Behind the scenes

As I buckle up for a new day of exploration, I feel a sense of exhilaration.  The two planned adventures have been on my bucket list since I entered the wonderful and surprising state of Alabama.  First stop is in the quaint, historical town of Monroeville.

This morning is very quiet and peaceful as I seem to be the only one moving around this early in the day.  Even if I never watched the film or read the book, I am familiar with the story.  Over 40,000,000 books have been sold in over 40 different languages.  The birth of a baby girl in this small town will forever change the course of literacy.  Her first writing was turned away from being published.  Her second writing earned her the Pulitzer Prize and Presidential Medal of Honor.  Her name is Nelle Harper Lee (Ellen spelled backwards honoring her grandmother).  Her writing is, "To Kill a Mockingbird". 

Nelle’s hometown celebrates her in multiple ways. As I explore the grounds of the courthouse, I discover several bronze statues celebrating reading. There are also small stages on the backside where once a year the locals participate in a play acting out Nelle's writing. Inside the courthouse, one can visit a small museum and gift shop honoring Nelle. A local comes to me asking me if this is my first time in Monroeville. She then asks if I ever watched the 1960's film which won three Academy Awards. I reply, "I haven't even read the book." She gives me a verbal recommendation to do both.

I travel to a local cemetery located across the street from a church. Her gravesite is easy to spot with so many people honoring her six years after she passed.  I add a penny to the multiple pennies laid by others.  As I walk away, I smile knowing I will read the book and I will watch the film.  

 My next and final destination today was a bit difficult to find as there are no identifiable signs.  I follow the road until I am abruptly stopped by a gate.  I look around to see a security camera is watching me.  The weathered sign tells me to place $3 in a provided envelope and telephone to receive the gate code.   I feel the sense of exhilaration again as I approach a fictious town.  This town is a full movie prop for Tim Burton's film, "Big Fish" (released 2004).  I enter the town of Spectre, through a set of Styrofoam trees offering a circular entrance.  Above me are hundreds of pairs of sneakers hanging on the dead power lines. 

The dirt road is lined up with empty shelled homes.  As I follow the road to the church, I notice the buildings are quite scarred.  Later I learn this was intentionally done for the film.  There is not a lot to see as there are only six home facades and a church.  It is worth the road trip though as it is quite a unique experience to walk an abandoned movie set in the middle of nowhere.

As I begin my travel back to my home-on-wheels, I load up the audio reading of "To Kill a Mockingbird by Sissy Spacek. As she begins to narrate, I sense the feeling of exhilaration for the third time today. Furthermore, I am looking forward to my evening as I watch this book come to life in the Academy Award winning film starring Greogry Peck. This story, and the future viewing of “Big Fish” will be more enjoyable knowing I went "behind the scenes" today as I continue traveling through Alabama.