Product Description
by Keith Huffman (Author), David Housel (Foreword by)
Benefits Charity
"This is a family memoir, of sorts, told one newspaper column at a time, a variety of memories stitched together like a patchwork quilt."
So writes columnist Keith Huffman in describing this nifty collection of Southern essays that pay tribute to a charming bunch of characters who personify small-town life. Reflecting on his childhood in the West Alabama town of Gordo, Huffman shares the stories and memories of the folks who made their marks on him, including:
- Pawpaw Buck, the ornery-though-lovable old coot, whose dying wish was to get baptized by the very country preacher who'd been damned determined to save his soul for decades;
- Doe Doe, the author's father, a Crimson Tide fanatic and big-rig ace, whose One True Love was a black and silver 1979 Ford F-150 that flaunted its glorious name across its gleaming windshield: Silver Bullet;
- Mawmaw Sue, expert remover of deadly splinters and master engineer, who once used a shoestring to keep a push mower running long enough to finish the job;
- Aunt Lorene, a beast of a card player, who lacked neither a winning hand nor mocking grin for her brother, Henry, the man who not only named himself but fulfilled an old psychic's prophecy that he'd "go overseas and find a gold mine."
Other stories involve bootlegging shenanigans, a drunken cage match with a wild cat, plus the author's burned luck and bitter fishing tragedy. Huffman also shares about how he learned the fine art of backroad skepticism; his ongoing ponderings over how life as a turtle could have turned out; and his musings over the joys of fatherhood... proving that parenting is no easy task, especially when a young'un holds a grudge after dreaming his mother ate his dinosaur.
This collection also includes other newspaper features Huffman has written over the years, highlighting examples of Southern hearts, tragedies, and triumphs.
Author Biography
Keith Huffman is a licensed professional counselor who helps his clients cope with and overcome psychological hardships. A graduate of the University of Alabama, he also has worked as a journalist, writing for the Pickens County Herald and Opelika-Auburn News, where he contributes a feature column. Keith lives in Alabama with his family.
