You never know what I might write on this page, or if I will get around to doimg so. It seems lately that I haven't done very much with it, but everything is still with me and I will get back to it.

I may even present my views on a particular subject, interesting items in the news or anything that I might find worthwhile.

Whether you agree or disagree with anything I might write here, you can always comment through the "Guestbook" or by email. I welcome your input.

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I'd like to take the opportunity here to recommend a couple of books to read. Especially if you live in central Alabama or have ever lived there. Most of the book takes place in central eastern Alabama near Anniston and Jacksonville. The author is Rick Bragg and the first of the two books is All Over But the Shouting. 

It is about the life he had growing up there in what I would term a very dysfunctional family, and how it influenced his life.

The second book is titled: Ava's Man. This book tells the story of Rick's grandmother and grandfather and is a prequel to the first book. Both are worth reading 

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Listen up! I have two more books to recommend. I have read the books and enjoyed them very much. For those of us that grew up in or around Roanoke, Alabama, it is a wellspring of memories. Growing up in a small town in the South in the 30s and 40s really did not prepare me for what was out there in the world. I had a lot of learning to do over the next 30 plus years. The author of one book is Billy D Smith and he grew up in the same community of the same little town in Alabama that I did. A town with one major industry; textile. Our community, a part of Roanoke, was built by the W.A. Handley Mfg for it's employees. We simply called it, "The mill village". Cotton products was its output especially during World War II. 

The title of the book is: "My Life As I Remember It; Growing up in Alabama" Publisher is Author House in Bloomington, IN and priced at $21 for hardback and $14.50 for paperback.

The second book is titled "Images of America: Randolph County" Basically, it is a book of photos from years past of Roanoke, Wedowee and other cities of Randolph County. The authors are Lois George, Paula Lambert and Wyner Phillips. Paperback for $19.99. Worth it even if you never lived in the county.

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As I write this, it is Christmas Eve, 2005, and I would like to acknowledge the passing of my very best friend. I had not seen him in about 20 plus years and had even thought that he had died about 15 years ago. I was told thiat he had and as I could not seem to locate his whereabouts I had to assume that it was true. Such are the cruelties of life.  

Apparently he had not been in the best of health for a number of years and was in a care facility when he died. We met in the first grade as desk mates and remained good friends throughout school. The Korean Police Action separated us and we only saw each other a few times over the remaining years. Then, as life often does to many of us, things change and your life changes and the past fades too much, and old friends dissappear. So to you, Charles Overton Stephens, I bid a sad farewell. I'll look for you on the other side.