Spring Break is a weeklong recess that ranges from the end of February to mid-April. My kids, Greg Jr., Alexis Ivana, and Christopher Michael were out two weeks ago. This week my nephew Melvin J. from Winston- Salem North Carolina is out for Spring Break. He is visiting us for a week. My kids are back in school so its up to me to keep a sixteen-year-old entertained. Uncle Greg as usual will rise to the occasion. 

A couple of weeks ago to give some educational value to Greg Jr’s Spring Break I allowed him to shadow me for a day. He accompanied me and a few members of my staff to Holman Prison. The Executioner himself gave us a personal tour of the Death Chamber. It was a mountain top experience for young Gregory. Greg Jr. was able to hold one of the seven lethal injection syringes in his hands. We were all humbled by the experience. My Extern from Jones Law School Rondi was awed by the experience. 

When we left the prison we found a great place to have lunch. It was on the left side of I-65 South on top of a hill at the Atmore Exit. The chicken was excellent. We were all trying to figure out if the cook was Black. I asked the white waitress for the cook’s name. She said his name was Steve (I am not sure if that is the name she gave me). I quickly responded, Could that be Steve Johnson? She smiled and said no, he’s a white boy. He came out and we all had a big laugh. I am an expert on frying chicken and it was pretty good. It was seasoned to the bone. I felt like Randy Jackson on American Idol when a white guy sings a black guy’s song and makes it his own. I told the white guy when he came out of the kitchen, Yo! Dawg! You can really fry chicken! You made it your own man! You made it your own!   

On Wednesday, April 5^th 2006 I traveled to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia to pick up Melvin J. My toes curled with pride as I walked into the airport named in honor of my best friend C. Howie Hodges’s father-in-law, the late Maynard H. Jackson. I began to reminisce about the occasion when I was visiting Buffalo, New York to attend Howie Hodges’s dad’s funeral. I was talking with Mayor Jackson at Howie’s parent’s home when the Mayor suddenly changed topics and went into a story about Howie and his daughter Elizabeth. The room was full and as always when Maynard spoke everyone listened. Maynard said, “Greg the other night we were all here in the house and suddenly realized that we had not seen Howie or Beth for quite sometime. We began to search the house and found them locked up in the bathroom together!  I have never in my life seen two people more made for one another than my daughter and my son-in law Howie Hodges.” The room erupted with laughter. I beamed with pride, because I introduced them and served as Best man at their elaborate wedding. Howie served as my Best man and Elizabeth served as a bridesmaid in our wedding. They have been married twenty-one wonderful years. I spent a weekend with them at their home in Falls Church, Virginia and believe me they love each other! I have never seen anything like it in my life, but that’s for a later article! 

I obtained a security pass so that I could go to the gate and pick Melvin J. up. As I was walking through the corridor of the airport several Spanish-speaking people rushed over to me speaking Spanish. They thought I was Hispanic. I was dressed in a gray suit jacket; black slacks and wore a gold chain around my neck. I was also sporting my new RAMP hairstyle. I was HIP and HOP! Greg Jr. said I looked like a Ghetto Lawyer. When the Spanish-speaking people realized that I could not understand them I believe they started cursing me out. Well I proceeded to the gate and picked Melvin J up. We returned to Alabama and the BREAK is ON!

In the words of my dad, “If you don’t have money at least have class!”

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com