Last Saturday was an interesting day in more ways than one. Weather-wise, you know you’re in Alabama when you hear the weatherman say - chances of large hail, dangerous lightening, flash floods and catastrophic tornadoes is 100 percent today, 80 percent tonight and 60 percent for each day for the rest of your life. 

We’ve downgraded the chances for plague, locusts and pestilence from 50 percent this evening to 40 percent overnight. The earthquake and tsunami warnings have been lifted for now but it would be a good idea to sleep in your bike helmet and lifejacket. UFOs are expected across central Alabama.

Just like many of you, Jilda and I stayed close to home for most of the day and watched James Spann on the TV.  James, in my opinion, is the best weatherman on the planet.

When he looks at the map during these weather events, he not only gives you the path of the storm but he identifies landmarks and communities that aren’t even on the map. 

I wouldn’t be surprised to hear him say, “Hazel Jones, this storm is headed for Dolisky so you and Harold need to get your cat Tiger and get down to the storm pit right now!”

Anyhow, on Saturday night, it was hard to tell if the weather was going to be bad for us here in Walker County. We had planned to go to the Dora High School all-class reunion down at Bevill State, but I was leaning towards staying home.

I should have known that something was up when I asked Jilda if she wanted to go to the reunion. She’s a weather watcher from way back and she normally errs on the side of caution when there’s a chance of being blown to Atlanta in a funnel cloud, but Saturday night she said, yes, let’s go. 

 We headed out and when we arrived, the parking lot was full. Apparently, there was a bunch of other people who thought the weather would be OK.

We had a great time visiting with all our old friends. Jilda’s maiden name is Phillips, which makes her kin to most of the folks in Walker County so these high school gatherings are almost like family reunions.

The officers recognized each class. Bob Ellis who graduated in the forties was the oldest classmate who attended.

Then Martha Burroughs began reading the intro for the Alumnus of the Year. I got my camera ready to snap the photograph, but as she read, something didn’t sound right. It sounded almost like she was introducing me!

When the realization set in that she WAS talking about me, the blood began throbbing in my ears. I was shocked, to say the least!

The reasons they sited for selecting me had to do with my work with The Daily Mountain Eagle, the book Remembering Big, my success with Jilda as singer/songwriters, the fact that Jilda and I do an annual scholarship for a deserving student, and my work on the Dora High School alumni website.

It almost felt like cheating because I love the work I do. 

I started DoraHighSchool.com back in 2001. It was the first website I’d ever done and I had no idea whether anyone would visit the site or not. I soon discovered that they did visit, and word spread like a wildfire. 

The early success with that site, and the encouragement I received for my work, gave me courage to approach the Eagle about writing a weekly column and the book flowed from that.

On Saturday evening, I vaguely remember going to the podium to receive the award. I spoke for about five minutes though I don’t remember what I said. 

Here’s what I hope I said – I am flattered and humbled by this honor.  I love my old school and I consider my time there a gift. My hope is that I can continue to do things that reflect well on my alma mater and my community.