On Saturday mornings, Heather and I enjoy tuning into the Food Network to watch Down Home with the Neely's. Years ago, when I still lived in Memphis and worked at the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, I dined at their barbecue joint on Jefferson often. Usually, whenever a group of us from the CVB stopped in for lunch, Pat would take a few minutes to chat with us. Those memories came quickly to mind this morning as my friend and former colleague, Kevin Kane aka "Mr. Memphis," made an appearance on the show and had lunch with Pat and his wife Gina.
On Thursday night, I hurried home from a church meeting to catch the second half of the Memphis-Missouri NCAA tourney game. I checked the score on my phone as I pulled out of the parking lot and, unfortunately, the Tigers were down by fifteen points. By the time I made it home, they were still losing and it was fairly clear that it wasn't going to be their night. But to the team's credit, they hung tough and whittled a 24-point deficit down to six. In the end though, the deficit proved to be too great to overcome. As Heather and I got ready for bed, I thought about my friends back home who were feeling blue as well as watching Tiger games with my dad when the Mundt brothers ran the floor with Tiger guard Elliot Perry.
The Neely's and Tiger basketball are only two of the many reasons why I miss Memphis. But the two biggest are easy: Mom and Dad. It's impossible for me to think about my hometown without them crossing my mind. Today, Dad aka Gar the editor, celebrates 60 years of grace. Happy birthday Pop. Heather, Meg and I will be thinking about you and Mom as we look forward to our next get together in the Bluff City. Let's plan on eating some 'cue at Neely's...
I have never been to Memphis, where is it?
Posted by: mike | March 28, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Not far from Ohio. Maybe you can have me on one of your podcasts and I'll explain...cheers.
Posted by: Jowl | March 28, 2009 at 11:50 AM