Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway near Coatopa, Alabama

“The company we are working for wanted to hire two young kids who are a bit more tech savvy, and it just happened to be my wife and I. It has been great. We are out here helping to put together a …kind of an exhibit… well actually no, I guess it is an exhibit… on the Tennessee-Tombigbee River Waterway. The waterway was created back in 1985 through a series of dams, canals, locks and straightening out of the river. So we are out here videotaping and photographing barges and the waterway. Being out there on those water towers filming- it is one of the most peaceful experiences I’ve had in a long time.  You know- I did a bike trip about two years ago from Portland across the States. I surprised my family along the way, but had to stop in Tennessee because when I arrived, my grandpa got really sick and had to go to the hospital. But bike touring is for just about everyone. I remember my favorite people I saw was this couple. They had just purchased two bikes from Wal-Mart, put a child’s trailer in back, had their dog in that, and told me they were on their way to Utah! That’s the way bike touring should be done. The one piece of advice I can give is that if you can stop or do something along the way, do it.”

 

Jefferson, Alabama

“More than anything you’ve got to keep love in your heart. And make sure to go and get yourself a good education.”

Jefferson, Alabama

“We have lots of irons in the fire. We’ve got the store, a lawn service, we deliver groceries for people all over the county, and I work for the public relations department at the University. Sometimes the only time I have time to mow the lawn…my lawn… is under the light of the moon. But you know, I’d much rather be busy. There are some people in middle age who just sit at home watching television and doing nothing with their evenings. Then I know some real old people who are spry, doing things all of the time and in better health than I am. I think I want to be in that second crowd. Life is too short.” Co-Owner of Jefferson Country Store

Jefferson, Alabama

“When folks need groceries, they give me a call and I try to bring them to them. Like tonight I’m running into Demopolis to pick up groceries for a group of turkey hunters who are staying out a camp. They’ve asked for some three-inch thick ribeyes, some Digiorno’s pizzas, drinks and snacks. The requests really pick up during hunting season. I also do deliveries for some of the older folks around town. We’re brand new, so we are still trying to figure things out. The nearest grocery store is pretty far away, so we mainly want to make sure we are getting a few of the staples on our shelves people around here use. We’ve got pig’s feet, hoop cheese, souse, beer, sausage biscuits, pimento cheese, beech nut for one fellow in town who likes to chew it, and all sorts of other stuff.” Co-owner of Jefferson Country Store

Jefferson, Alabama

 

*Canines* of the Underground Railroad Episode 2: “He came here in November of last year as just a puppy with two others. They were as wild as could be. One of the little ones got hit by a truck, and some people came down a little while after and took the other puppy to the humane society to get put down. But we decided to keep this one. When the guys at the fire department saw him, they wanted to have him for their fire dog. But we were like, ‘No, he’s no Dalmatian. Dalmatians are fire dogs. This here is our store dog.’ And so that has been his name since, ‘Store Dog.’ It took some coaxing but eventually he started coming up to us a little bit. And after a little while he started prancing around here like he owned the place. He’s a little celebrity. Everyone here in this community just loves this dog. Some will stop by only to pet him or to bring him some extra food. Actually, earlier this year as a fundraiser for the humane society, we made t-shirts with his picture on them. They just flew off the shelves. We don’t have any left right now. Yeah. That’s Store Dog for you.”

Jefferson, Alabama

“The store has been here since 1957 and it is located right in the center of town. We are the dividing line between the left side of town which has the white church and community center and the right side of town, which has the black church and community center. But we are right here smack dab in the middle and are one of the only places where white folks and black folks both come, talk about their days, share a cup of coffee and just mingle. People buy groceries here, but this store is also our town’s meeting place.”

Jefferson, Alabama

“I was the postmaster here for 30 years and the very best thing about it was seeing people all of the time… and of course the pay check. Ever since my husband passed away, I don’t much like cooking for myself, so I come and get a biscuit and sausage on the weekends here from the store.”

Jefferson, Alabama

“This store’s really special. It is the heart of our community here.”

Jefferson, Alabama

“Togetherness. That’s what we really value about this town.”

Jefferson, Alabama

(translated from Spanish by someone who has not spoken Spanish for a little while): “I’m from Columbia and my husband and I met on the Internet. I’ve been here since December and we got married right over there in the little church across the street. The people here are some of the nicest I’ve ever known- the nicest and the kindest. But I do miss my family. Most of my family is still in Columbia, but one of my sisters met someone on the Internet, too, and she lives in Minnesota. And I have another sister who lives in Miami.” Her husband chimed in after the picture: “…. I was on night shift at the wood mill, so I’ve probably got big ol’ moons under my eyes right now. But I’m here!”