Evening with Author Mitch Albom - Fantastic

Many hours of hard work came to a culmination last Thursday evening, February 5, in Beaumont, Texas at the beautiful Julie Rogers Theatre when best selling author Mitch Albom came to speak. His appearance in Southeast Texas was hosted by the Todd Christopher Legacy of Love Cancer Foundation, of which I was honored to have been named publicist. It was an astonishing evening for everyone concerned.

More than 1,300 people filled the seats of the Julie Rogers and Albom did not disappoint a single one of them when he spoke about his old college professor Morrie. You may remember that he hit the best seller lists with his sensational book, "Tuesdays with Morrie," followed by "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," and his latest, "For One More Day." Albom is also an acclaimed ESPN sportscaster and appears weekly on the Sports Reporters Show on ESPN. He is also an accomplished musician and songwriter, among his many other talents.

I had the privilege of being his private host for the evening's event and was so pleased to see that Mitch is pretty much a "regular guy" when he first arrived in the green room before speaking to the waiting audience. We talked about the local area, people likely to be in the audience and his new book on faith coming out in September.  From the minute he took the podium, he had the audience in his grip.  I watched and listened from the shadows of the stage curtains.  When he finished his speech, something very interesting happened.  The audience stood to is collective feet and did not move nor make a sound.

Ted was in the audience and he was very impressed.  He said he'd never seen anything quite like it.  No one wanted to move or leave.  They simply stood in a reverent attendance.  Finally, as one, they begin to clap and clap and clap.  Mitch had agreed to sign copies of his latest book and I had the joy of again being with him during this lengthy process.  He literally met hundreds of folks, spoke with them and graciously signed their books.

It is so nice to be able to report when a well known guest makes an appearance where folks have worked hard to prepare for them that they are far more than was expected.  In this case, Mitch Albom went above and beyond  what folks thought he might be.  He is one of  the better speakers I've ever heard and Ted agrees.  He makes his audience seriously think about what he has said.  The topic was "For One More Day," and making our lives count.

WOW! 

If you ever get the opportunity to hear him, go, whatever it takes.  And, buy his books, too!