One final descent to Birmingham

I always thought it was the steepest hill in the city because the rumble of overhead airplanes seemed to shake the leaves from the trees.

They were always on their descent into Birmingham, landing gear already deploying. I wrote about Austin Way in a book I published in 2017 and, six years later, it’s time to update that story.

Before my grandmother moved there, she had lived on 85th Street South, walking distance to the former Banks High School and Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. At some point during my childhood, she moved to Austin Way, to a smaller home with a distant view of the downtown lights. This home’s backyard did not have space for even a croquet match, but an open field across the street served as our baseball and football field at Thanksgiving.

My family kept the home after my grandmother moved to an assisted living community, but no one lived there until 2012, when I moved in. It became the first home for my wife, Jessica, and me. It’s where we drove after we got married, where I typed enough articles to earn carpal tunnel syndrome, where Jessica completed her master’s degree. It’s where I never quite fine-tuned my short game with a sand wedge and golf balls across the street, where I always stopped to stare at the airplanes.

After a year in that house, we found a bigger one we could grow into, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. We bought it, and teared up the day we moved. My grandmother’s house was two bedrooms and two bathrooms, with barely a yard to speak of, no neighbors younger than fifty, and the washer and dryer were crammed in our stifling onecar garage. But a house holds so much more than possessions and conveniences. It holds fudge and piano songs at Christmas, childhood sleepovers, fun birthdays and countless memories. There were many of those in that house.

A family friend lived there for a while, and he even had the bathrooms updated and new flooring put down in the kitchen. He moved out when my mother-in-law made the permanent move from Florida to Birmingham in 2016. She purchased the home and lived there until 2022.

The evening before the closing on the sale of the home, I brought my lawnmower over to cut the backyard one final time. It took five minutes, but I cut it on the 3.0 deck setting, then 2.0, and then 1.0. I had more on my to-do list that night, so I didn’t stay long after running over the grass three times, but I did walk in each room to just sort of remember the past.

I backed out of the driveway and stopped at the Austin Way street sign to take a couple photos. The white letters were cracking and the silver pole was half-brown with rust. I climbed back into my truck and turned left to head down the hill and out of the neighborhood. I heard a roar overhead and looked through my windshield to see an airplane making its way home to Birmingham.

One final descent.

Gary Lloyd is the author of six books and a contributing writer to the Cahaba Sun.

Trussville Public Library

Thursdays: Children’s storytime. 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Join Ms. Alicia for summer-themed stories, songs, bubble time and lots of fun. Birth through pre-K.

June 2: Summer Reading Kick-Off Party. 5-7 p.m.

Join us in the Masonic Park located behind the Trussville Public Library for activities and treats for all ages. Pick up information about this year's summer reading challenge and upcoming events. Petting zoo, laser tag, lawn games and live music. Food trucks will be available during the event.

June 5: Puzzle Competition. 6-8 p.m. Do you think you could complete a puzzle in an hour and a half? Get a team together (up to five people per team) and compete against other teams for your chance to prove you are the ultimate puzzlers. Winning team gets a prize. Ages 18 and older.

June 6: McWane Science Programs. K-6th grades, 10:30-11:30; 6th-12th grade, 2-3 p.m. Learn how international teams of scientists have joined forces to meet the world’s most daunting challenges.

June 6, 20: Ceramics with Norma. 6-7:45 p.m.

Create your own decorative ceramic piece! This is a two-part class. You will create your piece during session 1 and then paint/ decorate during session 2. Ages 18 and older.

June 8, 22: Teen D&D. Group 1, 2-4 p.m. Group 2, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Dungeons and Dragons is a classic tabletop roleplaying game that encourages creativity and cooperation. Both groups will run the same campaign, so please only sign up for one of them. Registration required. 6th-12th grades.

June 8: Interactive Bee Class for Kids. 4-5 p.m. Interested in learning about bees? Foxhound Bee Company loves sharing about bees in a safe way, and they will be here to provide a class just for kids. Space is limited. Registration is required. K-6th grades.

June 8: Community Art Craft Night. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Everyone will get a puzzle piece to paint that will be put together and displayed in the Adult Department of the library. Ages 18 and older.

June 10: Pop Art with Michael Albert. 1-3:30 p.m. Mr. Albert is a pop artist and author from New York who utilizes junk mail, magazines and primarily cereal boxes to create his works. He will bring supplies and his knowledge of collages to help us all to make our own works of art. 6th-12th grades.

June 12: Books & Brews. 7:15-8:15 p.m. An evening Adult Book Club meeting in the event room at Ferus Artisan Ales. Connect with your community and share your thoughts about this month's book while enjoying delicious food and drinks. June’s title is “Devolution” by Max Brooks. Ages 18 and older.

June 13: Yasu Ishida. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Combining traditional Japanese theater, music, origami, magic and storytelling, Yasu Ishida will guide us to the enchanting land of Japan. K-6th grades.

June 13: Origami with Yasu Ishida. 2-3 p.m. If you are interested in learning some basic origami or are more experienced and looking to refine your skills, this is a great class for you. 6th-12th grades.

June 13: “Golden Girls” Trivia. 6-7 p.m. Thank you for being a friend. Grab some friends and form a team to test your knowledge against other fans. Prizes will be given for best team name, best costume and for overall “Golden Girls” trivia grandmaster. Ages 18 and older.

June 15: Friendship Adventure with Barry Mitchell Show. 5-6 p.m. Sam the Turtle, Mr. Barry and Hyena the Chicken are three friends working together for laughs. K-6th grades.

June 19: Adult Henna Program. 6-7 p.m. Learn the ancient art of Henna tattoos. You will learn how to create henna designs and receive a temporary henna stain. All supplies provided. Ages 18 and older.

June 20: Zoo2Go. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Learn about animal adaptations during this show with live animals from the Montgomery Zoo. K-6th grades.

June 20: Improv with Red Mountain Theatre. 2-3 p.m. Local acting experts will be hosting an improv workshop which can help to grow your creativity and is a fun and humorous exercise. 6th-12th grades.

June 21: Adult Book Club 2023. 2-3 p.m. Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month. We will read a variety of selections, both fiction and nonfiction. This month’s title is “Two Nights in Lisbon” by Chris Pavone. Ages 18 and older.

June 21: Smash Bros. Ultimate Duos Tournament. 4-5:30 p.m. This tournament requires you to sign up with a partner as your guest. Please coordinate with your partner to avoid duplication. 6th-12th grades.

June 22: Leadership Workshop with 4-H. 4-5 p.m. This program will focus on cooperation with others and includes discussions and activities related to the importance of appreciating the diversity of those around us. K-5th grades.

June 26: Cooking Class with K Marie. 5-8 p.m. Join Katrina Adams and learn how to make sweet potato dumplings. Ages 18 and older.

June 27: Beatin’ Path Rhythm Event. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Come along on an intercontinental journey with Mr. Dave in search of musical treasures. Birth-5th grades.

June 27: Beatin’ Path Drum Circle. 2-3 p.m. Beatin’ Path is a rhythm, team building and, most importantly, fun program centered around percussion. Come together with friends and make some music. 6th-12th grades.

June 29: Spies Like Us with the Anniston Museum of Natural History. 2-3 p.m. Join us to learn about the history of spies and espionage in Alabama! Are there spies among us? 6th-12th grades.

For a complete listing of summer events visit www.trussvillelibrary.com.