Pretty Southern

Tag: #LoveTheSouth

Huntsville, Alabama = America’s New Tech Hub

Huntsville, Alabama, was once a sleepy, farming town that you drove through on your way to Nashville.

Well, folks, stand back because the Rocket City is on the move! Last year, Huntsville officially took the lead as Alabama’s largest city by the population at 215,006, edging out Birmingham for the top spot by just over 14,000 people.

When you think of Huntsville, what comes to mind? Probably a rocket, right? Rightfully so, as Huntsville is also known as Rocket City! Why? It is the site of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command.

Why Rocket City?

Huntsville earned national recognition during the Space Race of the 1960s. During this time, the U.S. government relocated a team of German rocket scientists to the area. It opened a NASA center that would design the Saturn V. This rocket sent Apollo astronauts to the moon!

A landmark rocket now commemorates this historical event at U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Did you know that Huntsville, Alabama is home to the most significant space museum in the world?!

Education is Key

Huntsville residents pride themselves on being the most educated population in the state. They’d have to be, as a large portion of the population works in engineering thanks to the significant presence of NASA and the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal.

The city has a strong tech industry that dominates the area’s local economy. Meaning, highly educated people are moving to Huntsville from all over the United States and the World! Wallethub recently ranked Huntsville among the Top 25 Most Educated Cities in America, and Forbes Magazine named Huntsville one of The World’s Smartest Cities.

Reinvention Done Right

Preserving Southern traditions while building a positive community and infrastructure is what the Rocket City has done. Huntsville’s city center has undergone a major renovation in recent years. An outbreak of new construction downtown means more shopping, dining, and housing options are available. Just west of downtown, an old cotton mill became a bustling arts center, and craft breweries and bars have sprung up in a renovated old middle school.

How cool is that?!

Welcome to the Final Frontier!

Space is the true core of Huntsville’s identity. To get a better understanding of the area’s ties to all things outer space, visitors and residents alike can spend a day touring the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Here, they can learn about the history of space exploration. Also, The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is home to every kid’s bucket-list experience (and maybe some adults too), Space Camp!

Famous author and astronomer Mike Brown, a Huntsville native, has even said:

“I grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, a thoroughly dedicated rocket town. The father of everyone I knew—mine included—was some sort of engineer working to build the Apollo rockets to send men to the moon.” ~ How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming

Textiles, Art, & History

If space doesn’t interest you, several other cultural attractions might! For example, the Alabama Constitution Hall Park gives visitors an inside perspective of life in Alabama in the 1800s. You can also visit The North Alabama Railroad Museum and the Historic Huntsville Depot, which highlight the history of train travel in north Alabama.
Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment is a renovated textile mill, the largest privately-owned arts center in the southern United States. That alone is reason enough to go! The Mill House artists work in various media, featuring live music and theater, and it also serves as Huntsville’s unofficial fine arts headquarters.

The Huntsville Museum of Art also offers visitors a wide range of pieces across various permanent and traveling exhibits. The multipurpose Von Braun Center downtown hosts concerts, comedy tours, and dance performances, as well as games for the city’s minor league professional hockey team, the Huntsville Havoc.

Diversity in the Deep South

Huntsville has a significant international population, thanks to its high-tech sector. With such great diversity comes a fantastic culinary scene that offers everything from Vietnamese to German to Indian cuisine. In addition to superb international food, the city also provides a plethora of fabulous Southern cuisine, including delicious barbeque and several farm-to-table concept restaurants.

Music & Vitamin-D Vibes

Who doesn’t love sunshine and music? Because the climate in Huntsville is warm most of the year, outdoor concerts and events are easy to come by. The downtown area hosts outdoor shows, movies, and food truck rallies almost every weekend (except in winter). Monte Sano State Park is a favorite with hikers and mountain bikers. Are you a water enthusiast? They have something for you too! Boaters often head to the beautiful, nearby Tennessee River for a day out on the water.

Who Lives in Huntsville?

There’s housing and entertainment for young professionals and suburbs with affordable housing and great schools for families. The city has been dubbed an up-and-coming tech hub, bringing people from all over the world for job opportunities.

Due to the extensive defense and technology sector, it’s also a popular place for military retirees. Higher education institutions in the area – including Alabama A&M University and the University of Alabama–Huntsville – make Rocket City a great college scene as well!

Why is Huntsville Growing?

The Huntsville area was, and is, very resilient to the pandemic and the challenges that have come with it. Since the city is such a large tech hub, many people could work from home and still do so today. Because of this, there wasn’t significant job loss, and many people took telework positions out of Huntsville during the pandemic and later relocated there. It appears that Huntsville is doing something—many things—right!

Whether you’re looking for a new place to call home or a just fun weekend trip, “Sweet Home Alabama” has something for everyone in Huntsville!

November 29, 2021
Oh, Eudora!

Eudora Welty is an iconic Southern writer who brought life to every single word she ever wrote.

When many of us think of Eudora Welty, we probably picture an older lady with silver hair and endless words of wisdom. However, just like us, Welty was once a child too. Her insight was gained through life experiences and influenced by the culture of the Mississippi Delta.

Her words became almost tangible to readers when there was only text, and they often instilled hope and humor during eras of great despair.

The Beginnings of Eudora Welty

Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, on North Congress Street, Eudora Welty was the oldest of three children and a prominent insurance executive’s daughter. Perhaps her love of reading and writing began at an early age, as it has been said that her Mother once risked her life to save her collection of Dickens novels from a house fire!

“I cannot remember a time when I was not in love with them–with the books themselves, cover and binding and the paper they were printed on, with their smell and their weight and with their possession in my arms, captured and carried off to myself.” — Eudora on her work

Unlike many iconic writers, Welty was not a tortured artist; her childhood was pretty ideal. After attending college at the Mississippi State College for Women, The University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Columbia University, Welty finally returned home to her beloved Mississippi.

The Great Documentarian

Returning to Jackson brought challenges as she struggled to find solid job prospects in 1931. She worked in radio and newspaper before signing on as a publicity agent for the Works Progress Administration. This position required her to travel the back roads of rural Mississippi, taking pictures and writing press releases. She might have taken this job out of necessity at first; however, these trips connected her with the same people who would soon shape her short stories and novels and developed her deep love for photography.

Welty’s longtime friend and fellow writer William Maxwell once said: “It obliged her to go where she would not otherwise have gone and see people and places she might not ever have seen. A writer’s material derives nearly always from experience. Because of this job, she came to know the state of Mississippi by heart and could never come to the end of what she might want to write about.”

It has been said that even if Welty never published a single word, she would have likely secured her legacy as a gifted documentarian of the Great Depression through her photographs of that time.

Passion & Heart

Eudora Welty had a tremendous heart. Her observation skills and ability to connect with people were unmatched. Welty attributes much of this to observing her parents as a young child simply because she loved them.

“Long before I wrote stories, I listened for stories. Listening for them is something more acute than listening to them. I suppose it’s an early form of participation in what goes on. Listening children know stories are there. When their elders sit and begin, children are just waiting and hoping for one to come out, like a mouse from its hole.” ― Eudora Welty, One Writer’s Beginnings

Much like real life, all of Welty’s characters are flawed. Aren’t we all? However, despite their flaws, she still wanted the best for them. You can feel the passion and belief she instills in her characters in almost all of her stories.

Welty was not a Civil Rights activist during the 1960s, and she took quite a bit of criticism for being too quiet during the earlier years of the Civil Rights Movement. However, Welty’s power and voice came from her pen when she wrote: “Where is the Voice Coming From?” Welty wrote this piece overnight in June of 1963 after hearing the tragic news that Medgar Evers had been assassinated in Jackson, Mississippi.

“Where is the Voice Coming From?” is a story narrated by the man who had killed Evers. Welty wrote this, of course, before Byron de la Beckwith had been identified and charged with the crime.

Her imaginative portrayal of the murderer was so accurate that before she published it, she revised it to move the setting from Jackson. The title of her story asks readers where that voice, this voice of hatred and prejudice…where does it come from?

Mississippi Made

Mississippi’s geography, history, culture, and politics are a powerful presence throughout Welty’s writing career. The novel Delta Wedding (1946) and the story “Powerhouse” are set in the Mississippi Delta. Her best-selling book, Losing Battles (1970), is set in the kudzu-covered hills of northeast Mississippi.

Welty was known as one of America’s greatest writers. This title earned Eudora many national and international honors, including a Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her novel, “The Optimist’s Daughter.”

“Colleges keep inviting me because I’m so well behaved,” Welty once remarked in explaining her popularity at the podium. “I’m always on time, and I don’t get drunk or hole up in a hotel with my lover.” That type of dry wit and modesty was a trademark of Ms. Welty’s!

Eudora Welty’s words are her legacy.

Welty never married or had children and was often mocked for her quiet and simple life. Welty didn’t fit the stereotype of a literary genius as she was not the tortured artist type, nor did she live that kind of lifestyle. Welty was quiet, humble, and did not seek fame, status, or riches. She lived in the same house for more than 70 years! And spoke with anyone who wanted to talk with her; in fact, it was not uncommon for her to invite them in for a chat.

These recollections of Eudora’s social graces are not surprising! She was a woman and a writer who connected so well with not only Mississippi but also the world around her! How else could she write about people and relationships in such a beautiful and authentic manner if she wasn’t truly connecting with people herself?

“As you have seen, I am a writer who came of a sheltered life, a sheltered life can be a daring life as well. For all serious daring starts from within.”

In one of her final interviews before her death in 2001, Eudora Welty was at her home and made a profound comment about her garden in proper Eudora form. “The garden is gone. It makes me ill to look at it. But I’m not complaining. It’s just the state of things.” Welty adored gardening, and mentions over 150 different kinds of plants in her writings.

What a blessing it is to have the words of this wise and wonderful woman to inspire us in our relationships with people and our gardens of life.

September 21, 2021
Why I Love Tupelo!

Tupelo, Mississippi?!

Never in my life did I think I’d live in the northeastern pocket of Mississippi, in the hometown of Elvis. This “microtropolis,” with its rolling hills, local culture, and large Magnolia trees, now holds an extraordinary place in my heart.

My family and I never planned on living in Tupelo. We were “Hattiesburgers” through and through. However, a few years ago, a recruiter from North Mississippi called my husband with a job opportunity, and it was just perfect for him! Suddenly, we felt a strong push towards the state’s northern region.

Since I am not originally from Mississippi, I ignorantly thought Tupelo would be like Hattiesburg, and I quickly learned that my assumption was wrong. South Mississippi and North Mississippi are different, but some things remain the same, hospitality and tradition.

Time For Change

Change is hard—especially unplanned change. So, to be one hundred percent honest with you, it took me about a year to adjust to living in North Mississippi. I missed our family, friends, and living close to the beach, plus a million other minor details. I often wondered if we made the right decision. I often expressed my concern about making the right decision too. Bless my sweet husband for his patience during this time. Fast forward a little bit…and I’m so glad we made this decision!

Life likes to shake things up a bit sometimes, doesn’t it? Now that we’ve been here for a few years, there is no doubt in my mind that Tupelo was part of a greater plan for my family and me as an individual.

I can say out loud and confidently that I love Tupelo!

Let’s Talk About T-town

Nestled up in the northeastern part of the state, Tupelo is the only city in the southern United States to be named an “All America City.” Not once, but five times! With good reason too! With local charm and history, there’s a reason why Southern Living selected it as Mississippi’s town for “The South’s Most Storied Streets.”

One of the things I love the most about Tupelo is the incredible local morale and support. Much of our city and the surrounding areas consist of local businesses, and not only do the people who live here support them but so do other surrounding companies. You don’t have to remind people to shop locally here; they already do.
The Tupelo area is full of rolling hills covered with oak trees, pine trees, magnolia trees, and the ever-growing, beautifully green kudzu vines. Cotton fields are in full bloom during the fall, and speaking of fall, we have a little bit of Autumn here! Translation: I can still live in the south and enjoy sweater weather too! In the deep south, a cool breeze is as common as a bagel, but here in Tupelo, the leaves change, and the air gets crispy for a little while.

Most folks know Tupelo is the birthplace of Elvis Presley. On just about any given day, you can visit the small, two-room home that the King of Rock and Roll grew up in. Swing on his front porch swing, and see the neighboring museum. You can also stop by Tupelo Hardware and stand in the very spot where Gladys Presley bought her son’s first guitar. Good choice, Mrs. Presley, good choice!

Main Street, Tupelo is a visual representation of love, loyalty, pride, hard work, and determination. The downtown area of Tupelo has become the heart of the city. It didn’t use to be that way, and so while I love to shop, eat, and walk around downtown, it’s the relentless dedication and effort that’s continuously put into buoying up this city that I love the most.

Downtown Tupelo

Our downtown is a place where everyone is welcome. Diversity, imagination, and faith in a positive present and even brighter future lives within every historic brick and stone that lines these streets. I’m genuinely proud to raise my children in the Tupelo area.

There is something to see on every square foot of Tupelo’s charming downtown. Hand-painted murals can be found on several buildings, while guitar silhouettes line the main street. You can even follow the path of Elvis’s blue suede shoes by looking for blue footprints on the sidewalks.

Pre-Covid, Tupelo hosted several events and festivals that included live music, delicious local food, and great family fun. Its dedication towards enriching personal and family experiences at the local level is simply top-notch.
The Bancorp South Arena hosts several big-name concerts and events, providing opportunities for locals to attend while also inviting tourism and building a more robust economy. These events have slowly but surely been coming back, and it makes my heart sing to see the streets alive again!

Tupelo is genuinely a little-known cultural oasis.

Family, Food, and Fun

My family and I are total Tupelo foodies! The local restaurant scene is fabulous here! There’s something for everyone’s pallet, and you’ll surely be served with a smile. Forbes Magazine named Tupelo as one of the “next big food destinations” in 2019. It seems we’re not the only ones that enjoy the local food here!

My kids and I love to “Park Hop.” There is plenty to do at each park, with duck ponds, splash pads, and disc golf courses too! Tupelo has several beautiful parks to visit that promote beauty, history, and an active and healthy lifestyle.

The Natchez Trace is a national landmark here, and it is gorgeous! Tree tunnels for miles, and you can drive on it from Tupelo to Nashville! You can also walk, hike, or bike the beautiful Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. Hence, those who are planning to purchase an e-bike may visit this page https://www.aventon.com/collections/step-through-electric-bike-aventon and use the bike for a leisurely ride in these scenic bike trails.

Why Tupelo?

It’s not uncommon for people to ask, “Tupelo? How did you end up there?” I could give a million long-winded explanations as to why or how we ended up in Tupelo. Instead, I much prefer the response of…

“It’s where we are supposed to be.”

Southern charm, mixed with innovation and modern repurposing, makes Tupelo the perfect blend of tradition, culture, and progress. It’s also the ideal place for me and my family to call home.

September 8, 2021
Visiting America’s Hometown, Laurel, Mississippi

My husband and I recently attended a wedding in his hometown, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Later that weekend, we decided to check out the town of Laurel, Miss., home of the ever-popular HGTV show, “Hometown.”

Here’s what you need to know before I dive into all things Hometown. We lived in Hattiesburg for the first ten years of our marriage and then moved up to Tupelo. I have spent MANY days in the town of Laurel for both work and church responsibilities. My memory of what Laurel used to be and what it is now is entirely different!

Laurel used to be like many other small, forgotten towns with a few streets of beautiful historic homes and great potential. . The downtown buildings were abandoned, the roads unattended to, and many surrounding homes were declining rapidly. I recall telling my husband many years ago, “It’s such a shame. Laurel COULD be such a beautiful town.” Well, coulda, shoulda, woulda! Ben and Erin Napier made those comments come to life with their vision, love, and dedication to their hometown.

To be clear, Laurel still has work to do, as we all do, right? But I believe their journey has just begun! Home by home and project by project, the Napiers are buoying up the streets of their beloved Laurel.

The downtown shops that surround the well-known Hometown sights are bustling and vibrant. Roads are being repaired. Beautiful artwork and quotes have been painted on the sides of brick buildings. Up and coming restaurants, as well as established local eateries, are inviting and full of patrons. Laurel is starting to shine, and it’s a beautiful sight to see!

While walking the streets of Laurel, we met people from Wisconsin, California, and my husband’s hometown of Hattiesburg! It’s incredible that this small town, the Napier’s, and their show have attracted people from all over the country and just down the road at the same time.

Naturally, the first thing I wanted to do was to check out the famous Laurel Mercantile Co. So we parked the car, we took a few photos in front of the blue truck we all know and love, and then everything became blurry for a bit, as I indulged in all things Hometown and handcrafted!

The Laurel Mercantile Co. is full of beautiful, tasteful items handpicked by Ben and Erin. Cutting boards crafted by Ben, Erin’s signature headbands, artwork, candles, t-shirts, canvas bags, and so much more! At The Laurel Mercantile Co., everything has been made in America, and most of it is Mississippi-made and as we needed to drive all the way there. We got contact information for a lawyer, like those at Valiente Mott, in case an accident happens.

The entire shop is full of heirloom quality, locally made goods. So, if you love to truly shop locally, their mercantile is a dream come true!

After taking in the craftsmanship and beauty of original art, and all things mercantile, we walked down the street to the Scotsman General Store. At the entrance of the general store, my husband became like a kid at Christmas time!

Walking into the Scotsman General Store is like walking into your favorite childhood memory. Unfortunately, they were not filming on this rainy Saturday, but we still enjoyed all of the Scotsman brand original handmade wood products; they are gorgeous!

You can grab a glass bottle of old-fashioned soda and some nickel candy and see Ben Napier’s woodshop where he creates the custom pieces you see on their show.

Flannel shirts, delicious pantry items, candles, cologne, beard balms, and beautifully crafted leather items are for purchase as well!

My favorite part of visiting the Scotsman General Store was a conversation with one employee. He happened to be one of Ben Napier’s “main wood guys,” at least that’s what he called himself.

He welcomed us to the store and asked where we were from. Being from the area, we told him how amazed we were at the growth and beauty of Laurel. We learned that he and his wife had moved to Laurel about a year and a half ago from Arizona. Their children were grown up and gone, and they thought Laurel, Mississippi looked like a nice place to live. He enthusiastically told us that they had sold their home in Arizona, moved to Laurel, bought a lovely home, and have been debt-free for a year! This sweet man said, “I have a job that I love, and it’s just awesome what Ben and Erin are doing here.”

To which I replied, “I don’t even know you, but I’m so happy for you!” He smiled and said, “Listen, you guys are young, don’t ever give up on yourselves or your ideas.”

Wow. Admittedly, I love my purchases from both of these fantastic stores, but that conversation still has me smiling. To me, it best represents the spirit that is Laurel, also known as the “City Beautiful.” So appropriate, don’t you agree?

Ben and Erin Napier seem to have this innate sense of pride and purpose for their hometown. They dreamed of a new era of growth and prosperity for Laurel, and I can’t imagine how fulfilling it must be to watch these dreams come to life.

Laurel (like many Mississippi towns) was once a bustling sawmill center in the early 1900s and earned its title as the “Yellow Pine Capital of the World.” But, like many small towns throughout America, it has seen its fair share of economic hardships, recession, time and change, that eventually led to its decline. I think that’s why so many of us love to watch Hometown because everyone loves a great comeback story!

The Napiers are not only restoring homes; they are restoring hope. Hope in building a prosperous life in a small town. Hope in connecting newcomers to locals. Hope in restoring industry and also restoring hope in the American dream.

Ben and Erin Napier’s vision for their hometown in Laurel, Mississippi, showcases a great life lesson that we all need to remember…

Lift those you love.

August 9, 2021
Southern By Choice

Have you ever felt like you belonged somewhere else?

It’s almost as if you have your real identity, and then a geographic identity? Well, for much of my life, I have been a Northerner who always wanted to be a Southerner.

Born and raised in Ohio, I spent much of my time with my grandmother, who dreamed of being a southern belle. I would often stay the night with her and watched those iconic southern films that we all know and love. It might have been 20 degrees outside, but here we were on her orange velvet sofa, eating frozen grapes and practicing our best southern accents.

My grandmother stressed the importance of manners. She also taught me how to dress for every occasion, and above all else, how to be a lady! As I grew older, I vividly remember her taking me to Merle Norman to have my “colors matched” so that my make-up would be subtle and lady-like. To this day, I can not pass a Merle Norman store and not think of her and smile. She was a true steel magnolia; in a northern landscape.

When I graduated from college, I applied to a teaching program in New Orleans, without any explanation, other than I just felt so incredibly drawn to southern culture. I thought it was my life mission to go and teach in the South. Life threw a curveball, and my application to this teaching program had been rejected, despite my confidence. I ended up accepting a fantastic job opportunity on the West coast.

Life was moving forward quickly, and I no longer thought about the South much as I used to. There were occasional moments where I had what one might call “heart pangs” when I would finish a great novel set in the South or talk to someone from there and think: “I really would love it there.”

However, the reality is, a book, a movie, or a conversation are not real reasons to move somewhere, right? Probably not, and they weren’t for me. Some might call it intuition, while others might call it a spiritual experience, but sometimes you already know what you already know.

On a sunny day in April, I met the man who would soon be my husband. Tall, dark, handsome, and unbeknownst to me, he was from South Mississippi. He sounded like Johnny Cash, and we closed down the Dairy Keene on our first date. After being politely asked to leave, we continued our three-hour conversation at a nearby park.

After our engagement, my husband and I visited Mississippi. He wanted to show me where he grew up and introduce me to extended family and friends that I had not met yet; I felt instantly at home.

We drove through town and down the backroads in his obnoxiously loud, old, green truck; his pride and joy from his high school days. As we were driving through the tall pines and crepe myrtle trees, I just knew we would end up moving back there one day. Two years later, we did! I have been a Mississippian ever since.

I had visited several southern states throughout my life, but I had never been to Mississippi. Honestly, I do not believe I had ever given Mississippi much thought. I feel like many people forget about Mississippi. Or, when they do remember The Magnolia State, it is often for something negative.

So, let me be clear when I say I LOVE Mississippi. It’s not for everyone, but it’s for me. It has history, hospitality, culture, fabulous food, the blues, and a literary wrap sheet that makes any book lover swoon.

The great William Faulkner once said: “To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.”

Amen, Mr. Faulkner, amen.

For years my narrative has been “Ohio is home.” It’s been an exciting and very natural transition for me over the last decade or so, and now “Mississippi is home.” I am incredibly grateful for my northern roots and southern wings, and I wholeheartedly believe that we can have both!

Often named as a “southern transplant,” I have heard many conversations about being a born and raised southerner, southern traditions, and southern ways. So here is an interesting question: What about the people who choose to be Southern?

People, like me, who love “southern living” so much that they’ve left behind four seasons, a different culture, and probably some family and friends to be southern. That’s loyalty and love if you ask me! My passion for the South continues to grow, just like my hair in the middle of August!

Being southern is so much more than an accent or a monogram; it is a way of life.

Locals support locals, neighbors help neighbors, and the everyday things we often take for granted, are appreciated and valued. Sure, I’ve had to learn a few new words, and I’ve encountered fire ants more than I’d like to admit! I had no idea what my life was missing without grits and greens, and I’m on a first-name basis with everyone at our local grocery store. My week wouldn’t be complete without Ms. Liz telling me to have a blessed day, and you know what? I always do.

Has there been a learning curve? Yes. Has it been worth it? Oh, yes, ma’am! There’s nothing and nowhere else like the South. Intention and tradition are so alive and well in the South that it’s moved into my heart, put up a white picket fence, and stayed there.

As I listen to the sound of cicadas from my front porch in the evening, I often wonder what life would be like if I had lived somewhere else. Life is what you make it, of course, so I know I would be happy in other places too. But here, in Mississippi, I’m at home.

So, even though I wasn’t born in the South, I live here now, and it’s by choice, not by birthright or chance. I used to wonder what it would be like to be a Southerner. Now, I do believe I am one. I am Southern, by choice.

Why do you choose to call the South home?

May 15, 2021
Grace Cunningham Falls in Love with the Boy Next Door

Vivienne Grace Cunningham was the youngest daughter of Caroline and Randy Cunningham.

Named after her great-grandmother, Vivienne, everyone called her Grace. It was a trend started by her older sister, Kate (the middle Cunningham child) whose full Christian name is Georgia Katharine Cunningham. As the youngest of the three Cunningham girls, Grace earned the nickname ‘Angel Baby’ for her sweet features and cherub-like disposition.

Unlike her two blonde sisters, Grace looked the most like their daddy with the same auburn curls and bright blue eyes. Grace was a true little sister, being six years younger than her oldest sister, Macy, and four years younger than Kate. She was several grades behind her sisters, although they all attended Magnolia Academy, one of Atlanta’s premier private schools. The only home Grace has ever known is in Atlanta’s most affluent neighborhood. Grace was just a baby when her family moved from Marietta to their big house in Buckhead.

The Angel Baby didn’t realize the world of privilege she was brought into, and how hard both her parents had worked to make a name for the Cunningham family. Grace simply knew that she was happy and loved her family very much.

She grew up beloved by others. Everyone who ever met Grace said she was “just the sweetest” and “such a little Southern belle.” It was her mama Caroline’s best friend, Birdie Roberts, who bequeathed her the nickname of Angel Baby. Birdie and her husband, Trey, lived next door and had four sons—Jake, Caleb, Wesley, and Christopher—who were all about the same ages as the Cunningham girls. Grace and Christopher were in the same grade together, as were Kate and Wesley.

One summer, when they were all at the country club pool together, Grace overheard Birdie say to her mama, “I hope one of your girls marries one of my boys.” Grace was only a little girl and not interested in boys yet, so she kept swimming without much thought.

Until one day, when she was in the eighth grade, Vivienne Grace Cunningham fell in love with Wesley Wade Roberts.

Although Grace had known the Roberts family since she was a baby, it wasn’t until a fateful day in spring when she realized Wesley was the man of her dreams.

Grace had been invited to her first boy-girl party. When Mama Caroline heard from Birdie that Chris was invited to that same party Grace was also attending, she and Birdie came up with the brilliant idea of carpooling. They agreed Wesley would drop the kids off and Kate would pick them up later.

At this point, Kate and Wesley were seniors at Magnolia Academy and both had their own cars. They were about to graduate then go off to college. It was a warm early spring evening, and the sun was starting to set as Wesley’s old Bronco came chugging up the Cunningham’s driveway.

His car was lifted, raised up on muddy tires. Grace thought, “I shouldn’t have worn a skirt,” since she was going to be riding in that contraption. She glanced down at her patterned sundress with its Lilly Pulitzer flowers, hoping the inside of the car was cleaner than the outside.

“Hey Grace,” Christopher Roberts said as he jumped out of the front seat to help her hop in the back. It as the first time she and Chris had been in the same car together. He was cute in his own right with his floppy brown hair and amber eyes. All the Roberts boys were good looking, and Grace was already a bit nervous to share a car with her cute classmate.

“Hi there,” she replied climbing into the truck. She settled into the old fabric seat, trying to ignore the slight mildew smell.

Then Grace saw Wesley Wade Roberts, smiling at her from behind the wheel. The butterflies in her stomach had a fit.

“Hey Grace,” Wesley beamed. Grinning at her from ear-to-ear, she was drawn to his smile, a set of white, square teeth. She’d never seen any boy smile like this before. The only slight imperfection was a teensy gap between his two front teeth, to learn about this sort of deformations Click this link. That made him look rugged, even more dashing, and then there were dimples, tan skin, freckles, the hint of a beard—really peach fuzz—from not shaving for a day or two.

Sweet Jesus, he looked so fine. And then Grace looked into his eyes: these blue-gray-hazel eyes which reflected the baby blue polo he was wearing. A dirty UGA cap covered his wavy blonde hair which curled naturally at the ends tucked behind his ears.

“Sorry about the smell,” he said. “I went camping last night and forgot to roll the windows up before it rained.”

“Oh it’s fine,” she said as her heart fluttered. Grace was apprehensive to say anything more because she had the most hideous braces. This was before the days of 360dentalcare when every adolescent kid was forced to wear chunky metal on their teeth for at least a good year.

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“Buckle up kids, and I’ll get y’all to your party. I’ve got my own event to attend this evening. Mom said to call Kate when you’re ready to be picked up, but if you need me I’ll swing back by.”
“Nah, Wesley, we’re good,” Chris replied.
Grace wanted to shout, “Take me with you!” Instead, she quietly wished she was going to his party.
“I’m really sorry about the smell,” Wesley said turning around to face her. “If you roll your window down it will help but it might mess up your hair.”
“It’s okay,” Grace said, taking a hairband from her wrist to pull back her long auburn curls. She rolled down her car window, taking in the fresh Georgia spring air. Pollen season had passed and the night was fragrant with fresh pine and blooming flowers. Grace stared at the back of Wesley’s driver’s seat the whole five minutes they cruised through Buckhead to that party. Her eyes were fixated on the way those blonde curls popped out beneath the bottom of Wesley’s baseball cap.

When they arrived at their friend’s house, Chris popped from the front seat calling “Thanks, Wes,” as he bounced out of the Bronco. Grace took her time unbuckling her seat belt.
“You got that?” he asked smiling.
“Um, yeah,” she blushed. Looking up at him grinning at her in the rearview mirror. He made her flush even harder. “Thanks for driving us.”
“Not a problem,” he smiled. “Be good and have fun.”

She didn’t want to leave him. How had Wesley gotten so cute without her ever knowing? But what was up with him telling her to “be good” like a big brother? Would he always only think of her as little Grace, the Angel Baby?

That night at the party, as all the other eighth graders gathered around for spin-the-bottle, Grace found herself on the back deck of her friend’s house, looking up at the stars and wishing that Heaven would see fit for her to see Wesley again.

This was in April, and in May, Wesley graduated then went off to the University of Georgia. Even though Athens is only about sixty miles from Atlanta, Grace thought it might as well be a different planet. Her sister Macy was already a junior at UGA and she barely came home except for a few times a semester. The only time she’d see Macy is if her parents went up for a football game in the fall and they’d all tailgate together. Grace hoped she could convince Mama and Daddy to buy season tickets with the Roberts, or for Daddy’s business for Cunningham Construction, but that never happened.

For the next four years, Grace loved Wesley from afar. She’d barely see Wesley except on the rare occasions he was home for the holidays or met up with the Cunninghams for a tailgate in Athens. When he was home during the summer, Grace spent as much time as possible at the country club where she’d scour for his figure on the golf course, or lay for hours by the pool hoping he would make an appearance.

Alas, if Wesley did, he would always be too far out of reach. It’s not like Grace could try to flirt with him as he swam across the pool, not with Mama Caroline sunbathing next to her. Or if she was riding in Daddy Randy’s cart around the golf course and spotted Wesley across the green, it would take every bit of restraint in her not to dart across the grass to give him a hug.

When Wesley did see Grace, he’d always make polite conversation. Afterall, he’d practically grown up with the Cunninghams. Wesley would give Grace a big grin showing off those rows of perfectly square teeth. His hazel eyes that always seemed to reflect whatever color Polo shirt he was wearing: navy, forest green, or even steely silver. Wesley’s eyes had Grace’s heart.

But when a girl is under the age of eighteen, society doesn’t take kindly to the idea of her chasing after an older college boy. Heavens, though, he was all Grace ever wanted in a guy. Her affection for Wesley is why she’d never had a boyfriend, even though she was now a senior and about to graduate from Magnolia Academy. No other guy could measure up to Wesley Wade Roberts.

Grace had grown up to be as pretty as Macy and nearly as smart as Kate, although not as pragmatic. Other boys would ask Grace out and, as politely as she could, she’d turn them down. Grace had earned the reputation of being a prude but she didn’t care. Her heart only pined for Wesley. But she didn’t tell a soul. Over the years, she kept wishing on the stars to be with Wesley and this secret stayed in the deepest place of her young soul.

This perplexed Mama Caroline who wondered why Grace hadn’t had a boyfriend yet. When Macy was Grace’s age, Daddy was practically having to beat them away, and Lord knows how many boys Macy had gone through while at UGA. But not the Angel Baby. She just wasn’t interested in any other guy, much to Daddy Randy’s delight.

By her calculations, Grace wasn’t sure when she’d ever be able to be in the same city with Wesley again. But then, by God’s grace, during the spring of her junior year, she heard from Birdie that Wesley would have to take a ‘victory lap’ to do a fifth year of college. Grace could finally be together with Wesley in Athens, away from Mama and Daddy, and start her own life with the boy she’d longed for.

Knowing it would take good grades to get into UGA, Grace studied as hard as she could to make straight A’s. It was one of the sole reasons now that Grace wanted to go to Athens, for the promise of being with her handsome Wesley. She nailed the SATs and gained early admittance to UGA. Grace sailed through her senior year on cloud nine, for soon she would be heading to Athens and reunited with her love.

While all this was happening in Grace’s world, her sisters were off having their own adventures.

Macy had won Miss Georgia but didn’t even place in the national competition. After she’d graduated from UGA, Macy moved to New York to become a Rockette. Much to their parents’ delight, Macy was dating the son of Georgia’s governor, Campbell Brayden. Mama had told Grace she thought Campbell would propose soon.

Kate had gotten into Georgia’s Institute of Technology, studied abroad in Europe for a year, then graduated with her undergraduate degree from in three years. Now she was finishing up her master’s at Tech and wasn’t even twenty-two. The same fall Grace was applying to UGA, Kate was taking the LSAT with hopes of attending an Ivy League school.

And then, right after Thanksgiving, it was about eight a.m. when the phone rang in the Cunningham’s kitchen. Grace was wrapping up her breakfast and closest to the phone. She hit the speaker button and with a mouth full of biscuit saying, “Hello, Cunningham residence.”
“Hey, Grace, good morning. It’s Campbell.”
Grace about spit out her biscuit. “Oh, hi!” She wasn’t expecting it to be Macy’s boyfriend so early. “How are you? Is everything okay?”
“Yes ma’am. Sure is. Any chance your daddy is around? There’s something I need to talk to him about.”
“Yeah, one sec.” Grace finished chewing and swallowed hard on a big bite, knowing she shouldn’t be talking with her mouthful.
“Daddy!” she called upstairs through the foyer. “Campbell’s on the phone for you.”
“Comin’!” Randy hollered back. Grace listened, waiting for Randy to pick up the other end.
“Hey Campbell, everything okay?”
“Yes sir, all is well. I’m actually going to be in Atlanta today and wanted to see if I could stop by the house or your office to talk to you about somethin’.”
Grace was intrigued but knew she probably shouldn’t be listening.
“Angel Baby,” her daddy said, “If you’re on the other end, you can get off now.”
“Ok, sorry.” Grace clicked off.

About a minute later, Caroline came down into the kitchen asking Grace, “Who was that on the phone?”
“Campbell,” Grace said. “He was callin’ to talk to Daddy.”
“This early? Was something wrong?”
“I dunno,” Grace replied returning to her biscuit. “Daddy made me hang up.”
“Hmm,” Caroline said perplexed. Randy walked into the kitchen soon after. “What’s goin’ on honey?”
“Campbell wants to meet with me today,” Randy said. “He’s coming to Atlanta and said he wants to ask me somethin’. I’m pretty sure he’s comin’ to get my permission to propose to Macy.”
“Whaaaat?” Caroline drawled. “Seriously?”
“You bet. I do believe so.” He said, smiling, then looked to Grace. “Looks like you might be getting a brother-in-law, Angel.”

Grace smiled. Not only because she was excited for her sister, but also because she was thinking of the day when Wesley would call her daddy to ask for his permission to marry her.

August 14, 2018