Valley: Last Full Day in Alabama

Wayne Clark of The Valley Times pays me a visit as I'm passing through Valley, Alabama

On my last full day in Alabama, in the small city of Valley, local reporter Wayne Clark paid me a visit this afternoon. I hadn’t planned to take today off in Valley, but upon awakening this morning after a very taxing sixteen miles yesterday, I knew I’d be taking my great host Joey Yerkes up on his offer to spend more time here.
Joey left for work this morning, and when Wayne called this afternoon, I simply assumed Joey must have made a call this morning to the local press. I later found out Joey made no such call this morning. I didn’t even know that Valley Times news existed. So, neither of us know the origin of Wayne’s call to me this afternoon. (Funny– and unusual.)
Wayne & I enjoyed a pleasant conversation over the course of about an hour. As is usual, following a good rapport with any reporter, if it appears they have the free time, I typically like to follow up by reversing the roles, asking them a series of questions about their community– as reporters often possess a most encyclopedic trove of knowledge about their hometowns. I learned some fascinating facts and perspectives about Valley, where Wayne has grown up and spent the vast majority of his life. I’m sure a book could easily be written from Wayne’s local knowledge and insight. One tidbit: The reason that Valley, Alabama is on Eastern Standard Time while the rest of Alabama is on Central Standard Time is because the mills on the Georgia side of the border have traditionally held enormous influence in the community. They wanted their local workforce to be on the same time, on either side of the state-dividing Chattahoochee River. They therefore used their political power to pull Valley, Alabama and neighboring towns an hour ahead of the rest of Alabama.
That said, while Valley is on EST, the rest of Chambers County is an hour behind. I met a school district worker earlier this week who explained to me that locals simply refer to it as “fast time” and “slow time.” It’s funny to think about showing up at 6:10 AM, five minutes early for the 15-minunte school bus ride which drops the student off at school at 7:30 AM.
Ahh, so much to live and learn throughout this great nation… I feel privileged to be experience America town by town, home by home, person by person, step by step. Flying through at 80MPH on the interstate just doesn’t do it justice. “When’s this slow truck going to get out of my lane?” is definitely not any enriching way of traveling across America. Peaking out from a fast-moving window really isn’t either.
Mood: Gratitude.
Tomorrow: Georgia