Find: Alabama Goods

I know firsthand what it's like to be homesick, and I don't just mean the summer camp variety of homesickness. I mean the kind where there is no sun like the Alabama sun, no breeze like the Gulf breeze, and no barbeque that can satisfy. This homesick is a mental place where you would happily roll down a hill of kudzu into a barrel of prickly pinecones if only you could picnic by the Tennessee River.

This is because my first "real" job was with Ford Motor Co. in Detroit. After brief recruiting visits staying at the Ritz Dearborn, it seemed like an exciting place to start a career (suffice it to say the industry was much more hopeful at the time). Fast forward to the 7th month of a gray winter where I was practically infirm from Seasonal Affective Disorder and inadequate skills for driving on snow (boyfriend, now husband, was still in Birmingham, another impediment to coping with frozen car door handles). No wonder I finally broke down in tears in the middle of Farmer Jack's; the clerk had never heard of grits and was sure they didn't carry them. Who were these cold-enduring people? Didn't they know there was a warmer life elswhere?

Believe me, there are folks you know who are missing Alabama right now. It doesn't matter whether they are thriving in a new location they love or they are saving nickels for a return via U-haul. They're occasionally reminded of a balmy summer night or an amazing slice of pie and thinking fondly of their time here, perhaps especially during the holidays.

You can send them a little memento of home. Alabama Goods.com is a company run by two BirmighamMoms that  markets Alabama-made pottery, decorative arts, foodstuffs, and even furniture. Much of their business is in corporate gifts, but they have all sorts of items for individuals. Some of my favorites are the Birmingham necklace,  Alabama Platter, and the state-shaped cutting board.

The clay Alabama ornament above would also be a thoughtful gesture as a parting gift for relatives who have come in from out of town, since it could serve as a memento of their time here (assuming, of course, that you all will want to remember the visit).  

Alabama Goods ships anywhere, so a basket of Alabama goodies (like Priester's praline pecans, Bob Gibson's bbq sauce, Golden Flake chips, Buffalo Rock ginger ale) could bring smiles to someone who is overseas or who can't make it home for the holidays this year. Beyond this season, Alabama Goods is a great source for unique gifts for clients or customers who would appreciate receiving something specific to Alabama. They also carry collegiate merchandise, i.e., the colors and symbols of our beloved football teams and alma maters.

As for my time in Detroit, a gift like one of these wouldn't have cured my homesickness, but it could have kept me mindful of the people who were thinking of me back home. Besides my mom sending grits, my boyfriend gave me the ultimate gift for a homesick girlfriend: an engagement ring and an invitation to come home.