If you are not from Birmingham, or have never visited, you might wonder, “Why live there?” Newsreels of policemen hosing down protesters in the ‘60s, the pronounced southern accents, the stereotypical slow, not-so-bright person from the Deep South ...
Why do I live here? Because what you would actually find in our city is this:
A top-ranked medical community; a thriving ballet; an inspirational orchestra; a children’s zoo that provides children from all walks of life with experience and fun; an art museum surprising in its vast collection for a smaller city; a civil rights museum reminding us of past historical and cultural woes and inspirational in its reminder that we all quest for betterment in every aspect of our life; an IMAX theater; the largest iron statue in the country; amazing fine dining with multiple top-rated “Food and Wine” chefs; and a huge array of barbecue joints and “meat and threes.”
But mainly, what you would find in our city is this:
If you are sick or in need, scores of people will show up with food or to help with your children, your parents, and your pets; the emphasis here is on family and love, not money; people grow up and leave the city for college and graduate school, but the majority return to bring the diversities of their many experiences back to the city they love.
This is a small city—one where the mailman still stops to chat; the UPS drivers know the names of your children; and the baggers at the grocery know which car is yours. It’s a city where people sneak away on weekends to lakes, rivers, and the mountains to educate their children, friends, and themselves about the simpler things in life, and where not being considered a city of the stature of New York or San Francisco results in its people working hard to ensure that things only improve in Birmingham, one day at a time, one act after another.
