I sit down at a table and introduce myself to a table of locals. They say that Huntsville doesn't truly represent the South. If I was to travel a little south or west, I would notice many undeveloped areas. Proving that it's indeed a small world, another new friend is the sister of a high school friend of mine. The guys question what the white, creamy food is.
Someone asks if it is applesauce.
Few of us had ever seen grits, a traditional Southern side dish. After the meal, we travel to the rink for the morning skate. We practice at the 6,000 seat arena, and then break for lunch. I turn around to find an old hockey teammate, Jason Mucciarone, from my Elmira College days. We chat for a while and try to catch up on old times before lunch.