I read this article this morning, while drinking coffee at my mom's house, in Flint, ironically enough. I am not totally familiar with this writer, but I thought his article hit pretty close to home. "If you don't have friends and family who love you and care about you, you will be alone."
I'll admit though, it doesn't totally explain why he is a writer for the Flint Journal...living in Grand Rapids...that's still a little bit of a mystery to me.
**Update: Answer - like me, his spouse has a good job here**
What outsiders don't get: Flint's indomitable spirit
, says Flint Journal Columnist Rickey Hampton
by Rickey Hampton | The Flint Journal
Sunday March 08, 2009, 11:02 AM
Rickey Hampton
• Read more by him.
I have been a resident of Grand Rapids for a couple of years now, although I still do business in Flint on a regular basis.
Recently, I was talking with a gentleman at my daughter's high school basketball game, and we had the typical, casual conversation. How are you doing? Do you think Catholic Central will win? Do you have a relative on the team? Where do you live and work?
It was just the typical fluff conversation as we waited for the game to start, until I informed him of my long connection with Flint.
"You lived in Flint?" the man asked in disbelief, his face twisted as if he just drank a glass of sour milk. "I know you are glad to get out of there."
I can't tell you how many times I've heard that one over the years. In some people's minds, living/working in Flint is akin to being in Siberia or, worse yet, a living hell.
"No, sir," I replied. "I loved being in Flint. I love Flint."
The man looked at me as if I needed to be institutionalized.
"Why?" he asked, noting -- correctly -- what a great city Grand Rapids is.
The gentleman didn't have to explain to me why he asked that question. I figured he probably watched "Roger and Me" at some point or heard about the state takeover, the crime and massive job losses.
And, certainly, there is no denying those things.
However, while Flint has taken its hits, which have been more like beatdowns, its people keep bouncing back.
If the gentleman had an opportunity to have met some of the people I have met during my time in Flint, he would have a lot better understanding.
I've said it for years -- Flint's greatest resource is its wonderful, hard working, resilient and caring citizens.
There simply wasn't enough time to tell him about people like Clif Turner and Norm Bryant, two long-time Flint residents who have given so much back to the community. And, I know another couple of dozen with that same passion for Flint.
I couldn't tell the gentleman about the Flint Cultural Center, and what a jewel it is. I didn't get to tell him about the incredible sports community, the legendary noon-time hoopsters at the downtown YMCA, such as Dennis Martin, John Drudi and Taylor Baker. I wish he had time for me to tell him about my golfing buddy, Dr. Julian Moore. Nor was there time to tell him about all the tremendous friendships with people like Terrence "T." Greene and George Hamo.
I wished I would've had the time to tell him about the courage of Willie McQueen, who played high school football at Southwestern Academy despite having no legs.
At least for me, quality of life is more than just city services, shopping districts, restaurants and concerts, although I wished Flint would've had more.
But I learned quality of life isn't the material things we have accumulated or the places we have been. You could live in where ever you think the greatest place in the world is -- New York, London, Paris or some tropical island.
If you don't have friends and family who love you and care about you, you will be alone.
That's why I love Flint.
But I really didn't have time to explain of all that to the gentleman. And, I don't know if he would've understood it, anyway.
