The Taste of Haleyville

Andrea Porter has been a very good friend of mine since I was in 7th grade and she was in 8th. She is now living in Tuscaloosa and working on a Ph.D. in English at the University of Alabama. When I came into town (I live in Minnesota but am from Alabama, and I'm in Bama now visiting), I called her to see if she was coming to Florence anytime soon. She wasn't, so I told her I'd meet her halfway between Florence and Tuscaloosa. The halfway point was...Haleyville, AL. The emergency phone number 911 started there, as they proudly proclaim on a sign when you enter the town:

Haleyville: Where 911 Began.

Anyway, we met at the Hardee's in Haleyville and then went on to the Haleyville Diner, where we had some country vittles. After we ate, Andrea taught me how to purl, so now I can knit that stockinette square for the baby blanket. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, see this post. Andrea and I talked about dissertation ideas and all kinds of other stuff; it was a great visit. Andrea, if you're reading, I want to talk to you more often!

Oh, and a memory from childhood popped into my head today. I was driving past a sign that was advertising the Helen Keller Festival, and I thought of this time that I was in (I think) second grade. The teacher was talking about the Revolutionary War, the Lexington and Concorde battle. It was called "The Shot Heard 'Round the World." I promptly raised my hand, thinking I had something really smart and valuable to point out, and said, "But Helen Keller didn't hear it." The teacher got so angry! I know it wasn't a cool thing to say, but I wasn't trying to sass the teacher or be ableist. What I said was in earnest. Plus, Lexington and Concorde happened 100 years before Helen Keller was born. Ah, kids and the darndest things they say.