Babbling Along

As an Alice of Old, I often go down deep and winding rabbit holes. For those that know me, you're used to it. This particular October rabbit hole began at the Tennessee Mountain Writer's fall workshop. The speaker, Amy Wright, is a part of the Creative Writing faculty at ETSU. She's a fabulous teacher. She hit on the subject of Flash Fiction and Flash Non-Fiction. I knew immediately I wanted to explore this field. I watched YouTube videos about Flash Fiction. There is a guy w

The whole Cracker Barrel debacle was really about all the changes and maneuvering that's gone on since 2016. Some things are just sacred. Here in the South, Cracker Barrel is a big deal. It started here. It grew here. It expanded from here. That's Lebanon, Tennessee. Dan Evins and Tommy Lowe founded the first restaurant in 1969. As of 2023, there were 660 stores in 45 states. Lebanon is still the headquarters. It's fashioned after the old country stores our ancestors congrega

It was the winter of 1975. I was in Germany with my military police husband. I was six months pregnant and he didn't want to go through all the red tape and regulations that would be required if our child was born in Germany. The decision was made that I would travel home to have our baby in Tennessee. He had determined that I didn't need any cash since he would drop me at the airport in Germany and my parents would pick me up at the airport in Knoxville. It didn't occur to m

It was white. A glossy pristine white that was smooth to the touch. The bedspread was a dainty blue sateen with an attached ruffle. The room it sat in had lots of natural light and a sunbeam highlighted the bed, creating a glow around it. It was fit for a princess. My parents were touring a home they wanted to buy. They took all of us along. My Mamaw held my hand as we wandered through the upstairs bedrooms. We were exploring while my parents talked with the owner. I was 10 y

There is so much to say. Yet, I often wonder if I said what I meant or if I just babbled along and made no sense whatsoever. Even when I practice what I intend to say, the words seem to all just tumble out in an incoherent way. The only way to be certain that I have conveyed my intent, is to write it out. Sounding it out also helps. Reading my written thoughts aloud helps me to put them in order. Editing is essential. I can't edit my words as I'm speaking. It's embarrassing t