About this year's Christmas card... entitled OUT BACK. When Eddie came to Huntsville in 1958, housing was not available, although he did manage to find an empty cabin in the Monte Sano State Park. These dwellings were made out of sandstone and laid by the CCC boys in the 1930's. But when Eddie started receiving mail addressed to him at the cabin the Ranger told him he would have to go as these were not intended for permanent residence.
The Huntsville Chamber of Commerce was taking names of those families that were interested in renting out a room. So Eddie was given the names of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gentry on Oakwood Avenue. Eddie went to check out this possibility, but what he didn't know was that Mrs. Gentry had not informed her husband of what she had done. So as Eddie says he was on his best behavior. The Gentrys accepted this roomer and they became Eddie's family for the next twelve years.
It was during this time that Mrs. Gentry asked "How do you get started when you make a sketch?" So Eddie told her to step OUT BACK and he would show her. This is the scene from the Gentry's back door step.
It is to the memory of this fine, elderly, typically Southern couple that Eddie and I dedicate this year's Christmas card.
EDDIE & CAROLE ROSENFELD
1995