Barber's Museum

One of my dear friends is Retired Lt. Colonel Michael Hooten. His responsibilities now are to make sure the commercial plane he is 1st officer takes passengers from one point to the next on a safe and unevent flight.

Mike and his wife, Sarah (my twin sister from a previous lifetime!), love to ride motorcycles. They have taken several trips from Jackson, MS, to the west coast of Florida, The Blue Ridge Parkway and other spots in the United States.

In 2007, Mike mentioned to me there was a wonderful museum east of Birmingham, AL, tucked away in Leeds, AL, by the name of Barber's Museum. This museum was created by one of the Barber's Milk family in Alabama.

The main structure is five floors, which take you through generations of motorcycles, bicycles and race cars with the actual product in view. You get close enough to many of these pieces of equipment you could touch them, but are requested to leave along and view. There is a small fee to enter this incredible building, but worth the price to see this collection.

This isn't one of those you see it once and you don't ever want to go back again. No, the museum changes their collection, from time to time, so you'll see something different each trip.

There are thousands of vehicles in this collection. Some motorcycles are mounted on "trees" which display more of them in a smaller amount of space.

I mentioned there are several floors to walk thru the history of these vehicles. The only floor you aren't allowed to walk is the bottom floor which houses their mechanical and body shop activities. Yes, you can look down from the other floors and get a peek at the work process on floor one, but that's as close as you get unless you have special priviledges with the museum.
One additional aspect to this museum is behind the main structure. That is the concrete race track. During my trip to Barber's museum, there were seven silver Porsche two-door vehicles on the track during their "learning process" in handling a sports car similar to the one the drivers recently purchased. I don't know the cost for this track experience, but anticipate a large sum of money.

This track is also used for both car and motorcycle races throughout the year. There is a grand stand area to sit and enjoy the races. And you can walk around the outside of the track, at a safe distance, to take incredible shots in the turns and straightaways.

Sturgis, South Dakota enjoys being the birthplace of motorcycle events and race track activity. However, the wonderful, newer conditions found at Barber's Racetrack is growing in popularity and lapping the competition, so to speak!

In the fall of the year they have their annual racing event and have several vendors which sell different motorcycle items. Haven't made that weekend yet, but hope to in the near future.

If you are on Interstate 20 east of Birmingham, AL, and have some free time, Barber's Museum would be an excellent place to visit.

Tara and Jackson Cline Wedding

Two of our dearest friends in Jackson, MS, are Tom and Joan Mize and their extended family. We have seen our children grow up for babies to college graduates, to getting married.

In 2006, Tom and Joan celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. They asked if we would travel Alaska with them on a cruise since we had been two prior times. We agreed, not knowing two years later they would move to Juneau, Alaska! I'm jealous!

On Saturday, July 3, 2010, their middle daughter, Tara, and husband-to-be, Jackson, married in Columbus, MS at the famous Hickory Sticks. This home was built in the 1820's and the first President of Mississippi Agriculture and Mechanical College (later changed to Mississippi State University) lived here.

A beautifully kept home located just north of downtown Columbus, MS. Sitting majestically at the top of a hill, on three plus acres of magnolia trees and various other trees. Being shaded and on a hill, the hot, summer day was cooler with a breeze.

Tom had two eventful days prior to the wedding he would just as soon forget. On Thursday before the wedding, one of the shutters on the front of the house fell, hitting him on the bridge of the nose. Nothing broken, just a great, red bruise.

Friday afternoon before the rehearsal and dinner, Tom had piled up a large amount of brush and tree limbs to burn. He covered the wood with gasoline and, like a good boyscout, made his fire trail. As he lit the trail, he remembered he had cleaned the paint off his legs mineral spirits. Yes, the flame flashed and Tom suffered 2nd degree burns on his right leg below the knee.

After the rehearsal dinner, Dianne and I drove Tom and Joan to the local emergency room of the hospital. The doctor cleaned out the wound, applied medicine, and finished the process with a bandage.

Pain medication had Tom sleepy and wobbly the day of the wedding. But he was prepared for the big event that afternoon.

Tom now cleans the wound twice a day with soap. His doctor in Juneau, Alaska, complimented Tom on how well he is taking this chore seriously. Hopefully, total healing will occur quickly.

Following the wedding and reception, Jackson and Tara flew on their honeymoon to Quebec, Canada.

Congratulations to both of you and enjoy Quebec and your life together as husband and wife!