I am the Bang Bang Lady

July 4, 2018

“I am the manager of this fireworks store in Seale, Alabama. I’ve been here 21 years. My boss hired a girl in skimpy cut-off shorts and a halter top to do a commercial. It was awful. I talked to my friend Jenny Smith about doing something better. She said I had to be the Bang Bang Lady. I said, ‘Hell no.’ She said, ‘Wanda, you sell fireworks and what do they do? They bang bang.’ I became the Bang Bang Lady and shook my ass on TV. As soon as it aired, people started coming through the door. One guy from Georgia came in yelling ‘bang, bang.’ He picked me up, swung me around and said, ‘I love you.’ We got crazy phone calls. Some were from religious old women who told me I need to get off TV. I told them to turn the channel. We do a new commercial every 4th of July and New Year’s. I am about to be 58 years old and still shake my ass. The commercials bring people in from all over. Today a man came in from Canada on his way to Florida. Meeting me had been on his bucket list.

My mom was abusive, emotionally and physically. That’s what makes me strong and feisty. It also opened me up to other people. I love children and soldiers. My door is always open. We have taken in so many children. I don’t like to see anyone hurt. I have let my bills get behind and almost lost my home helping others. It is just who I am. What goes around comes around. I love my job and do it all here. We lost our son in a car accident several years ago. He was 33. My boss paid for his funeral. He paid for my parents’ funerals too.

I go fishing at night for fun. We call it ‘jugging.’ We take a piece of PVC pipe, put a swimming noodle around it, and attach a line and sinker and a hook. I put chicken hearts on the hook. I caught a 55-pound catfish on that one night. It’s exciting to pull in a fish that big. I don’t want to live anywhere else but here.”

6 Comments

  1. Sher Graham

    What a wonderful article to publish on Independence Day! This is truly reminiscing of someone who has lived in the same county, city and state all her life. Not only did this article make me smile, but I had to laugh because I know where the fireworks store is and have been there decades ago on my travels. I don’t think I met her but she will always be remembered from your story, or rather her story. Happy birthday America

    Reply
    • Wanda Lamb

      This is the Bang Bang Lady.Thank you for doing such a great job.Thank you for such kind words.x Love to you all

      Reply
  2. Shannon McIntyre

    I got to meet this lady! My day has been made. Her story hit me in some emotional places. C.B stories, childhood memories, and that alligator hinting husband just made me KNOW we had to meet. We did!!! Yay!

    Reply
    • Wanda lamn

      It was great to meet you Shannon

      Reply
  3. Karen Laitman

    We are looking forward to meeting you next year. We read your story and love it. We’re coming all the way down from Pennsylvania and Delaware. Until then, God bless the USA.

    Reply
  4. Leangela

    I like your dfireworks there the best in town

    Reply

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