Southern Hospitality

Last weekend, Maki, CJ and I had the pleasure of attending the Alabama Associated General Contractors chapter-wide convention in Sandestin, FL.  Matrix Group had just launched the new ALAGC site and I was invited to present the new site at the business meeting on Friday morning.  The launch was a success and I just know this site will be the best AGC site out there.  But that's not what I want to talk about here in my personal blog.

What I do want to talk about is how real southern hospitality is.  From the moment our plane touched down and we were picked up at the airport by ALAGC's VP, Jim Rives, we felt truly welcome.  Jim and his wife, Sandy, were gracious hosts all weekend; they sat with us at the Board dinner; introduced us to Board members, partners and members; played with CJ during the pool party; took us to lunch our final day; and drove us back to the airport.

The ALAGC CFO and his wife, Daryl and Sherry Hutchins, could not have been kinder.  They, too, made sure we felt welcome, and,

 get this, they asked their children, Katelin and Hunter, to take care of CJ so Maki and I could attend the Board dinner and awards banquet.  I have to say that Katelin and Hunter defy the notion that all teenagers are cranky, sullen and uncooperative.  Katelin and Hunter were a joy.  They were sweet, they wanted to hang out with their parents, they chafed at some of their parents' rules but they knew their limits, they are interesting and accomplished in their own right, and they were amazing with CJ.  A few days after we got back, I asked CJ what were his favorite things about the trip and he said, "Katelin and Hunter."   His next favorite was Jim Rives.  Tells you a lot, doesn't it.

Well, let me tell you that we thoroughly enjoyed Sandestin.  We had fun at the beach; CJ made sand castles, buried his mommy, got buried by mommy, and played in the waves with mommy and daddy.  CJ loved fried crab claws, sweet potato fries and shrimp.  He also had his first peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread and loved it.  His new phrase from the trip is, "mama, I loved this."  And he said that a lot on this trip.

These Alabama and Florida contractors sure know how to hold a convention.  This convention was family-friendly, but there was also a lot of networking and dealing going on.  I'm going to have to figure out a way to get there next year.

Here is a video of CJ dancing at the beach.  He just loves to dance and he loved the beach!