American Possum

American Possum A Great Southern Story told with a Southern Accent
is Just like a Big ol' Possum... It's the Tale that Grabs You.

If you're from Cullman - You know there's an art to crossing this Old Wooden One-lane Railroad Bridge near Childhaven Rd...
10/30/2025

If you're from Cullman - You know there's an art to crossing this Old Wooden One-lane Railroad Bridge near Childhaven Rd. You have to approach it slowly because you can't see if someone is coming from the other side - If you DO meet a car - One of y'all has to back up.
THEN.. Once you have the bridge to yourself - the dilemma is Speed - You wanna go SLOW enough that the rough cut lumber and huge bolts don't rattle your teeth out. BUT FAST enough that the bridge doesn't notice how much you weigh.. and suddenly decide that you're over its 4 Ton Weight Limit... Holding your breath helps...
I've crossed this bridge hundreds of times, AND It looks just as sketchy TODAY as when I started driving over it at 16 in1980.
Before THAT... I used to ride over it DAILY in a school bus... Back in 70's there was a local School Bus business owned by the Persall family that would take you to and from Cullman City Schools. And Crossing This Bridge was the Highlight of our afternoon. 😜
We learned IF you sat on the back rows... AND IF he drove fast enough... You would get catapulted 2 feet off your seat. 🙂 How you landed without chippin' a tooth... Well that was up to you.
Crossing this bridge takes you back in time - back when the world was Black and White. But even with its 1930's technology, it stands as a reminder that if you maintain a bridge it can last for YEARS.... Or you can choose to Burn Bridges and it'll take YEARS to rebuild.
Relationships are like bridges - they can be built or burnt - Some folks had rather Burn them than do the hard work it takes to Maintain them. It's especially hard to understand when family members get out their matches. Connections are a precious gift, maybe they'll realize that someday.
Till then, ALL we can do is let them know the Old Bridge is STILL there. It might look sketchy AND even though they haven't crossed it in years, it'll carry their weight.... Holding their breath is optional ❤ ❤

Today's pic showed up in my memories today. Back in June 2012 I was driving by FBC and noticed the Glitch on their sign....
06/30/2024

Today's pic showed up in my memories today. Back in June 2012 I was driving by FBC and noticed the Glitch on their sign.
Well as hot as it is out there today - I thought I'd recycle it.
MY original Caption read... "Well, If It's THIS Hot at CHURCH....."
You're welcome to put your caption ideas in the comments.
Y'all Stay cool out there!

I wasn't following the Amish around St. Louis, but I had to get a shot of them checking out the Arch. :-)
06/13/2024

I wasn't following the Amish around St. Louis, but I had to get a shot of them checking out the Arch. :-)

Monday I got to visit the Arch in St. Louis before coming home. I always look for a different angle on things, it's just...
06/13/2024

Monday I got to visit the Arch in St. Louis before coming home. I always look for a different angle on things, it's just how I'm wired.
A famous Nasa scientist, Alan Kay, once said, "A change in perspective is worth 80 IQ points."
BUT changing your perspective isn't always easy, it requires you to physically move and take a new look at the situation. It can be uncomfortable walking away from the crowd to gain that new point of view. But 80 IQ points go a long way to solving your problems.
Of all the people taking pics of the arch - I was the only on my back in the shadow of the arch. Yeah, It might have looked goofy... but so does wearing pajamas to Wal-Mart... And I don't do that, so maybe I'm OK ;p Enjoy the view

Today's sunset... We're not in Kansas anymore Toto, but we're close. I'm visiting Cody & Lisa at their place here in St....
06/09/2024

Today's sunset... We're not in Kansas anymore Toto, but we're close. I'm visiting Cody & Lisa at their place here in St. Louis.
We went to the Spirit of St. Louis Airshow today for Father's Day weekend. (I'll post pictures tomorrow - Blue Angels, F22, F35, etc.)
But more than the airshow, I was excited to see Cody, I hadn't seen him in over a year.
I really miss seeing my boys - Cody lives here in St. Louis & Carson is in North Dakota. We talk on the phone but it's not the same.
I was a very active dad - I coached them in all their sports, taught them how to shoot guns, & how mechanical stuff works - taught them tons of useless trivia, exposed them to Monty Python, rock music from the 70's and bluegrass from the 40's. How to shake a man's hand and look them in the eye.... Above all, I showed them how to walk in Love and ALWAYS Forgive, just like God forgives us.
Well MAYBE somewhere in all that, a piece of me got down inside them. I Also hope that I passed on things I learned from My Dad Robin, and my Granddads J.O. & J.T.
In the end - that's what it's all about. As dads, when we pass on, we can leave our kids our old stuff like guitars, guns, and pocketknives.
But hopefully, the piece of ourselves we plant in them, will grow large enough to make it down to the next generation.

Nope, Today's sunset wasn't taken at Lacon, but this mountain's modern name will be just as familiar to you. Lately I...
06/05/2024

Nope, Today's sunset wasn't taken at Lacon, but this mountain's modern name will be just as familiar to you.
Lately I've been researching trails made by Native Americans that later became major highways. Most of our oldest roads were originally game trails that became Indian trails - that became wagon roads - that became our highways.
Like directions us Southerners give, "Turn Right - where the old Fruit Stand used to be." ;p Native Americans used this mountain that rises 1,400 feet above the local terrain to navigate by.
The Catawba (Eastern Sioux) Indians called it "Jomeokee", meaning "great guide". It just so happens to be right beside U.S. Route 52 - That "Trail/Highway" runs from South Carolina back to North Dakota where the Western Sioux live.
Well, when the White man came - he probably couldn't pronounce "Jomeokee" right so he kept the meaning but used an English word that means "to guide"....
Today we know this North Carolina natural landmark as Pilot Mountain... And Yes, it's EXACTLY what you're thinking.
Pilot Mountain is where they got Mount Pilot on the Andy Griffith Show. Mayberry is the fictional name of Andy's real hometown Mt. Airy, NC which is just 14 miles from from Pilot Mountain, NC aka Mt. Pilot.
64 years ago the show introduced us to Mt. Pilot. And just like Pilot Mountain, The Andy Griffith show has been a landmark showing us the way to a simpler life

Back in 1974, my 2nd Cousin, Kelly Schemenauer told me a story that has stayed with me to this very day. 50 years later ...
05/17/2024

Back in 1974, my 2nd Cousin, Kelly Schemenauer told me a story that has stayed with me to this very day. 50 years later & I have never heard it told again... However, the moral to the story she told me had a time delayed fuse. I never found the story's nugget of truth till a few months ago...
It's 1921 New York, a poor inventor struggles to make a living while raising his only son. His wife, tired of his dreams of striking it rich, had left him years before. But he was driven to succeed.... he longed to give his only son a better life.
3 years later... His hard work finally pays off and his invention makes him an overnight millionaire.
Soon after, he says to his son on his birthday, "We've struggled for years and I've never been able to give you a decent gift... Name ANYTHING! And it's yours...
His son says, "Dad, I've ALWAYS wanted a Green Ping Pong Ball." Dad says, "WHAT??? Why do you want that?" The boy says, "I can't tell you".
Dad thinks - that's the dumbest thing ever and decides instead, to buy him a Pony and a saddle with real silver trim.
Next birthday rolls around...He says again... "The ONLY thing I want is a Green Ping Pong Ball."... Dad says, "That's Ridiculous" and buys him a Gold Plated Bicycle.
Next he's turning 16... AGAIN.... "Dad, I REALLY just want a Green Ping Pong ball - That's All" - "BUT why??" Dad asks. "Dad, I'm sorry - I just can't tell you." - So he buys him a beautiful - custom Indian motorcycle with gold trim...
Well sadly, as fate would have it - 1 year later the son contracts Tuberculosis - the prognosis is Not good and he only has days to live. The father is at his bedside trying to make his last days as easy as possible. SO sad that all his money is useless to save his son.
Trying to lighten the mood a bit, the dad asks, "Could you please, finally tell me why you wanted a Green Ping Pong Ball?"
The son's face brightens up a little and he tries his best to stop his incessant coughing. Choking back the tears, he says, "Dad I'm so sorry I never told you why I wanted a Green Ping Pong Ball...." His deep hacking cough interrupts again. His voice growing weaker, his dad comes closer to hear.
He says, almost in a whisper, "..the Reason... I wanted... a Green ping pong Ball was... because...."
AND THEN HE DIED. THE END.
Well, She GOT me!!! Dang it! - Just like I GOT you. ;p
I was 10 years old and THAT JOKE has stuck with me this long. I'd tell it every now and then and it ALWAYS got groans. But I never really thought of how it could be used as a parable for a life lesson.
Well it finally hit me a few months back - Here it is...
For heaven's sake...TELL YOUR STORY!!! Don't leave this world with Stories left inside you. It doesn't matter what people will think or say!! Take a chance - do what scares you - be fearless and whatever you do - Don't Be a Victim!!
Go find your Ping Pong Ball and paint it Green if you have to. Life is short.. If you're waiting on your "Chance"- You're Backing up.

Well, sometimes what you're looking for, is hiding right in front of you. Drove around Goldridge for 30 minutes looking ...
05/11/2024

Well, sometimes what you're looking for, is hiding right in front of you. Drove around Goldridge for 30 minutes looking for the perfect dark spot to "See the Light" but never could see what others were posting on FB.
Got back to the house and used my phone's camera on 4 sec night exposure and.... Thar she blows! ;p
Apparently it's not about where you are, it's all about how much light your lens lets in and how long your exposure is.
Like most things in life - There's not much you can't see if you just allow more light in over a longer period of time. Suddenly things will pop out to you that have been hidden for years.
Good or bad, it's always better to be Aware.. than to be in the Dark.

Today's sunset is brought to you by... someone who loves you very much. On a related note - They say there's a good...
05/11/2024

Today's sunset is brought to you by... someone who loves you very much.
On a related note - They say there's a good chance we may get to see the Northern Lights tonight. I've never seen them before - definitely a bucket list thing for me.

Well, It's been a while, I'm so glad to be back. Tonight's pic was opposite the sunset. (which was actually pretty) Bu...
05/10/2024

Well, It's been a while, I'm so glad to be back.
Tonight's pic was opposite the sunset. (which was actually pretty) But these clouds were so weird, I almost called James Spann. Looks like a lotta wind in those clouds - Or as we used to say in the days before we had Weather Radar on our Phones... "It's Fixin' to Come Up A Cloud". ;p
So in homage to The Wizard of Oz, I thought I'd post it in black and white. Big events in life sometimes divide how we see the world. Before the storm, Dorothy saw the world in grayscale.... Then after some time in a Polygon. (Respect the Polygon) She put on her Hard Soled Shoes and walked out into Living Color.
When we go through the storms of life... it ain't easy - but when the winds die down look for the Rainbow and the yellow brick road. ;p

Address

1912 Cherokee Avenue SW
Cullman, AL
35055

Website

https://www.facebook.com/steve.cummings4

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