FROM THE PUBLISHER
ISSUE # 96 ❖ FALL 2023
South magazine mascot , ACE with publisher and creative director , Michael Brooks .
My Teacher , Ace .
LIFE HAPPENS FAST AND IF WE DON ’ T PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION , SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS MAY JUST PASS US BY .
For 16 years , I wrote this letter from my office overlooking Wright Square in the Historic District of Savannah , Georgia . I moved in October of 2005 and never dreamed that South magazine would still be here 18 years later . Armed with a small line of credit , a notebook full of sketches and ideas , and the motivation to succeed , I embarked on a mission to bring the very best publication possible to this region of the South .
A little over two years ago , I received the call that my father was fighting through some tough medical issues , and my family needed my help . You just don ’ t ignore a call like that , so I packed a few bags and headed down to Albany , Georgia with the confidence that my team in Savannah could stay the course . And since the country was coming off the heels of the worst pandemic in recent history , the lessons in remote working were still fresh in our minds .
I was glad that I had people who could hold down the fort here , but honestly , my biggest concern was for the health and well-being of my parents . I believe we all owe a debt to the ones who brought us into this world . After all , they poured their love , energy , and a lot of hard-earned money to endure the challenges that go along with raising a family .
These past two years have been my most challenging yet . And while part of that challenge came from running a business in a city over 200 miles away , the toughest part of this was not being able to see my family on a daily basis . It ’ s easy to take things like that for granted until they are gone . Honestly , it ’ s something that you just don ’ t get “ used to .” It did , however , make those tiny moments with my kids that much more meaningful .
The entire experience made me realize that it might just be the journey we should be taking the time to enjoy , not the destination . Now , I have a son in college , another a senior in high school and a daughter only a year behind him . I was blessed beyond my wildest imagination and had not taken the time to truly appreciate and take it all in . Having a family is not a right , it ’ s a privilege .
Coming home from work in Albany to an empty house on a recent evening gave me a lot of time for some soul-searching . On the one hand , I had the gift of spending time with my parents , my brother and his family to try to pay back in some small way the huge sacrifice my parents made in raising me . Nobody said it would be easy , but this experience has taught me a lot about life – specifically that I may have just let important parts of it slip right past me . But it also taught me that there is still plenty left to enjoy , if I can take the time to do it .
This family time hasn ’ t marked the only life-changing experience around here . His name is Ace , my constant companion , filling those empty evenings with a constant requirement to play games of fetch , tug-of-war , or bath time ( which can be pretty competitive when he doesn ’ t want to get in the tub ). All those things about bonding with a new puppy taught me a lot about unconditional love and the responsibility of ensuring his every need is met .
But isn ’ t that what is so great about life ? We can look back on our most challenging times and realize that may have been one of those tough lessons that our parents taught us . Those lessons ultimately helped shape who we are meant to be .
Many Thanks & Keep Reading
MICHAEL BROOKS PUBLISHER / CREATOR
16 SOUTH Fall 2023