Dateline: Demopolis ("City of the People")

[DemoTex]

DemoTex is in Demopolis tonight. West Alabama. Demopolis advertises itself as the "City of the People." I sure hope so. The newspaper of Arcadia, Louisiana is The Democrat .. but it ends there. Luigi's restaurant, across from the train station in Arcadia, was full of Clinton-hating, Gore-bashing non-Democrats. Bu$h/Cheney stickers prevailed.

Basically it is the same here in Demopolis, on the lily-white surface. However, this county (just to the west of Selma) is heavily African-American. Lacking knowledge, I'd guess the Dems do control this place. Correct me if I am wrong.

I mentioned Greensboro, Alabama to the waitress tonight (How far?, I asked), and I was descended upon. Monday's potential headline: Foreigner (DemoTex) in Spaceship (Prius) Asks Questions. But on mention of my dead relatives's names, all was cool. Everyone knew Turpin Vise (he died years ago), and everyone knew that his daughter Mary, my cousin, committed suicide in a seedy motel room in Maryville (Mary's choice of exits, via pills and vodka), California in 1990, two weeks after her wedding (Flannery O'Conner/Wm. Faulkner couldn't make this shit up .. I damn sure cannot!).

So, tomorrow I think I'll visit my 92 year-old aunt in Greensboro, Mary's mom. One of my dad's older sisters. The oldest sister is in B'ham .. she is 96. The second is in Auburn (former dean there) .. she is 94. Out of a family of ten children (six girls, four boys), all six girls live now .. in great health.

The oldest of the ten, male, died of the drink in 1970. The second oldest male, and my favorite uncle, (would be 90 now) committed suicide thinking his prostate cancer had returned (no insurance in 1992). Since a firearm was involved, an autopsy was required. He shot himself over an inflamed appendix.

Until tomorrow: Prattville perhaps? Where my mom grew up and her dad invented Dr. Pepper (Family Lore).

[DemoTex]

1. Kick ..

[Bolo Boffin]

2. Holy crap! I'm from Demopolis!

I haven't lived there since 1983. Yes, you are in the Deep Blue center of Red State Alabama. Clinton-hating and Gore-bashing is a great way to not be racist about your politics, if you're white.

The newspaper there is The Demopolis Times, and if somebody got a picture of you, you might just show up in the Society section. Demopolis is where Lillian Hellman drew her inspiration for The Little Foxes from. It was settled by the French (Napoleonic exiles) and used to be as high on the Tombigbee as you could go.

Where did you eat? The Ellis V? The Red Barn?

[Frances]

4. Wasn't Shug Jordan the Auburn football coach from Demopolis?

Jordan was coach when Auburn was #1 in 1957.

[Bolo Boffin]

5. He was from Selma.

And everybody from Selma seems to be crazy.

[Frances]

6. You are right. He was from Selma.

Not everyone from Selma is crazy. My Selma uncle was a good Democrat. Unfortunately, he was also a University of Alabama fan.

[Bolo Boffin]

7. Gasp.

I'm quite certain that your uncle knew my grandfather, Maurice Conway, of Linden. But I fear that we must never speak again.

You're an AUBURN FAN??????????

Bless your heart.

[Frances]

8. We'll have to speak again.

I lived in Linden for the first two years of my life!

I have a confession to make. I'm not really that into football in spite of growing up in Alabama. But I did get my B.S. and M.A. from Auburn, so I am loyal to the school.

[Bolo Boffin]

9. I kid, of course.

Yes, we will. :)

[Frances]

3. I'm not sure but I think Demopolis is in Artur Davis' district

Artur (Democrat) is the African American representative in the U.S. Congress who will probably run for governor of Alabama.

I grew up in neighboring Clarke County and the local paper there is the Clarke County Democrat. It was founded around the time of the Civil War when the Democrats were the opponents of Lincoln, the man who freed the slaves. It's ironic that the Democratic Party and the Republican Party have switched positions on civil liberties for African Americans.

Your post brought back memories for me. I used to visit a cousin in Prattville when I was a girl. And I attended Auburn University.

Enjoy your trip.