Maybe they weren’t all brilliant strategies, and certainly Birmingham didn’t become a Nashville or a Charlotte as a result, but I want it remembered that a real effort was indeed made from 1977 onwards. Secondly, I have truly led a charmed life; I’ve traveled widely and well, and I’ve been blessed with a great wife, six nieces, one nephew and four godchildren–plus many friends with whom we have shared much joy and laughter. I don’t want to forget any of these stories or any of these SOBs, so at the very least I plan to have this book on my night table next to me in the Nursing Home as memories begin to fade. In closing, let me apologize to any of you dear readers whom I have provoked over the years with incessant promotional schemes, harebrained ideas and never ending requests for civic donations. (Oh, and by the way, if there’s anything in this book that you think I got wrong, please feel free to write your own damn book!) Despite being deservedly considered a horse’s ass (or more appropriately, Vulcan’s ass) plenty of times by plenty of people, I would like to at least be remembered as helping bring a sense of humor to many civic projects. “Life is too short not to have fun” was my calling card and we worked hard to make things fun. Especially with all you sons of bitches described in this little book. Thank you for being part of my life and for taking the time to read these memories. “With all of our running and all of our cunning, If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.” “Changes in Latitude,” Jimmy Buffett
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