowboy. I hope we stay newlyweds forever. We share favorite pastimes, one of which is cooking…the man can cook! We try to cook healthy, flavorful foods and he loves his Weber grill. We have a lot in common and cherish our time together. I marvel at his wonderment and the concern he takes as he fills our bird feeders and birdbath. We want to take up stain glass making together, and even though he was born in the southwest, I have discovered that his roots are as southern as mine. We have a dog and a cat.

Lastly, yes, I am southern. I will die southern and I’m proud of it. There is nothing shameful about being southern. We are good people. Just because we have an accent we are pre-judged. To some people we are dumb, uneducated, illiterate, stupid, mindless, hickish, or bumpkins just because we open our mouth and have a soft lilting accent. I’ve traveled all over the USA and Canada and seen people of those descriptions everywhere. It’s not your accent that makes you those things…it’s what’s in your mind, heart and soul. So, if you’re going to pick on the south, yall lay off…