BOOM! Cover Profile

BOOM! COVER PROFILE BB Burnett, "Gifted Teaching"

This month’s cover profile is a woman who loves teaching her students how to love learning and what a blessing it has been. BB Burnett works with the Montgomery Public Schools as a QUEST teacher, which is the gifted program for MPS. In Alabama, every second grader is screened for gifted services and then the students are selected for the QUESTED program. Going forward, selected students in grades three through five can attend a once per week special three-hour class during a regular classroom day. BB is one of 10-11 QUEST teachers for MPS who not only teach these students but also must do the screening for every second grader each year. BB describes her work as a privilege, hopefully, inspiring her students to become lifelong learners. BB also loves her family, being married to her husband Roger for 43 years. Roger recently retired and is managing the challenges of Parkinson’s Disease. BB has been with him every step of the way helping to find ways to cope. Roger participates in programs at Metro Fitness and Tai Chi that have been especially beneficial. BB has a full life and when it comes to aging with a zest for

Roger and BB at Montgomery Sunrise Rotary

life, she’s the one! We recently Commitment to Service Award Fundraiser event spent some time with BB and had a great time getting to know her and we believe you will too.

BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e. where you’re from, education, what brought you to the Montgomery area, did you raise your family here, schools, married, family, etc.? BB: I was born in Fayetteville, NC where my father was stationed at Fort Bragg. As an Army brat, I moved thirteen times before I finished high school! Our family moved to Montgomery when my father joined the faculty at Auburn University in Montgomery (AUM) as a professor of economics. I finished college there and met my husband, Roger. We married after he finished his MBA at AUM and passed the bar. Three years later, we had our daughter Mary Catherine. I sold real estate early in our marriage, but with high interest rates, and weekend and evening hours, I did not think that line of work would be good for our marriage. I guess it was a good decision since we have been married over forty-three years now! After Mary Catherine was born, I taught preschool and my uncle strongly suggested that I pursue education as a career. After that, I completed my masters and certification in elementary education and gifted education ((which involved teaching full-time and driving to the University of Alabama on the weekends)). I have been a Gifted Specialist in Montgomery Public Schools ever since.

BOOM!: You are a QUEST teacher in the Montgomery Public Schools. Would you please explain what

Roger and BB on a date at Oak Park forty five years ago

BB with daughter, Mary Catherine at her first baby shower three years ago

QUEST is? When did you develop an interest in being a QUEST teacher and how long have you been teaching? What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a QUEST teacher?

BB: QUEST is an acronym for the gifted program with Montgomery Public Schools. To qualify for gifted services in the Montgomery Public School system students are given an IQ test and other work samples to complete. In our state, every second grader in a public school is screened for potential gifted services, and

then students There, they watched how they conducted are selected those tests for our city. By the way, that for the QUEST city facility has won an award for being in program. the top ten in the nation for clean water! Students in grades three My students went to the Montgomery through five Arboretum where some of them caught have the their first fish! opportunity to attend I have taken students to the Armory a once per where they would spend a day with an week special artist creating an individual piece of three-hour art. We often go to the Montgomery class during Museum of Art to see the beautiful art a regular works of local and international artists to classroom follow with a class by a local artist. The day. Alabama Institute for Education in the Currently, Arts under the direction of Randy Foster, I serve Roger, Mary Catherine, Steve and Amelia, BB at Steve's graduation has given me additional resources to students from the University of Alabama Law School share with my students and others in all at Garrett areas of visual arts, theater, music, and Elementary, Dozier Elementary and educators the opportunity to experience dance. I always try to have a book study Goodwyn Middle. Over my 27 years the wonder of Alabama’s diverse that incorporates the arts like Chasing as a gifted teacher in MPS, QUEST has environment. This allowed me to Vermeer and The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. given me the privilege of being a life-long spend hours and hours in the field with Basil E. Frankweiller. While learning learner in areas and topics I wouldn’t herpetologists, marine biologists, etc. about geometry, my students have taken have necessarily explored on my own. all over measurements For example, being selected for the the state. I of their facial Summer Teacher Enrichment Program at have taken features to RedStone Arsenal enabled me to spend students complete selfthirty days working with a different rocket to Dauphin portraits. scientist/engineer every day to prepare Island Sea me for teaching an aerospace unit to my Lab where For my students. Relatedly, my students and I we collected engineering have launched rockets together (some aquatic unit, Dyson of which even included “Cricketnauts!”). specimens usually sends Some years, as a part of a special and studied me one of their conclusion to our time together, I had my coastal water latest vacuum sixth graders meet at the Maxwell Air systems and cleaners with Force Base AFB Aero Club and had pilots wetlands. 25 screwdrivers, fly us over the city as they transition to The Alabama a flash drive, junior high. Nature etc. My Center students then Jackson Cole, a Huntingdon student, provided an watch Dyson brought his drone to teach students about opportunity engineers, who that field of study. When studying ancient for my are usually 20 civilizations, I have taken my students students somethings, to the Carlos Museum at Emory which to take a explain how has the largest collection of Egyptian creek hike they got antiquities in the US. Then we follow and learn interested in that up with a visit to the Dekalb County more about QUEST students rebuilding a Dyson vacuum cleaner engineering Farmers Market to see the different aquatic and how to international cultural offerings available. diversity. take apart and reassemble the vacuum Students and I have visited Paul Adams cleaner. And, then my students do it! I have attended multiple state-wide with the C.T. Perry Plant Surface Water Then, we follow up with a field trip to Legacy environmental education Treatment plant treatment plants here the Hyundai plant to see robotics and workshops that are designed to give in Montgomery after they learned how to engineering in the real world. do chemical and biological water testing.

Roger and BB in Paris

I teach my students to play chess. I love chess because it is a thinking game. It is a game of strategy. And most of all, it is a game of manners and diplomacy. My students and I put on fairs almost every year to teach others what they have learned for the community and other students. We have had a QUEST fair, Brain fair, Forensics fair, Animal Expert fair, etc.

Finally, I am a strong advocate for character education in the classroom, so I strongly encourage my students to participate in leading our school-wide United Way campaign which helps so many in our local community. My students also support the 832 K-9's Deputy Dogs that raises puppies to be trained to find missing children and people with dementia. Before they leave my classroom I have them repeat: “Do

BB and Roger on the Tube in London last December

all the good you can, with all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the times you can, with all the people you can, for as long as you can.“ Then I tell them “I love them, work hard and always try to make the world a better place”. Then, I give them a big hug (unfortunately with covid-19, the hug will go).

Having the opportunity to work with such hard working, dedicated teachers and staff at my schools is both stimulating and fulfilling. There is so much synergy between our schools! I have worked for almost 30 years for Montgomery Public Schools with no more than 10-11 of gifted specialists for 30 plus elementary schools. Another responsibility of the gifted specialist team is to screen all second graders in the Montgomery Public School System for potential gifted services. This

Roger and BB at Villa d'Este in Tivoli outside Rome

is a formidible task for our specialists but working as a team, we make it happen every year. I can truthfully say I have taught students at over a third of the district and loved every minute of it!

BOOM!: What are some of the biggest challenges of teaching?

BB: Trying to keep pace with technology and trying to be the best resource for parents and students.

BOOM!: How have you been dealing with the COVID 19 challenges personally? Can you share with us how the Montgomery Public Schools will open this fall and how it might affect your approach to teaching?

BB: We will be starting our classes virtually for the first nine weeks. Our

school system BOOM!: What are some of your favorite has purchased travel experiences? Favorite vacation Schoology to spot? Any travel dreams planned? help facilitate easier learning BB: One of our favorite trips was a using a number family trip to see some cousins-in-law in of resources for Lindau, Germany. Our family traveled all students going around Germany, Switzerland, Austria, anywhere and and Liechtenstein with them. As we were at any time leaving the next morning, that night I during these had already bathed and dressed for bed, unprecedented when our cousins begged us to come times. So, it outside. After all, it was New Year’s Eve! makes it easy So, I threw a ski jacket over my nightgown to learn on any and put a big winter cap over my wet hair, device. and we all climbed up to the top of the BOOM!: Your what happened next? Fireworks to the husband left! Fireworks to the right! To the north Roger has Family Time: Mary Catherine Palmer, Marjorie Palmer, Nui Alkire, Amelia Palmer, and to the south! Church bells rang from

Natalie Palmer, Cathy Alkire, Kay Brummal, and BB

Parkinson’s, France, from Switzerland, Germany, and what’s your Austria! It was something we will never role in helping him manage this disease? been able to resume bicycle riding. As far forget! What advice would you give others as advice, I would say, stay as active as regarding caregiving for Parkinson’s? possible (particularly with programs like We love traveling and hopefully we’ll Rock Steady, Tai Chi, etc.), keep as socially make it to Spain/Portugal next summer. BB: Roger just retired from the insurance engaged as possible, try to reduce as and investment business, and; he was much stress as you diagnosed with Parkinson’s a little over can, lean on God, two years ago. It was quite a shock to us serve others and as he has always been an active athlete Carpe Diem! and a health enthusiast, and since age fifty, he had even represented Alabama BOOM!: What in the Senior Olympics in bicycle racing. are you most At first we were in a bit of a holding passionate about? pattern because there was a nine month waiting period before you could get an BB: Inspiring my appointment to the Kirkland Clinic in students and Birmingham. But, in the meantime, a trying to be a good friend had suggested a program called disciple of Christ. Rock Steady at Montgomery Metro Fitness. It is an international fitness BOOM!: How do program designed specifically for you like to relax Parkinson’s patients. They do boxing, and wind down shouting, stretching, weightlifting, from a full day’s anything that has proven healthful to fight activities? the progression of the disease. Currently there are less than ten gyms in the State BB: At the end of that offer this program. It was such a the day I like to blessing to find out Montgomery Metro read a good book Fitness had the program and it's just a and a Christian stone’s throw from our house. Some of devotional. Steve, Amelia, Mary Catherine, Rango last Christmas the PD members come over from Auburn, Currently I’m Wetumpka, and the surrounding area to reading Anthony Trollope’s The Palliser BOOM!: Technology is a big part of take advantage of this program. Roger Novels and Sheila Walsh’s The Shelter of our lives, what’s your relationship with goes to the program as much as he can God’s Promises. I also find the jumble, technology? How does technology play a and has joined the Tai Chi class, which has crosswords and sudoku very relaxing. role in your teaching? helped his balance so much that he has mountain just outside their house. Well

BB: MPS has always provided the most up to date technology professional development to its faculty and staff. We have some new programs this year, so I am looking forward to using them with my students this year. Covid-19 has given us even more reasons to reach out virtually to my students and their parents. With technology at home, I find that we are using zoom, facetime, ordering meals, making purchases, storing pictures online, enjoying YouTube more than ever before.

BOOM!: What is it about living in the Montgomery/River Region area that you like? What do we need more of?

BB: My husband and I just love being in Montgomery! We enjoy the Symphony, Alabama World Affairs Council, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the little theaters in the area, the Museums, the Biscuits, the wonderful churches, the Fathom Met opera/movie events at the AMC Theaters, the many university speakers programs, live music concerts at the MPAC, and the food/entertainment district downtown.

BOOM!: As you’ve aged, how have your priorities changed?

BB: Every year I stress less and less. My maturing faith lets me lean on God more and everything else less.

BOOM!: Give us three words that describe you?

BB: Dedicated, enthusiastic and encouraging.

BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or other activities that grab your attention?

BB: I love cooking, gardening, arranging flowers, bicycling, and having people over for dinner.

BOOM!: Do you have time to be involved in community, civic or church activities?

BB: Being involved with volunteer activities and programs with the Junior League of Montgomery has been extremely rewarding to me. JLM supports so many worthwhile programs with volunteers and funding. It is wonderful to be a part of this group of dynamic leaders in the community. This year I cooked thirty meals every month in JLM’s partnership with MACOA (Montgomery Area Council on Aging). I also try to help with College and Career Night which brings in over 100 universities, military, vocational and technical schools from all over the country for high school students together. This year with COVID 19 it will be offered virtually. I also love being part and helping with my husband’s Sunrise Rotary Club activities.

I love helping with Children’s Church at my Church, Christchurch Anglican. Roger and I love our church family and try to participate in Bible studies, Sunday school classes, and various programs that are offered. Cooking in the kitchen has been a gratifying experience. We also enjoy having our covenant group at our home for evening prayer and dinner. With COVID-19, we do parking lot church services and even have a Bible study in the parking lot! Our church also has virtual YouTube services and Zoom Sunday school programs. Every day, I try to listen to the sermons/programs on our local WLBF faith radio to start my day off right.

BOOM!: How do you and your husband like to spend time with family? Describe your experience as a mom, can you share any motherly advice? What are your grandparent’s names?

BB: We love family! We have taken care of my parents as well as my husband’s. I try to schedule family reunions with my cousins as often as possible. Mary Catherine, our daughter and Steve, our son-in-law live in Hoover with our grandchildren Amelia (3), and Benjamin (one month old). We love spending time with them in and out of the country, at home, the beach, Callaway Gardens, even Peach Park! We love our extended family too, we are so lucky to have my sister, Cathy, and her husband, Alex Alkire as well as our sister and brother in laws, Kay & Edward Brummal in town.

As a mom, I have always been busy in the kitchen cooking for our family and others. We have hosted almost a dozen international Rotarian groups for short stays in our home over the years from Sweden, India, Portugal, Brazil, Peru, the Philippines, France and more. We even had a precious German exchange student stay with us for a year.

My best motherly advice is to surround yourself with positive role models. Always be thankful, always be forgiving and say your prayers. My grandchildren call me “Woo” which comes from a favorite aunt and they call Roger, “Boom” from the Jimmy Stewart character in our favorite family movie, Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation.

BOOM!: Many people as they age seek new experiences, a renewed sense of purpose, new goals, even new careers, how would you describe this sense of renewal in your life? Any advice for the rest of us seeking renewal? What’s the future look like for BB Burnett? How do you view the idea of retirement?

BB: I’m actively thinking of the legacy I am leaving to my family. I want my life and my work with others to be a reflection of my Christian walk with Christ. I always want to be an inspiration to young people to make the world a better place. My renewal comes from my faith and connecting with positive people who are always looking up! Retirement: I'm just not ready for it.

We want to thank BB for sharing her story with us in this month's cover profile. If you want to connect with BB, email her at burnettbb@gmail.com. A special thanks to BB's husband Roger for sharing his beautiful garden with us for the cover photo shoot. If you have questions, comments or suggestions about our cover profiles, including nominating someone, please send them to Jim Watson at

jim@riverregionboom.com.

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Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier Lake Guntersville

Bats, Salamanders & Beautiful Views

On a map, Lake the tree-seat. They even Guntersville resembles a take pictures of their skinny-blue salamander, dogs sitting here,” he slithering down into laughed. the northeast corner of Alabama from Craig’s never without a Tennessee. This vast project. We especially aquatic system created liked his gnome-like by the Tennessee “Airbnb” rental cabin, River divides Jackson Nivendale, complete and Marshall counties with Craig’s wacky discobefore meandering west lamps, a woodpecker toward Decatur. In the hole cutout, a stalactite last issue of BOOM!, from a local cave, I wrote about scenic petrified wood and an Gorham’s Bluff Inn unusually shaped piece perched high above the of driftwood—"things Tennessee Valley near kids can pick up and Pisgah, Alabama. But Lake Guntersville Sunset, photo by James Harris with RealtyPortrait.com examine, fun stuff,” there’s much more to he quipped. Then we see; so, after receiving visited Denise’s ancestral additional invitations homeplace hidden away to explore the Lake in old-growth woods. Guntersville area, Cindy Craig and Denise lived and I grabbed our bags there before building and headed north via a new home near the Wetumpka, Rockford, campground. We walked Sylacauga, Anniston behind the old home and Gadsden. I prefer place, delighted to see “scenic” routes. a quaint waterfall. Craig eased downslope to the We spent the first falls. “Want to catch a night with friends salamander?” he asked. Craig and Denise Cindy politely declined. Cornwell, formerly Craig pointed to some of Montgomery. The rocks. “See these rocks? Cornwell’s own and They’re here for the operate the Riverview salamanders.” He lifted Campground on Lake Cruising Lake Guntersville Craig Cornwell in His Tree Seat a small, flat stone. Then Guntersville, an outdoor another. “See, here’s retreat Denise inherited from her people. One easily senses the joy and one,” he beamed. parents. This 160-site RV campground devotion they share for Riverview, has been a seasonal recreational venue always waving at and calling campers Hunting salamanders is good for the for generations of families. They migrate by name. We toured the property in a appetite. If you’re ever in Guntersville, here year after year, decade after golf cart with the inimitable Craig who I highly recommend Rock House decade, and claim a favorite, familiar showed us his latest, zany creations, like Eatery located right on the main drag site beside friends or other family a seat carved from a giant, fallen tree. “I downtown at 1201 Gunter Avenue. members. “We have four generations sat it back upright, cut it off and carved We enjoyed an excellent dinner on the of happy campers—people with fond this seat out. But darned if it didn’t lawn; then hurried back to the lake memories from childhood,” Denise said. take root again and start growing limbs! and raced north in a pontoon boat as The Cornwell’s are servant-hearted Now campers come here for photos in the sun descended. After a few miles,

Denise cut daughter who frequents ball fields. intersection. Then we followed South the engine (Our grandson is torn between Sauty to Sauty Creek Campground. beside a advancing to 4th grade or going pro.) According to our cute waitress, Ashton, stone wall Afterward, we drove along Highway the popular café/country store has near a cave 277 under a serene canopy of oldbeen in operation since the 1980’s. above the growth trees to Guntersville State Following a hardy meal of scrambled waterline. Park where we were impressed by eggs, grits, crispy bacon, and large, Another boat the grand lodge and its gorgeous delicious biscuits, we continued north was already view of Lake Guntersville. According along Lake Guntersville into Jackson there with to Cindy, the lodge is a splendid County to Scottsboro for a visit to the children example of “William Morris Arts famous Unclaimed Baggage Center. standing and Crafts Style” with soaring But we found the center so congested forward its vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, with customers that we decided against bow in eager lot of glass, stacked stone going inside. However, on anticipation. Waiting for 80,000 bats to go to dinner support columns, and large the trip back to the lodge As day fireplaces throughout. along the same route, we surrendered to night, eighty thousand The entire western wall of did stop at Town Creek hungry bats emerged from the black the dining room is glass for Fillin’ Station not far from crevice—at first a few, then hundreds, wonderful sunset viewing. The the park entrance where then tens of thousands, flying by us just park has thirty miles of hiking we enjoyed animated above the surface in a frantic dash to trails, a “zip line,” and is a discussion with employee wherever mosquitoes could be found. popular conference destination. Carol about drug cartels On our voyage home, we cheered All the lodge rooms have great on the southern border. as clouds and water glowed orange, views of Lake Guntersville. It Carol and her husband fled concluding a perfect day filled with rained our entire stay at the Salamanders Found Here Laredo, Texas and relocated bats, salamanders, and beautiful views. lodge, but the combination to Guntersville to avoid No kidding. Make a reservation at of rainfall and a comfortable bed was heavily armed drug lords operating near Nivendale and go mesmerizing; so, we their former home. They much prefer see for yourself! caught up on our the bats, salamanders, and beautiful beauty sleep. views of Alabama. And so do we. May We spent the God continue to bless our beautiful next morning Last day: Sarah Stahl state! exploring with Mountain Lakes Guntersville. Chamber of Commerce For More Info Visit: Cindy discovered suggested we be sure www.campingguntersville.com a great little and have breakfast www.rockhouseeatery.com shop, Stach & at the Homecoming www.stachcompany.com Company, and Café near Langston. www.alapark.com/parks/lakepurchased a From the park, we large carrying Nivendale Cabin drove north on 277 guntersville-state-park bag that looks like a baseball for our until it became South Sauty Road at an

Jeff S. Barganier is a freelance writer and manages Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC in Pike Road, Alabama. (www.cindybarganier.com) He travels far and wide upon the slightest excuse for something interesting to write about. Contact him at Jeffbarganier@knology.net. Follow him on Instagram #jeffbarganier.

THE HOUSE ON BEARD COURT "A true story from the Greg files"

The house on Beard Court isn’t haunted, or the scene of a grisly crime.

It’s just a nice 3/2 in a cul-de-sac blessed with mostly nice neighbors.

The day I closed on the property in March of 2008, the realtor walked me to my new front door and announced she would be happy to help me upgrade when I was ready for the next house.

I looked at her, seriously, and announced “I’m going to die in this house”.

As it turns out, I’m not making my Big Exit from the House on Beard Court.

On that beautiful spring day in ’08, I didn’t see a need for anything bigger. I was a bachelor with a small dog. The master (are we really going to stop using that term?) bedroom was big, accompanied by a bath featuring a garden tub and walk-in closet. Divided by a cozy (tiny) living room, the other 2 bedrooms were on the other end and stuffed with stuff. Career memorabilia. You know the things you can’t throw away but get gobbled up at your estate sale.

I have lived in some cool homes in my

Greg and Hershey during a rare snowfall (February 2010) at The House on Beard Court

life, all of which hosted some great life memories. As sentimental as I am, I’ve gone back to these places after moving and been surprised at how un-touched I was going back.

Reality check- when the people in those homes are gone, they’re just buildings. I grew up on 77th place in Chicago. Both my parents passed in that house. It was the center of my universe until Mom and Dad were gone. 15 years after we sold it

(after Dad passed gently, in his favorite chair), I went back to Chicago for a high school reunion.

I decided to drive to the old neighborhood but was distressed to see Memory Lane had grown old. No one I knew from 77th place still lived there. The house at 4229 looked like it always did. I felt nothing when I looked at it, which surprised me. The only warm fuzzy was the manhole cover in the center of 77th place in front of the Budell house. It had served as home plate in countless stickball and softball games in my youth. I smiled as I stood on the left side looking out at what used to be our “field”, noting how small everything looked in 2010.

I’ll never go back.

The House on Beard Court was more than adequate when my wife and stepson joined me there a year after me. The “stuff” storage bedrooms had to be emptied and made functional. The 2 of them brought their stuff, so as time passed we began getting cramped. Talk of finding a larger house ensued but I resisted. After all, I promised my realtor I would die in The House on Beard Court! I can’t break

a sacred commitment like that! In 2016, we began looking around and found the space we needed with just one glitch. The House on Beard Court had an IRS lien that would need to be satisfied, so it would have to be rented while that process took place.

I hated leaving my Beard court neighbors. For years, I brought donuts for everyone on Sunday mornings and continued that tradition after we moved. I still went back on Easters to hold the egg hunts for the kids. Our dogs visited their old dog buddies. We invited old neighbors to the new place so we could remain friends.

I failed to mention my “gift” with real estate investment. My timing is abysmal.

Shortly after I closed on the House on Beard Court in 2008, the market crashed. A house that seemed reasonable at 133,000 was likely to take years to recover that price. No stress, because I bought it to live and die in it, not profit.

When I came to Montgomery in 2005, I was awaiting a contract settlement, having no savings. I drove (seriously) a Rent-AWreck while room-renting right across the cul-de-sac from the House on Beard Court.

I paid my bills on time, bought a decent car and over time took my credit score from the 550 range into the upper 700s. When I got approved for the mortgage it was like reaching the peak of Comeback Mountain! Home ownership was a pipe dream when I arrived in the River Region. When I closed on the House on Beard Court, it was far more satisfying than other purchases I’d made for far fancier and expensive properties.

I got my life back.

When the Budells moved to the House with More Space, I let it drop on my radio show I had a house to rent. A listener Facebook messaged me 5 minutes later that he was looking for something closer to his job in Montgomery. We met that night and cut a deal. My tenant took great care of my special house for a year and a half.

Being a landlord, even with a great tenant, got to be a bit much. Finally, the IRS lien was settled and the property was mine to sell. The inimitable Eddie Bader from the Goodson group took over, finding yet another great tenant while looking for a buyer.

He found one! We closed last month, and it was surprisingly emotional for me.

Real estate values in Montgomery have come back, but the house sold for 8,000 less than I paid. To me that was a win. A Florida home I bought when my daughter was born (1990) was lost to me in a 1998 foreclosure. I couldn’t sell it for what I owed: 157K (off a purchase price of 180K). That very house sold recently for 400,000. No regrets. That’s my magic touch.

Losing only 8,000 was an improvement!

The House on Beard Court still looks great inside and out. I still bring donuts to my neighbors on Sundays. Unlike other homes in my life, it will always be special- but not because Beard Court is so terribly unique. It was the road to Beard Court that made it special.

It took more than 10 years to get there, all the while constructing a new life in a new town while rebuilding credit.

With time, it will be another house in my life. It was the journey that made it special.

Climbing Mount Comeback, to plant my flag at the House on Beard Court, is the memory I’ll keep forever.

I’m just not going to die in it.

If you have a comment on this column, email me at gregbudell@aol.com. It's still fun to hear from new people!

Greg Budell lives in Montgomery with his wife, Roz, and dogs Hershey and Briscoe. He’s been in radio since 1970, and has marked 15 years in the River Region. He hosts the Newstalk 93.1FM Morning Show with Rich Thomas & Jay Scott, 6-9 AM Monday-Friday. He returns weekday afternoons from 3-6 PM for Happy Hour with sidekick Rosie Brock. Greg can be reached at

gregbudell@aol.com