Footprints in the Dust: Stories From The Old Tuscaloosa Road by Frances Darnell Whited

Footprints in the Dust is a collection of short stories about life along an old country road in Blount County, Alabama before and after War II. Old family pictures, letters, genealogy, newspaper clippings, deeds, and oral history are used by the author. She searches for the historic Old Tuscaloosa Road and the people and the people who knew it. It briefly touches on old Southern traditions and the tragedy of mental illness. This is also an account of the maturation of a small, carefree girl into a responsible, accomplished woman. The early years as described evoke a yearning for times and remind the reader of what we lost as time took us into the modern era. There are lessons here, with joy, sorrow, and from time to time, a sense of bafflement; in short, these are the events and occasions which arise on our journey and help shape our lives.

At the same time, the stories provide a vivid account of the meaning of family; relatives living, working, worshipping, and playing together, True, times were simpler back then, but the issues that faced the folks of that time were no different than they are today. Many of the stories ramble at times, but taken as a whole, this book is a welcome addition to the reader’s bookshelf. Who knows, it may influence the reader to find their old family pictures and write their own stories for another generation!