I’m writing this Sunday morning at 6:00. I will be leaving at 9:00 to drive to Montgomery for a book signing. It is a journey I am familiar with since I lived in the Montgomery area for 18 years. While Sand Mountain will always be home, Montgomery will always be my home away from home. Hence, this book signing will be less about selling books than it is about reuniting with friends.
I loved Montgomery. I enjoyed going to college at AUM (Auburn University in Montgomery). It’s a much smaller campus with fewer students, smaller classes, and you don’t have to walk a mile from the student parking area to class like I recall doing at the main campus.
There was a huge club called Lou’s Entertainment Complex. It was split into three sections: one for rock music, one for country music, and one for comedy. The comedy area was run by me. I would hire other comics and magicians, and our shows were huge. That was so much better than traveling to do shows at the comedy clubs.
I joined a fitness center the day I moved to Montgomery, and the first two guys I met that day are still two of my closest friends in life and who I will see today. Years later, I would open my own health club on Atlanta Highway in Montgomery called Neal’s Gym. Yes, I spent a lot of time thinking about that name. But there again, I met friends that I still know today.
Then there’s the Frenchman, Philippe. I worked at an antique furniture store, and Philippe had just come over from France to work there as well. His English was rough, to say the least. But I was from Sand Mountain, so my English was far from perfect. We’ve been friends ever since, and he will be there today.
And I can’t forget Melanie. I was 21 years old, in Panama City Beach, and saw Melanie riding in the back of a pickup truck. I walked up, put my hand on the side, and vaulted into the back of the truck, scaring the heck out of her and her little cousin. They soon realized I wasn’t as scary as I looked, and we had a great time. Melanie messaged last night to say she would be there.
Belinda will be there. I met her one evening when I went to my sister’s dorm to find her. I didn’t find my sister, but I found this beautiful student in the lobby with no plans, so I had to be a gentleman. We’re still great friends.
You can say I’m a hoarder. I never throw friends away.