Last month, Ann and I spent several weekends traveling to and from the beach (San Destin). Beautiful weather both times in some regards–the first weekend was hot, with highs in the 90’s and the second weekend was really pretty chilly, with highs in the 50’s.
Took some photos, ate way more than I should, drove around some of the small communities, walked in the footsteps of The Truman Show in Seaside, etc. But the real telling thing to me was the trip back each Sunday morning.
What’s happening in our rural communities? The roads were dead. I guess that’s to be somewhat expected anywhere on a Sunday morning, but the church parking lots weren’t crowded either. There were so few young people to be seen anywhere. It may well have been something as simple as a strange weekend, an odd coincidence, or just some incorrect assumptions on my part. I just find it worrisome that lower Alabama has so very much to offer in some regards and so little to show the world in others.
We have extraordinary rivers, forests, historic mansions, delicious food, spectacular farm land, wild animals and so much more. We have a traditional Southern culture and language that is amazing. We have art, literature, music…. Some of the greatest writers in the world have come from the South. Some of the best music certainly so. Where are these folks now? Will we continue to produce this amazing literature, these haunting songs and this soul-stirring art?
Let me add that I’m not condemning or praising the area where I grew up. These are questions that I’d love to have answers to; thoughts that I haven’t come to terms with yet. I find a great deal of hope in the Black Belt and a great deal of beauty. I do worry, though. What is the future? Anyone?