An Original Bama Belle

Last Sunday night TLC premiered their new reality show, “Bama Belles” which follows the lives of women living in the “rural” south Alabama town of Dothan. I could not wait. My mom is originally from Dothan, actually Napier Field/Midland City, but Dothan is the closest place with a traffic light. We still have family in Dothan and spend time there often. I enjoyed the show. I thought just like with everything else there were some parts that were a bit exaggerated but overall it was a fair picture of southern women…women who can run around like crazy chickens with their heads cut off one minute and welcome guests into their homes with open arm and bright smiles the next, women who love Jesus, their families, and college football, and of course, women who can “throw together” a meal that makes you want to slap your mama out of seemingly nothing.

I am blessed to be a member of a southern family and know these women.
I am especially blessed by my relationship with my Aunt Helen. My Aunt Helen is one of my favorite people in the whole world. Because my grandmother died when I was 9 and my Aunt Helen and Uncle Verbon have grandchildren my age, I have looked to her as a grandmother rather than an aunt. She is precious to me. Like the southern women I described she loves Jesus, her family (she and my uncle were married for 55 years before he died and had a relationship that I pray to have one day), and Auburn football.

My uncle passed away in December 2005. The following summer I was blessed to have the opportunity to travel with Aunt Helen on a 14 day senior adult trip to the northwest with First Baptist Dothan. Yes, I went with 50 senior adults on a trip across the country for 2 weeks. It was the chance of a lifetime for me. We saw Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Mount Rushmore, and visited the only 5 star restaurant in South Dakota. By the way, the only 5 star restaurant in South Dakota is right above a casino. My precious Aunt Helen never passes up a chance to play the slot machines even on a senior adult Baptist church trip. We were a little late for dinner that night, and I had to be the one to explain why to the Senior Adult Pastor. He wasn’t exactly amused.

Aunt Helen has taught me many things…how to play Blackjack, love the Auburn Tigers no matter what, when to walk away from a slot machine, and how to fry cornbread, just to name a few. Fried cornbread is amazing! If you’ve never had it, you should!

My relationship with Aunt Helen has changed over the last couple of years. Shortly before my uncle died we noticed Aunt Helen was forgetting things, directions, etc. Over time, it became very clear that Aunt Helen was experiencing the onset of Alzheimer’s. A couple of years ago Aunt Helen moved to a new home in Dothan called Grove Park. It wasn’t an easy transition but definitely a good decision. Aunt Helen was able to be a part of a community at Grove Park. She participated in activities, played games, and made friends. She and I also got into a little argument one time with another resident over who actually won a BINGO game…let’s just say competitiveness runs deep in our family. The time has now come to sell my aunt and uncle’s Sequoyah Street home. The home they have lived in, laughed in and cried in. My cousins gave me Aunt Helen’s cast iron skillet a few weeks ago from her kitchen. I can safely say it is easily one of the best gifts I have ever received. It is a precious reminder of the lady who touched my heart, made me feel like her own, and taught me about life, love, and how to be a southern lady.

Thank you for priceless memories Aunt Helen! I Love You!