| A – Home | B – Louisville, KY |
| C – Charleston, WV | D – Washington, DC |
| E – Richmond, VA | F – Raleigh, NC |
| G – Atlanta, GA | H – Saint Augustine, FL |
| I – Mobile, AL | J – New Orleans, LA |
| K – Jackson, MS | L – Memphis, TN |
| A – Home |
Louisville, KY
I spoke to my largest audience at the Louisville Rotary Club in Louisville. There were almost 100 people. I am deeply indebted to Walt Kunau and Delene Taylor for their $500 donation to the Rotary West Louisville Housing Fund in my name.
Charleston, WV
Although I visited Charleston in January, I can only imagine the beauty of West Virginia in better weather. On a stop at Drummy’s Bar for lunch, one of the locals picked up the tab upon hearing about my project. Southern hospitality!
Washington, DC
Washington is, of course, the capital city of the United States, so I made sure that I got to see as much of it as possible. I did a lot of walking around and visited The White House, The Mall, The Jefferson Memorial, The Washington Monument, and one of The Smithsonian Museums.
Richmond, VA
Well, it happened in Richmond! A news reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Bill Lohmann, interviewed me about my project. The story appeared on the front page of that influential Virginia newspaper on February 17, 2023.
Raleigh, NC
While in Raleigh, I traveled to three well-known universities: North Carolina State University, Duke University, and The University of North Carolina. I queried students at each school about the future of our divided country and got some illuminating responses.
Atlanta, GA
In Atlanta, I interviewed Joseph, a second house guest at the Airbnb. He was a fascinating Harvard grad working on a book. I also discussed the future of the United States with two students at Morehouse College, one of about 104 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the country.
Saint Augustine, FL
In St. Augustine, my former Pfizer boss invited me to stay with her and her husband for four nights. I got invited to a Saturday brunch party that went well into the night. I met some great people, including my “billiards buddies”: Bill, Nick, Jim, Terry, Dave, Joe, Tony, and Jamie, a former NFL player.
Mobile, AL
In Mobile, I soaked in a breathtaking sunset on Mobile Bay with a beautiful woman I met after giving a speech at her Fairhope Rotary Club. Furthermore, my Airbnb host’s home was the most remarkable shrine to Star Wars that you can imagine.
New Orleans, LA
During my long-awaited visit to New Orleans, I enjoyed some of the city’s famous Cajun cuisine. I also visited St. Martinville, home of the expelled Acadians from my homeland, Nova Scotia. Some locals still had relatives in Nova Scotia. I strongly urge you to read Longfellow’s classic Evangeline to understand that tragic 1750s event better.
Jackson, MS
Jackson, Mississippi. My first thought is about the civil rights movement. I met and interviewed Hezekiah Watkins, the youngest Freedom Rider from Mississippi. He was arrested in 1961, and but for a phone call from JFK to the Governor, his fate may have been something ominous. An amazing story!
Memphis, TN
Memphis was my last city on the Southern Journey. Naturally, I visited Graceland. It’s a bit too commercial for me. On the plus side, I dined on some delectable southern-style ribs at a restaurant a former resident I met in Atlanta recommended to me.