Hello All,
We invite you to share your individual experiences—stories, photos of you and Nall or any of your thoughts and/or memories to share on this site. These memories will become part of a mosaic of a life well lived.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
We have put together some of our own adventures with Nall. Enjoy!
Robin Blocker
(A long-time friend of Nall’s, a freelance writer and working with Ed Noriega and Brandon Rice on the updated Nall website. I live in Decatur, GA)
Baby Nall with his Tricycle
Apparently from Baba, Nall’s interest in biology started as a young boy…
Nall and I grew up together on Murphree Street in Troy, Alabama. We lived six houses from each other. Even as a little boy, Nall was eccentric. He was cute and sweet and full of vim and vigor. I can still see him riding on his tricycle up and down the street. We all had the ‘Murphree Street Disease’. This meant we were all very eccentric. We couldn’t help it, and we reveled in it.
A sweet little spinster lady lived across the street from Nall—Miss Kylie Gardner—sweet as she could be. It wasn’t until years later when Nall told me that as a little boy he would go to her house and get a bucket and stand on it and watch this sweet little old lady get dressed! She was almost blind so she wouldn’t have ever known. I told Nall that was the worst thing I have ever heard. Sweet Miss Kylie Gardner and you’re trying to look at her naked! That was the kind of child he was.
From Baba Hendricks—Nall’s cousin
The “Mayor of Verdon” outside his shop/office/pharmacy.
A wonderful memory with Nall was when we drove to the Gorge du Verdon from Vence. We left the Cocoon, Nall’s residence in Vence and headed to Aiguines, where Nall’s friends Arlette and Steve lived. The drive on the Route de la Cornice Sublime was stunning as we went through small villages and had a view of the gorgeous turquoise water of the Lake of St. Croix.
We picked up Steve and Arlette and went into town to get some provisions for the hike. We met the most unique and charming man at his shop/office/pharmacy—I coined him ‘Mayor of Verdon’. He immediately cautioned us to shut the door to keep the flies in. After purchasing some vests, lavender perfume, snacks and water we were off to the Gorge. I will never forget the mayor—a wonderfully authentic man.
At the trailhead Arlette and I went one way with Nall and Steve taking another path. We were to meet where we started two hours later. I didn’t exactly know the reason we split up but I think it was because Nall is not a fan of heights, so not enthused about going the steep route we chose.
The only drawback was that Arlette couldn’t speak a word of English, and my French was also pretty much non-existent. But we expressed ourselves very well with hand signals and gestures and had a grand time together, laughing at every turn.
We met the guys at the top and dined at a wonderful café. Nall and I reluctantly drove back to Vence and had a lively discussion about our day. I so appreciated that Nall took me on a wonderful journey I will never forget. Our time there was spectacular – short and sweet and as near to perfect as you can get. Steve and Arlette were lovely, and I think of them fondly. What a memory—I will carry it in my heart forever.
Gorge du Verdon
Artlette (left), Steve (center), Nall (right)
Robin (left), Nall (center), Arlette (right)
Artlette (left), Nall (center), Robin (right)