18,262 days. 438,288 hours.

 

We all have them - high school graduation reunions. The big one happens this month. 18,262 days,  438,288 hours, 50 years ago, the Mahwah High School Class of '76, the "Spirit of '76" graduated.

This is a little piece I wrote about that monumental day when my gang of friends became adults, thrown out into the cruel world after living blissfully in the cozy confines of high school.

# # # # #

“Fifty years,” I muttered to myself. “18,263 days. 438,312 hours. Fifty years. A lifetime."

It literally was a lifetime. Fifty years since a gang of friends marched down an aisle of lush green stadium grass, the walkway framed by rows of old, creaky aluminum folding chairs. The chalk dust from an impressive football season had long since washed away by belly-deep snowdrifts the previous winter.

Fifty years have passed since that makeshift auditorium was hastily assembled within the confines of a well-worn high school football stadium, its field ringed with aging wooden bleachers and grandstands that were teeming with crying mothers, doting fathers, and fidgety youngsters. Fifty years since those rows of folding chairs on the field were filled with youthful exuberance, a bunch of kids gushing with an innocent naivety about the world that stood before them, its door open wide, beckoning them to enter. Among those one hundred or so graduates sat a motley crew of kids simply known to all as “the gang.” And yes, it was a gang. Not in an Al Capone sort of way. Not in a “gangsta” sort of way. It was a tight-knit group of friends—the gang.

We were dubbed the Spirit of ’76, having graduated during the nation’s bicentennial celebration, but we were far removed from the spirit of our Founding Fathers. We lived during a time in American history where the nation was trying to recover from Vietnam, Watergate, and having to wait in line for hours to buy a tank of gas, but we were blissfully oblivious to it all as we lived from day-to-day, sunup to sundown, hanging with our friends, playing in garage bands, discovering first loves. 

What's New

 

Hi, everyone, and welcome to summer! We're experiencing our typical Alabama Gulf Coast summer - record rainfall mixed with sweltering, humid days. It's why we wake up every morning and give thanks to Willis Carrier and his invention, the air conditioner. It was specifically designed for humid beings.

Okay, enough puns for today. The rainy days have allowed me plenty of time to write. As always, I'm juggling a bunch of projects. I'm happy to say that I'm almost finished with a major edit of my cozy mystery, Dead Air. I have been away from the manuscript long enough where I started thinking that maybe it isn't that good. So, I started editing again and I quickly remembered why I liked. I hope it will get picked up soon and you can judge for yourself.

Big news on the Beyond the Launchpad: The Unsung Women of the Space Race front. I'm down to writing the last chapter. The publisher and I have already edited the previous chapters so it's moving along pretty fast. We also have the official cover to reveal. I think out of all my books, Turner Publishing created the best. This really captures the feel of the book:

And in case you didn't know, Alabama Curiosities 3rd Edition has been released! I was honored to be asked to edit and add content to this guide to the wackiest, craziest, and quirkiest characters and places in the state. The book was originally written by Andy Duncan, and his sense of humor matches mine perfectly. It's a really fun read. Pick it up at your favorite local or online bookstore.

So, that's all for now. Until next time, have a happy and safe 4th of July!

A Snippet of This...

 

Here we are, already winging our way through May. So much has been going on here in my little writing room that I haven't had much time to jump on the socials, so, a little recap this morning. 

First of all, I have a book signing coming up on May 23rd at one of my favorite local book stores, Page & Palette in Fairhope Alabama. I'll be there signing copies of "Notable Women of Alabama" and a few other titles from 1pm to 3pm. I hope to see you there. 

It was a pleasure to attend the opening of the new Local Authors room at the Fairhope Public Library, and humbled to have my books on the shelf next to some of the great authors from the town. It's like our friend, cartoonist J.C. Crow says, there are so many authors in Fairhope that you can

The opening of the new Local Authors room at the Fairhope Public Library. There are so many amazing authors from the town that, as cartoonist J.D. Crow says, you can't sling a cat without hitting one.

That's just a brief - very brief - summary of what's been happening here at the Writing Ranch. But before I go, I thought I'd share a bit of a piece I wrote while I was working on my cozy mystery, "Dead Air." The mystery takes place at a radio station in 1943. While researching the book, I became fascinated with the subject of weddings in that time period, during World War II. I was especially interested in how couples managed a ceremony during a time when rationing made everyday life difficult, let alone planning for a wedding. Here it is. Enjoy, and have a wonderful week:

The number of weddings that took place between 1941 and 1945 increased dramatically. Couples felt a sense of urgency to get married before the groom was shipped off to fight in Europe or Japan. In 1942, for example, 1.8 million weddings took place in the United States alone, an increase of 83 percent from only 10 years prior, with two-thirds of those brides marrying men who were newly enlisted in the military.

In New York City, the Little Church Around the Corner in Manhattan held over 2,000 weddings between 1942 and 1943. The church’s rector, Rev. Dr. Randolph Ray, told reporters that if he presided over only three ceremonies in the morning and three in the afternoon, he considered that to be a quiet week.

Food rationing also significantly impacted weddings, particularly due to the reduced availability of sugar. Food ration coupons allowed families to obtain 26 pounds of sugar per year, roughly 8 oz. or half pound per week. Still, clever homemakers and bakers found ways around this restriction by creating low or no-sugar cake recipes, which became known as Victory Cakes or War Cakes.

The images below are actual 1943 Victory Cake recipes that appeared in newspapers around the country and promotional booklets produced and distributed by the Crisco company, makers of the famous shortening, and Swans Down Cake Flour. Many were adapted into war time wedding cakes.

We Had Liftoff

 

The Forrester has landed.

It was a whirlwind trip to the Cape for the launch of Artemis II. I said it was for research for the new book, " Beyond the Launchpad: The Unsung Women of the Space Race," but come on. It was the experience and the history I was there for and all I can say is WOW! Incredible!

I was fortunate enough to land the Feel the Heat tickets to view the launch from the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex, the closest you could get to the launch (about 3.5 miles). We arrived early, 6 a.m., and was the 5th car in line at the gate. From there, the line stretched…and stretched…and stretched.

I have visited KSC many times before, sometimes for article research, sometimes for fun, but it’s always an experience each time I go. We did a little exploring but knew we had better get in line to get on the bus to take us to the viewing area. We waited in line for quite a while, but that’s half the fun of the adventure. We met so many wonderful people from all over the country and the world who came in to experience the history. Canada was well represented in honor of astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

A built-in hold in the countdown occurred at T-10 minutes. When it was released, launch director, Charlie Blackwell Thompson gave another moving send off as she did during the unmanned Artemis 1 flight to the flight team and contractors. This time, it was to the first Artemis astronauts who would circumnavigate the moon.

I remember as a kid watching television coverage of the launch of Apollo 8. The reaction to the event, the first time humans would travel to the moon, was exactly the same for Artemis II: people started praying; kids were getting fidgety in anticipation; grownups began hopping up and down like a kid on Christmas morning with excitement.

Then it happened - the most brilliant light lit up the launch pad and they were off. I looked around and just about everyone was in tears, cheering the SLS and the astronauts on. Then it hits you - the roar - an incredible, bone rattling roar.

(This photo was taken by Chris Hotshell)

Now the bad news - I was in such awe over that experience....I DIDN'T RECORD IT!! LOL! I did get some really quick videos - like 8 and 13 seconds of it soaring above us and a longer one of the SRB's separating, but that’s okay. The experience was amazing. The following is a montage of pics / short clips:

For Artemis III, if you can snag the Feel the Heat tickets, go for it. The staff at KSC was great and the viewing package included everything – an extra day admission to the center, a delicious buffet meal for ticket holders, and a limited edition collector’s item. For Artemis II, it was a collector’s pin set to remember the even by. Like we wouldn't remember it.

Save the Dates

 

Hi, everyone. Just a quick reminder about a big event coming up this Saturday (March 7th). It's the annual Alabama Authors Day at Historic Oakleigh Mansion and Museum. Myself, along with dozens of the best regional authors, will converge on the mansion from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free! Come on out and meet your favorite author and connect with your new favorite voice.

And one more signing on the way. I'll be signing copies of Notable Women of Alabama and a few of my other titles Saturday May 23rd from 1pm to 3pm at Page & Palette in Fairhope, AL. 

March Comes In Like A...

 

Good morning, all! I hope you all survived the winter. As is usual, we didn't get the snow like the rest of the country (I'm on the Gulf Coast, after all,) but we did get a light dusting that was gone in a blink, unlike last year with the "Snowpocalypse". Okay, 5 to 9" is just not right down here. But we did get the cold, not in the minus range, but still, dipping to the low 20s and wind chills in the teens is starting to become the norm down here.

The cold weather has me churning and burning in the old writing room. The final edits were completed for the fourth edition of Alabama Curiosities, which is due out August 1st. Andy Duncan wrote the first three editions of the book and I was asked to revise it. No matter where you live, I think you'll enjoy what is described as this "laugh out loud introduction to the weirdest, wackiest, and most outrageous characters in the state."

I'm also under the dead line pressure for my latest book, Beyond the Launchpad: The Unsung Women of the Space Race, that traces the stories of women who overcame adversity and stereotypes to help the U.S. win the space race. The story begins in 1922 with the first physicist hired by the predecessor to  NASA, NACA, all the way through to the first moon landing. It's a fascinating story about the women whose stories were largely untold. The publisher, Turner Publishing, is looking for a release around the launch of Artemis III which will land the first woman on the moon.

Oh, and I can't forget - the premier episode of Meanwhile...Mobile is just about ready to make its debut. Along with my co-hosts and former radio colleagues Kathy Richardson and Dennis Gould, we will be bringing to life the little known, obscure, and forgotten tales of Mobile, Alabama's unique history to life with rare audio recordings and special guests. Trust me, wherever you live in the world, you'll find these tales fun and fascinating.

So, that's it for now. Stay warm. Here's hoping we see those robins very soon.

Starting the New Year Right

 

Is it February already? I could have sworn there was supposed to be a month of January in there somewhere. I hope all of you are keeping warm. It's been cold here on the sub-tropical (doesn't feel like it) Alabama Gulf Coast. Compared to the rest of the country, our 22 degrees tonight with a wind chill of 10 seems like child's play, but for us, brrr. 

I've hit the ground running here in the old writing room. So much to do. The cold is my excuse to spend more time here with my hot cup of green tea (tangerine flavor). 

There is an update on my new book, Alabama Curiosities. Actually, the book's third edition was written by Andy Duncan. I've been editing the fourth edition and added some new entries to the book that brings to life the wildest, wackiest, most outrageous people, places, and things the Yellowhammer State has to offer. The book will definitely keep you laughing out loud. The book will definitely keep you laughing out loud.

The publishing date is set for August 15th.

It's been a long and winding road for my latest nonfiction history title, Beyond the Launchpad: The Unsung Women of the Space Race, but finally, it's officially official. I've inked the contract with Turner Publishing. The book will tell the amazing story of women who helped the U.S. win the space race, from 1922 and the first female engineer at NACA to the flight of Apollo 11. The release date will coincide with the first lunar landing by a woman in 2027. That will be some book launch (pun intended.)

Finally, the journey begins for the new podcast, Meanwhile Mobile. Meanwhile...Mobile is a new podcast that brings the little known, obscure, and forgotten history and characters of Alabama's 320+ year old Port City and surrounding area to life with fascinating guests, rarely heard audio, and special features. Whether you're from Mobile, just visiting, just passing through, or interesting in quirky history, I think you'll enjoy what we have planned for you.

My co-hosts, radio colleagues Dennis Gould and Kathy Richardson, held our first recording session and it went well, and as always, it was way too much fun to be working together again. Our mad scientist behind the tech side of this project, Dennis Gould, is doing post-production work on the first episode which means it won't be long before the drop date will be announced. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile...Mobile co-hosts (L-R) Dennis Gould, Kathy Richardson, Joe Cuhaj

And don't forget, the big Alabama Author's Day is set for March 7th at Historic Oakleigh Mansion in Mobile. The all-day event features some of the best local authors from the region. There will be author presentations, book signings, and more. I will be there and I hope to see you.

Until then...