When we left Washington and returned to Nashville in 1998, I kept my connections to international oceans issues with the World Wildlife Fund and the Marine Stewardship Council.

The memory that is the most vivid is of Mark the soldier. Mark left a soldier and returned a hero.

When we examined budget issues last year, we realized if we kept going the way we were going, we would have to increase taxes 28 percent over four years and we had to look at ways to compromise.

So many users were turned off by the price. When we returned with volume, we literally left acres of tomatoes in the field.

When I was sworn in as Mayor of Nashville back in 1991, I have to admit to you that I felt for several weeks like a bit of an outsider who had somehow taken over but didn't really belong in this nice palace. I secretly wondered if the real mayor would come back from vacation one day and call the police.

An attendance committee looked at the enrollment and Pinkham still has room while Washington is quite full.