Atlanta? No way …

I could not think of a single reason to leave Columbia.  Plus, there were plenty of reasons to stay.

The year was 1987.  My WW (Wonderful Wife) and I were snug with three children in a nice West Columbia home.  Each of the kids was getting ready to change schools – one starting elementary, one moving up to a nearby middle school, and the other leaving that middle school for her first year of high school.

My Dad had recently passed away, and I had moved my Mother close to us.  We had wonderful friends in all walks of life.  My career in the newspaper business was promising.  The overused quip was applicable: Life is good.

Then the phone rang.  I was out of the office the first three times, and each time the written message noted a call from “Buddy Ward in Atlanta.”  Probably an investment guy, so I did not return any of his calls.  On the fourth occasion, before caller ID, I answered the ring myself.

Buddy Ward was president of Atlanta Newspapers.  Wanted to talk about my coming to work there.  It was a quick no from me.  He persisted. “Listen,” I told him politely, “I have everything right here in Columbia that anyone could want.  No interest in moving anywhere.”

No way we were moving to Atlanta.  No way.

Buddy then asked if I would visit Atlanta, meet some folks and think about it.  Politely, no again.  But he did not give up.  If he drove to Columbia would I at least have lunch with him?  This guy was nice but really hard-headed.  I agreed to the lunch but told him he would be wasting his time.

A couple days later at lunch, his opener was, “You sure are hard-headed.”  We had a good laugh.  I told him I could not imagine uprooting my family, leaving friends and everything else after living almost all my life in Columbia, not to mention 21 years at Columbia Newspapers.  He said he certainly understood.  “But,” he added, “now you owe me a trip to Atlanta.  And bring your family.”

Of course, my WW and I talked a lot about all of this.  I didn’t think she wanted to leave Columbia, putting the children in a new world, giving up a lot for a change of life in a big city.  Not to mention Atlanta traffic.  Columbia didn’t even have cars back in ’87.  No, there was no way we were moving.  No way.

But, we did decide to take up Buddy on his invitation to visit.  We rationalized it as a mini-vacation on Atlanta Newspapers’ tab.

Our Atlanta hotel reservation included a very large suite.  On the table in the foyer was a huge arrangement of flowers for WW.  And, a big fruit basket for the family.  And, jerseys and jackets for the kids – amazingly with the correct sizes for each.  And, Braves and Falcons hats and all sorts of goodies for the kids.

Nice try, but still there was no way we were moving to Atlanta.  No way.

After meeting the newspaper’s general manager and having a nice dinner, his single  request was that I plan a return visit, meet other key folks at the newspaper and then make a decision.  Just think about it.  No pressure.

We figured out the interstates and battled the Atlanta traffic to get back to Columbia.  The ride home was scary silent at times.  The key for us always has been good people.   We knew Columbia had many good people, and we had met two obviously good Atlanta people.  But, there was no way we were moving to Atlanta.  Not a chance.

Out of courtesy, we decided I should return to Atlanta one more time to close out this discussion personally.

So, I returned to Atlanta and met several others at the newspapers.  Afterwards, back in Columbia, I told my WW that obviously there are good people in Atlanta, too.  We agreed to think about things overnight.  But then I would call Buddy with our official decision to stay in Columbia.

I remember not sleeping that night.  The next morning I needed to hear from WW.  Without hesitation, she said, “I think we should do it.”

No way we were going to Atlanta.  No way.

Been here 30 years.