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My name is Jeremy. My father, Ralph, was born in Alabama in 1946. He attended Pell City High School and graduated in 1964. There he met Gilda. He was Class President, she was Homecoming Queen. They dated in high school and married in January 1965. They were married for 38 years until my mother passed away in March of 2003. They had four children together: Erik, Gary, Paul, and Jeremy. Erik, and his wife Mary, have four children. Gary, and his wife Christine, have three children. Ralph and his four children currently reside in Northern California.

My dad loves to tell stories. Some are happy. Some are sad. Some are in between. In my opinion, these stories are meant to be listened to when you have time. Not when you're rushing around in your daily life and trying to squeeze them in. Relax, grab a drink, and enjoy. Over the years, I've listened to these stories and realized that after he's gone, they're gone.

I began recording these stories. This is My Dad's Life.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Pit BBQ

There's a reason that authentic Pit BBQ is so tasty. Sometimes, however, it isn't always the sauce.

My First Plane Ride

It's "Bring Your Kid To Work Day". So let's go for a plane ride, shall we?

Shuckin' Peas

Work smarter, not harder.

You and Your Mother Tricked Me

Dad just got back from a business trip and was extremely exhausted. Mom wanted to go shopping, but all Dad wanted to do was take a nap. Mom REALLY wanted to go shopping.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Gary's First Driving Lesson

When my brother, Gary, was little he decided to take his driving test. Unfortunately our neighbors decided that the test course would be a great place for their home to be.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Going To California With An Aching In My Heart

In 1981, my Mom had gone to California to visit her mother who was ill at the time. She called Dad and asked if he would consider packing up with me and my brothers so we could move there and help her take care of her mother. On the way there, I almost shot my dad. I was 4.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Chinese and Mexican Food

Dad's first venture away from traditional Southern Food.

Frog Giggin'

What's frog giggin'? Listen in and find out.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

I Think It Might Have Been MLK Jr.

My parents lived in Selma, Alabama, around the time of "Bloody Sunday", and my Dad worked at a local store that was one of the first to hire an African-American woman. This story is centered around not only that story, but also includes a moment where he was visited by Ralph Abernathy(Martin Luther King Jr.'s right hand man) and an unidentified man who he thinks might have been MLK Jr. himself. They visited my Dad at his store's location to meet the woman he had hired. My uncle, Wayne(Mom's younger brother), is also heard towards the end of this story.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Segregation? No Thanks.

Dad's first job was at a gas station in his hometown. This story has a few different stories intertwined within the main subject. To me it's an interesting first-hand look at how things were back in the 60's in Alabama. If you are easily offended, this story isn't for you. If you feel the need to interpret this story in a negative light in regards to my father, I can easily tell you what to do and where you can go. Take it for what it is... a story that sheds light on what it was like growing up in a segregated society. Confused on where my Dad, or my family, stands on the issue of segregation or race? Refer to the title of this story.