Jake Simpson and his mother Kate talk about her growing up in the small town Dalton, Georgia, and she details her impactful experiences!

00:01 Hello, my name is Jake Simpson, and I'm interviewing my mom, Kate. Sorry, for the first five seconds, we're having sexual difficulties. Something just happened. We had to restart. But like I said, my name is Jake Simpson, and I'm interviewing my mom, Kate. And it's a Thanksgiving weekend on a Sunday, November 26, 2023, and we were recording this interview in our living room in Birmingham, Alabama. Mom, do you want to say hi?

00:29 Hello.

00:31 So I want to start off with my first question. I have a list of 15 questions I'm going to be asking you. And. Yeah, so I'll start off my first one. So where did you grow up?

00:42 I grew up in Dalton, Georgia.

00:44 And how was that experience, like, living there and growing up there? Would you say it was a good or a bad experience?

00:52 It was a great experience. I lived in the same house since I was four, and I was the oldest of three and had two younger brothers. And it was a great city and a great place to grow up.

01:02 Really cool. So as we now live in Birmingham today, which is a pretty big city, how was the town you grew up in, Dalton, Georgia, different from Birmingham?

01:17 It was different in that it was a lot smaller. I think I graduated with about 180 students versus the over 500 that y'all have in Vestavia. But it was the same in that there was good families and good culture and good people there, and it's a good community to grow up in.

01:35 That's really cool. So back then, when you were a kid, did you just carry money around, like, in your wallet, or did you use debit cards? Or how did you spend your money?

01:48 We had a lot more cash back then, so I remember using more cash. And at some point along the way, I got a checkbook and did a lot of writing checks.

01:58 That's really cool. How do you think that differs from you spending money today? Like, do you think now you're spending it more on credit and debit cards, or are you still using a lot of money in pocket, or how does that work?

02:11 I use a lot more credit cards and Venmoing and paying online.

02:17 And do you think that's just, like, a cause of technology evolving, or do you think people have just shifted there because they think it's easier and just more, like, accessible as carrying, like, a credit card in your pocket would be easier than, like, just carrying money, like, bulky in your pocket?

02:34 Yeah, I think it's just easier and more accessible, and people like to look online and see their balance and all that kind of stuff.

02:40 Yeah. So when you grew up in Dalton, Georgia. What did your parents do for a living to make income?

02:48 My dad was in the carpet business because Dalton's the carpet capital.

02:52 Yep.

02:54 And so he was in carpet salesman and he started a carpet core business as well.

03:01 That's really cool. And did your mom do anything or is she just a stay at home mom and took care of you?

03:06 She was a stay at home mom and also really involved in the community and volunteered at church and in schools.

03:13 That's really cool. So as we have banks today, I know there are banks back then, but did banks back then work differently for you when you're growing up than they do today or is it kind of the same?

03:27 I felt like it was more small town bank back then where you could walk in and know a person to open an account or get a loan. And these days it just feels like people are changing and banks are getting bought out. So it doesn't feel as user friendly.

03:43 I see. So would you prefer banks how they are now or did you like how the way they were structured back then?

03:49 I kind of like how they were back then.

03:52 I see. So as a kid, I know this is kind of a common question and you've probably been asked this before, but now that you're an adult, looking back on it, what did you want to be when you grew up?

04:06 I think that I thought about being a teacher when I was younger, but my dad was in the business world and he took me with him on sales calls and I just kind of like being around that environment and I thought it was really cool. So I think that shifted and had me thinking that I wanted to get do something in business.

04:24 I see. So do you think that your dream to. Do you want to grow up being in the business world like you said, do you think you still have some aspect of that right now or do you think that that dream didn't really come true?

04:41 Yes, I think that I've had a lot of different jobs along the way and that I what I'm doing now, I have a part time job and I kind of get to incorporate different things that I've done along the way.

04:51 That's really cool. So when you made it out of college, you went to college at Auburn University and how many years did you go there for?

05:01 For four years.

05:02 It's great. Did you like it?

05:04 Yes, I loved it.

05:06 War Eagle. So when you made it out of college, made it out of Auburn and had to get a job in the real world and had to separate you from your parents, be independent how did you handle that situation financially and, like, knew how to spend your money?

05:20 Well, I think it was really fun just to get a paycheck, because I hadn't really gotten a real paycheck before, and we. I had to learn how to contribute my 401k and to tithe and to pay our bills on time. So it was a good way to learn because we three of us lived in an apartment. We got to split the rent and the bills, so that helped.

05:43 Three of you being in an apartment.

05:47 With my friends Allie and Lindsey.

05:49 I see. So when you moved to Atlanta, is that what you said? Atlanta?

05:54 Yes.

05:55 When you moved to Atlanta, what was, like, your first job or, like, your first position that you took, like, to make money and, like, support yourself?

06:04 It was with a company called Hewitt Associates.

06:07 Okay. And, like, what did you do for that job?

06:11 We did benefits consulting. So people would create computer software, and we would come up with the plans and benefits for companies and meet with them and explain them and make sure the systems were working properly.

06:25 I see. So when you first got to Atlanta, you said you lived with your two best friends in Atlanta. Where did y'all first live? Like, in an apartment or a house or how did that work?

06:39 We lived in an apartment in this area called Vining's. It was real close to each of our jobs.

06:45 I got you. Did you like it?

06:47 Yes, it was a lot of fun.

06:49 That's really cool. So did y'all all, like, split the payment on the apartment, or how did that work? How did y'all pay it financially?

06:58 Yes, we all three divided up the bills and the rent each month.

07:04 And did this, like, first experience with having to, like, pay for a place to live, like, kind of teach you how, like, renting or putting a lease on a house works?

07:16 Yes.

07:17 I see. So I know that all of us have regrets, but there is anything. Is there anything so far in your life that you would do over in life if you had a second chance?

07:33 Unfortunately, I don't have any major, major regrets. I try to make wise decisions, and I maybe wouldn't have done something exactly along the way or tweaked it here or there, but fortunately, I feel pretty blessed and don't have any large, huge regrets out there.

07:53 That's great. I'm really glad that you don't have anything really holding you back or hindering you in your past, but with no regrets. Do you have any, like, favorite moments or memories in your life that have been impactful and that you still remember?

08:08 Yes, I think I remember the high Points graduations from high school and college and jobs and moving cities, getting married, having babies. And then anytime really, you have family together, whether it's a holiday or just a celebration, that's also a big memory as well.

08:25 That's great. That's great. So as we're in the Thanksgiving season right now, and this is Thanksgiving week and Thanksgiving weekend, did you have like a favorite Thanksgiving tradition as a kid or like just something that you love to do when you're a kid?

08:43 For Thanksgiving, when I used to always like watching the Macy's Day parade. I think you like the Macy's Parade and watching football games on Thanksgiving and into the weekend. And there used to always be a big movie coming out around Thanksgiving and sometimes we get to go see one that's really cool.

09:01 I kind of miss how big movies used to be. Now I feel like you just have to get them on streaming services and going to the movie theater isn't that fun anymore.

09:08 I know. It's not as big a deal as it used to be.

09:11 Yeah. So now being an adult for Thanksgiving, how old are you, by the way?

09:17 I am 45.

09:19 45 years old. So now being an adult at Thanksgiving, is there any new tradition or new thing that you found to love as you've grown older?

09:34 Well, now having kids, a lot of my traditions have involved the kids. And one thing on Thanksgiving my mom does is gingerbread houses every year. So that's been a fun tradition.

09:44 Yes, I love gingerbread houses. It's also one of my favorite traditions for Thanksgiving and just for holidays in general. So when you were in high school and college and maybe even like elementary school or middle school, did you take like any classes that helped prepare you for the real world, like spending your money or, or learning how to save or just learning how to like function like job wise in the real world?

10:12 I took, I majored in business, so I took a lot of business classes. So yes, it taught me about that. But I do wish there were more personal classes talking about personal finance or balancing your budget or things like that, because that could be helpful.

10:26 Yeah, I agree. Did you feel like you were well prepared in the real world or did you feel like, like when you came out of college or did you think that you needed more classes or more preparation to know how to handle stuff?

10:38 No, I felt like I was well prepared.

10:41 Okay. Do you think as I think I've talked to you about my AP macro a good bit and just the content that we're learning. Do you think a class like AP Macroeconomics like in high school would have helped you to see, like, this is how I can do this or this is what this means. So you didn't have to wonder like what stuff meant.

11:04 Yes, absolutely. I think it would be really beneficial and I'm glad you'll have the opportunity to take it now.

11:09 Yeah, I am too. So, like, as a child, what was like your earlier, like right now, what was your earliest memory that you remember? Like, do you have like a thing that you remember very vividly when you're younger?

11:27 I remember when I lived and I remember family moments. I remember going to the beach at a young age and yeah, just look back with fond memories on those years.

11:39 That's really cool. So you said you went to the beach as a family when you were younger. Did you travel a lot?

11:47 Yes, my mom loved to travel and she would take us places. She thought the traveling was a really good learning experience.

11:53 Yeah, I love traveling too. You haven't mentioned this yet, but you have two brothers, right?

12:00 Yes.

12:01 How did you interact with them when you were younger or how did they like help shape you to be the person you are today?

12:09 Well, they spend a lot of time getting on my nerves, so I learned how to handle that. And it was good to have siblings. I think it teaches you to be a little more unselfish and think about others and learn how to blend a little bit. One of my brothers is one year younger than me and one of them is three years younger. But we also had a lot of fun. And still today when we get together, we have fun seeing each other.

12:34 And do you think that they looked up to you? Because as I'm the oldest and you were the oldest, I kind of feel like we share the same things. As in my brothers look up to me. Do you think that they looked up to you and what you did? They kind of not just follow you, but just like were inspired by what you did and just saw that as you kind of being a role model for them.

13:03 I do, I do agree with what you're saying. You get the oldest and sometimes that's a tall task, especially for you because you've got two same sex siblings behind, you know, coming behind you. But yes, I do. I think, I think we had a good relationship. One brother went to Auburn and kind of moved that direction. So that was fun to continue that relationship into school and. Yeah, I think so.

13:29 That's great. So what were your parents like when you're a child? Like, I know that they're my grandparents now, but when they were your parents and I wasn't born yet. And you were still kid and growing up, how are they?

13:47 They were super fun. They were very social. They had a lot of good friends and they did a lot with other people, with other families. They were really involved in our church. My dad loved to play golf and my mom loved to do things in the community and play tennis. So they had a lot of fun interest.

14:05 That's great. That's really cool. So I never really got to meet your grandparents, but what were your grandparents like when you were a kid, like growing up? Like, were they just like so much fun and you loved being around them during holidays and stuff like that?

14:19 Yes, they were very fun and kind and generous and very family oriented.

14:24 That's great. So we just talked about your parents. Were your parents like different from how I see them like today as a grandchild of them, or are they kind of like the same, like caring and loving that they've always been?

14:39 I think they're the same. You can probably seem to more continual direction. Yes. With them.

14:46 Yeah, they're great. And we're just with them for Thanksgiving. Yeah. So when I was younger and I was a kid, what was I like when I was like a young child and just starting to grow up?

15:01 Well, you were very cute and you, you did have glasses when you're really young, about 1 years old, but you always knew what you wanted to do. And one thing I always appreciate about you is that you were always a leader and you weren't really a crowd follower. And that's continued to be true with you as you've grown up and gone into high school. You're pretty headstrong, which when you're younger it could be a challenge. But as you've gotten older, it's turned to be a really big asset for you and knowing which directions you want to go and having the drive and determination and perseverance.

15:42 Thank you. This is a lot. Is there anything that I've kind of grown up just like a aspect that you see me in that you didn't see me being in when I was younger, or do you think that as I've grown older there haven't been many surprises and I've just continued to follow the same path?

16:02 I think that you have made wise decisions and gone in steady directions and you've pursued interests that are interesting you and instead of bouncing around from thing to thing, you've been really involved in soccer and continued with that direction. You like taking French. So you've been on two French trips and are now in French Five, you enjoy taking some harder classes with honors and ap, so I think you do a good job to continue to make choices in those directions.

16:34 Thank you. So our final question, and we've already talked about this. You went to Auburn, War Eagle. So but when you were younger and you were kind of entering that phase from like sophomore year and up from high school, when you were trying to think about where you wanted to go to college and what did you want to do the rest of your life? And you came from Georgia, so you didn't even live in Alabama at that time. So how did you choose your college? And like, how did your college decision, like, how was it affected and what were the factors that went into picking Auburn?

17:09 Well, I really liked Auburn. I'm from Georgia. A lot of my friends were going to Georgia, but my dad had gone to Auburn. So I grew up going to visit there a pretty good bit and I always seemed to like it there, so it was a good spot. I found a major that I liked. I met my husband there and a lot of really close friends. So it was a really good spot for me.

17:32 And you said your father went to Auburn. Where did your mother go?

17:38 She went to a small school in Kentucky called Center College.

17:43 And did your dad grow up in Alabama to go to Auburn or was he like you and grew up in Georgia?

17:51 He grew up in Silicon Alabama and went to Auburn.

17:56 Was there any, like, deciding factor or thing that stuck out about Auburn that was different from those other schools? And also what other schools were you looking at besides Auburn and your college decisions?

18:09 No, I think Auburn stand out and see seemed like a really good fit. And I think I looked at Georgia and Clemson, maybe Vanderbilt, but Auburn I think was a clear favorite.

18:24 Yeah, I really like Clemson too, but big Auburn guy myself. Well, thank you for doing this interview and I'm really glad I learned a lot of stuff, especially about, like how you spent your money when you're coming out of college and like your path and how you've grown to be where you are today. And just a lot of stuff about, like when you were younger and growing up in Dalton and just realizing how much different Dalton is from Birmingham. Not even size wise, but just like community wise. So thank you for doing this interview and I'm very glad that I got to talk with you and sit down with you.

19:02 Thank you very much. I appreciate it and I'm glad you'll get to do this class and thanks for taking the time to do it.

19:07 No problem. Again, thank you and yeah, I'm done.

19:11 Okay.