Although technically I spent the first 22 years of my existance in central Mississippi, and three months ago chased a job to Illinois,  I do not miss a beat by answering “Memphis” as soon as people ask where I am from. Which happens quite frequently since I have a tendency to wear my Southern accent on my sleeve like a badge of honor.  The nine years I spent in the city have made an impact on me I can’t shake, don’t want to shake, and if you ask me ten years from now I’ll probably still try to pass myself off as a lifelong Memphian.

So why am I so passionate about Memphis? Because to those of us who open our eyes to the Memphis experience, the place has unmistakable SOUL oozing out of every nook and cranny. It’s what makes the music and the food and the people - and yes - the basketball, so legendary. Memphis’ history is complex, with some undeniably low-low moments – but the city always overcomes and channels adversity into great accomplishments. Memphis jewels like Sun Studios, Stax Records, The Peabody, FedEx, St. Jude and the myriad of world-class barbecue joints are not why we are a great city – these icons were born because of the inspiration, determination and, for lack of a better word, heart, found in Memphis. You taste the city’s soul in each bite of your half slab, hear it in each heart-breaking note Otis sang and B.B. played and cheer for it at each Memphis Tigers game (probably while tearily jumping up and down and hugging a complete stranger in a pub). The people in Memphis are real … wonderfully diverse, humble and passionate about what they do. And what they have created and continue to share with the world is just magic.

Now if I could just bottle that and bring it with me to the midwest …

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