I've been everywhere. . .

I feel like that hotel commercial that says "I've been everywhere man!" In the last few weeks, I've traveled to Santa Rosa and Riverside CA; Nashville; Montgomery, Mobile and Birmingham Alabama, Abilene, Dallas and Austin Texas!

Usually I come zooming in on a plane, have dinner with my hosts, deliver the training, speech or board retreat and leave that night or early the next morning. Some days I wonder if I know where I am.

I had a break in my schedule in Montgomery and a great lady, Lydia Pickett, Director - Montgomery Area Nonprofit Resource Center of Alabama decided I needed to see historic Montgomery.

I had a fascinating tour of Civil War and Civil Rights History including: the Confederate White House; the striking black granite Civil Rights Memorial which honors those who lost their lives during the Civil Rights Movement and The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church & Parsonage, the church where Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr. pastored from 1954-1960 and began his quest for civil rights. I met a wonderful gentleman, the current pastor, Rev. Michael F. Thurman. What a legacy to uphold! He was so surprised when he took over that he still found personal items from Rev. King in the drawers. The pews are the same that were there when the church was built and during Rev. King's time.

I am a history buff and a lot of this happened in my lifetime. I think it's very gratifying to see how far we have come from a Confederate White House to a black president in the White House.

It's also a great salute to Southern hospitality that this busy lady would take the time to be sure I wasn't lonely during my time off. She was a great tour guide and I have a new appreciation for this historic town.