Blessed Conversation

We had an unexpected special treat late this afternoon -- an encounter we couldn't have designed. When we showed up for our 3:00 tour of the Dexter Avenue Church parsonage Jim and I found ourselves to be the only two guests of the church member tour guide. When she shared that she became a member of the church when Dr. King was pastor we realized that she was in Montgomery during the Bus Boycott and the Selma-to-Montgomery March and probably many other significant events. When she shared that she has lived all of her life in Montgomery we realized that she was here for ALL of the events we have read about and studied. Instead of another 18-minute video she graciously answered our questions about what it was like for her to be a young black girl in segregated Montgomery and a young black woman living through the struggles of desegregation. History came alive for us more in that casual conversation than in many other very well done museum presentations. We never did get to see the video and we are just fine with that!

(We weren't allowed to take a picture, but she liked us enough to let us sit in MLK's dining room chair around the table where not only many meals were eaten and meetings held, but the SNLC was formed. I realize that may not be too exciting for most of you, but for history geeks like us, that was a memorable moment.)