Sandy “Harpo” Harpole (she/her/hers), born in Mississippi, was the last and longest owner of the now-closed gay bar known as Michael’s in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She was also the first non-male member of the Mystic Krewe of the Druids. While Michael’s was under her ownership, Harpo took pride in educating the Tuscaloosa community about what queer life truly looked like through experiencing this queer space, hosting fundraising events for West Alabama AIDS Outreach (WAAO; now known as Five Horizons) when they were just beginning and, providing a space for any- and everyone to feel welcomed and safe. Michael’s was a vital part of the queer community in Tuscaloosa and Harpo is largely to thank.

 

 

Interviewee: Sandy “Harpo” Harpole (SH)
Interviewer: Abby Rusek (AR), Nick Pate (NP), Ash Williams (AW)
Date: November 16, 2023
This is an oral history interview with Sandy “Harpo” Harpole. It is being conducted on November 16, 2023 via phone call, and concerns her experiences as a queer person living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and as the owner of the now closed gay bar, Michael’s. The interviewers are Abby Rusek, Nick Pate, and Ash Williams.
SH: Hello?

AR: Hi Ms. Harpole, this is Nick, Ash, and Abby with Dr. Giggie’s Southern Queer History class. How are you doing today?

SH: I’m good. How are you?

AR: I’m doing great. So, my name is Abby. I’m probably going to be asking a majority of the questions today. I also have Nick here with me and Ash is going to be on the other line.

SH: Okay.

AR: Alright, so I just have some beginning questions before we start. So, we just need to ask you, do we have your permission to speak with you today?

SH: Yes.

AR: Okay. Do we also have your permission to record this conversation?

SH: Yes.

AR: Do we have permission to use it as part of our website?

SH: What’s your website? I’m not sure what the website is.

AR: It’s going to be about our Southern Queer History class and we are going to have a bunch of these oral histories put up on the website, just with a short biography about you and how you are important to the queer community here in Tuscaloosa.

NP: It is the one run by Dr. Giggie and Isabella.

AR: Yes.

SH: Okay, that will be fine.

AR: Okay, and at a later date we will have to get a physical signature but we can talk about that after the recording is finished if that is okay with you.

SH: Okay.

AR: Alright, and then some more just basic questions. How would you like to be referred to? Your nickname, your full name, or Ms. Harpole? Whatever you prefer.

SH: It doesn’t matter, everyone just calls me “Harpo.”

AR: And do you have any preferred pronouns you would like us to use?

SH: No.

AR: So, you just go by she/her then?

SH: I just go by female.

AR: Alright, I gotcha. Alright, and then this is just another biography question. What was your place of birth?

SH: Mississippi.

AR: Alright, very nice. What is your current occupation if you do have one?

SH: I do small construction; well, I do remodels.

AR: Very nice. So, we are just going to basically start by talking about Michael’s.

SH: Okay.

AR: So, we are going to start with just one question that we had. If you had to describe Michael’s and what it meant to you, in a couple of sentences, how would you describe that?

SH:  Michael’s, it was just a place for everyone. Like I had everybody. Like I had straights, bis, just everybody in town. So, I wanted to make it a place for everybody to come and feel welcomed and safe.

AR: I gotcha. What drew you to buying Michael’s in the first place?

SH: Well first I had an all-lesbian bar over on 10th. The guy I was working for, he didn’t want to sell it to me, so I asked the guys at Michael’s if they wanted to sell it to me. That’s how that come about.

AR: Okay. What was your lesbian bar like? Or the one you were trying to procure before Michael’s.

SH: It was all lesbian and they would come from all over the south because there wasn’t, there was only Bill’s in Birmingham at the time.

AR: Was this in Tuscaloosa?

SH: Yeah, it was packed every weekend.

AR: Was this in Tuscaloosa or Mississippi?

SH: Yeah, it was in Tuscaloosa.

AR: What was the name of the bar?

SH: Legends.

AR: Legends, okay.

SH: Yeah, it was an old redneck bar over on 10th.

AR: You said it was called Legends and it was in Tuscaloosa. Was that just a bar that you frequented yourself? What was the interest in that bar?

SH: No, actually I was working for a guy named Jimmy Montgomery and he bought that bar. He used to own a bunch of bars in town. It was just a bar that wasn’t doing anything, and he knew I was gay and he’s like, “If I gave you this bar to run what would you do?” and I said, “I would turn it into a lesbian bar.” And I said, “You know, if I make it profitable, I want you to sell it to me in a year.” At the end of the year, it was extremely profitable and he didn’t want to sell.

AR: I’m sorry to hear that.

SH: That’s okay because it won’t run without me and that’s exactly what happened.

AR: Gotcha, and you ended up at Michael’s anyway, so all good things work out.

SH: Anyway, so I moved over there, and everybody came from there. That was an ordeal because Michael’s was mostly male-dominated.

AR: Right.

SH: So, they weren’t thrilled about me buying it and then the girls that came from legends were like “Oh we’re going to take it over” and I’m like “Y’all need to get over y’alls selves, like I’m trying to make this for everybody.”

AR: Right. So, you received backlash from the community?

SH: Yeah, from my own community.

AR: Wow, okay.

SH: I didn’t like that, but anyway.

AR: Did you sense a difference once you opened up Michael’s, that the community kind of came together or was there always some sort of divide?

SH: Yes, I mean they came more together after that. Before that, yes definitely there was a divide.

AR: Gotcha

SH: But it would feel, I mean, the divide was still always there if that makes sense.

AR: Yeah.

SH: It was better but not as bad and that’s still going on today.

AR: Do you have any theories yourself as to why there might be that divide still or even back in the day? Are there differences in the divide from when you bought Michael’s versus today?

SH: Yeah, I really, I don’t know sweetie I really don’t get it. I mean I still, to this day, don’t get it.

AR: Yeah, I don’t get it either.

SH: And I think maybe it’s just a male/female thing when it comes down to it. I don’t know, it’s just weird.

AR: Right.

SH: But it's just a lot of divides, and to me more so now in the community.

AR: Mhmm, so I want to talk a little about what you are doing in the community now. Like How do you see yourself involved in it?

SH: I’m really not baby.

AR: Yeah.

SH: I’m really not involved in the community at all anymore.

AR: Gotcha
SH: I still help with fundraisers and things like that but, it’s not, I don’t know.

AR: No, I gotcha.

SH: I’m very isolated now.

AR: I don’t blame you. So, I want to talk about your experience in the Mystic Krew of the Druids a little bit and what your experience was like as the first non-male member of that group.

SH: At the beginning, it was great, you know, because, I don’t know, because we were so focused on the AIDs epidemic. It was huge.

AR: Right.

SH: They were so focused on getting the needs to everybody, you know raising money to help with that. But then, as it got bigger, more things came out to help with. I’m not going to explain [inaudible]. Anyway, it just got, to me, to the point where the… Here’s what I always said, I said I would be in it until there was pretty much a cure which we pretty much have now. Or prevention for it.

AR: Right.

SH: So, I don’t know, the Krew was great at the time and then, I don’t know. They’re to self-centered now. To me.

AR: Okay, so what was your experience like…

SH: I didn’t mean to say that I know y’all are recording me. I still have some friends in it but I got out of it years ago.

AR: Okay.

SH: Because it was, well that’s just the truth baby.

AR: No, you got to tell the truth. So, you said you are still friends with some of the members, is that the only connection you still have to them?

SH: So far as the Krewe? Or?

AR: Yes. As far as the Krewe goes, yes.

SH: I’m not really even involved with the Krewe at all I just have some friends who are gradually coming out now.

AR: Gotcha.

SH: Yeah.

AR: If you don’t mind me asking, this is a bit of a personal question and just for any other personal questions that we ask, you always have the right to say “No.” You do not have to answer these questions, you can always stop if you need a minute.

SH: Okay.

AR: If you don’t mind me asking. What was your experience like coming out, whether that’s family wise, in your work life, with.

SH: Oh, coming out as being gay?

AR: Yes.

SH: Well, I came out to my family when I was fifteen. I thought they were going to disown me and everything. They didn’t and it's not that they were extremely supportive but they didn’t disown me. My mother said, when I told her, “Oh hell with it” knowing that, that’s what she said. So, I didn’t get a whole lot of support from my family they just knew. We didn’t talk about it. If that makes sense.

SH: I mean we just learned to hide it and just be in the world. I know that sounds weird.

AR: No, I understand what you're saying.

SH: Yeah. So, none of, I mean, none of my friends and stuff like even my high school friends they knew and it wasn’t a wasn’t a problem. I was never picked on or outcast if that’s what you’re asking.

AR: I just want to hear about your experience in general, you know, what your support system looked like, if you did have one and just, you know, your experience going through that. So, thank you very much for sharing. I really appreciate that.

AR: Talking a little bit more about your family, if you don't mind? Was your family religious at all?

SH: Yes. We’re Methodist.

AR: Okay. And did that influence your queerness at all? And how that affected you know, coming out with your family?

SH: Uh. Well, of course yeah it did. But not so much as if I had been a Baptist. I know that’s but whatever.

AR: Right

SH: Methodists are more lenient. But I have friends that really struggled with it. Um, no, I, I’m not sure how to answer that.

AR: That's okay. Do you have any like connection to spirituality in your later life?

SH: Yes. I mean I’m very spiritual

AR: Okay

SH: I mean I attend church not regularly, but I’m a very spiritual person, yeah.

AR: Okay. What does spirituality mean for you, then?

SH: I just, well, my personal connection with God.

AR: Right. Right, right. Okay, let’s see, where do we want to go? I think I want to talk a little bit more about Michael's if you don't mind.

SH: Okay.

AR: You know, actually, before we get to Michael's, in our class, we've heard a lot about Michael's, but we've also been taught about Michael's kind of in conjunction with The Chukker that was close by. And I was wondering if you had any words to describe that relationship between the two bars if there was one?

SH: Oh, yeah, we was very supportive of each other. I mean, we actually The Chukker was and Black Orchid because there was a black bar next to Michaels.

AR: Mhmm.

SH: So, we were all the kinda odd kids out, but you know. Anyway, we were all very supportive of each other. And actually, we would go over there after we closed because they didn’t close.

AR: Mmm. So, was it just like a big community of all the bars right there?

SH: Yes.

AR: That's very nice. Did you guys ever do any events like all together or was it more just one would host an event and everybody else would just kind of show up and support?

SH: Well (laughter), I think we would just support each other. We never did any kind of events or anything together.

AR: Gotcha.

SH: Um.

AR: Okay, so since the closing of Michaels, I guess I just want to hear about what that was like for you, what that experience was like for you. Before, during, after the closing. I know that’s kind of a big statement, so take it in chunks if you need to. And I can always ask for follow ups if you know you need a break.

SH: Yeah. Before, I mean everything was great. During, that was basically the city just wanted it, that’s what it comes down to. They called it uh “revival- “uh. Oh my god. Like redoing a lot of downtown Tuscaloosa.

AR: Right.

SH: And they was supposed to be taking a lot of buildings, but actually, they just took our block.

AR: Mmmm.

SH: Like nothing else around there is gone. So, where the, uh, right behind city hall, because that’s where The Chukker, I was, and Black Orchid.

AR: Mmmm.

SH: So, yeah, they kinda just took it and called it something else and we didn't get hardly anything for businesses or anything. And then two, when I tried to move or find a new location, everybody knew me, so they wouldn’t, so they were not going to rent to me. Because most of downtown Tuscaloosa and everything is Baptist owned.

AR: Right.

SH: So yeah, I was a little bitter about the whole situation.

AR: I do not blame you. I would be bitter about that, too.

SH: (laughter) So, but I mean, it was nothing. There was nothing I could do. And I didn’t have the kind of money to buy a building. That would have been the only other option. And I didn’t have enough support from anybody to do that.

AR: Mhmm.

SH: And even if I had of bought the building, everybody knew me. Um. Getting a license and a liquor license and everything, it, they would have put barriers for that.

AR: Right. Well, I’m sorry to hear that.

SH: Yeah, well, I hate it for them. You know. Community at the time. But at the time too (sighs) like everybody was, I was friends with a lot of bar owners like Catch 22, and different places so. The one thing I was proud of is I educated a lot of people in town about each other. So, when I closed, it wasn't a big deal for the gay people going to Catch or anywhere else. They were more accepted.

AR: Well, that's really great that you, you know, feel so proud about what you did for that community.

SH: Yeah.

AR: And you should feel proud about that. If you've had, like all the funds in the world, you could do whatever you want. How would you like publicly commemorate those buildings that were lost? To the revitalization project you were talking about?

SH: I don’t know. I would do some monument.

AR: Right

SH: (unintelligible audio as she is speaking at the same time as Abby) I would do some down there. I mean there’s just a lot of history. I mean, not just with us, but like with The Chukker too and you know like Chukker was one of the oldest bars in the state and just nothing. Cause they just didn’t agree with the people. So, I don’t know baby.

AR: No, I know, I gotcha. (laughter) It's a big question, but you know, that stuff deserves to be publicly commemorated. (Note: Harpo was speaking at the same time as Abby was here and what Harpo said is completely unintelligible)

SH: Gonna give you the answers you’re looking for.

AR: No, we want your answers. Those are the answers we're looking for. There are no right answers.

SH: Kay

AR: I'm kind of leading into that question. What do you think are like some of the most important locations or events or just like programs, any experiences that you know, surrounded the queer community at the time that Michaels was open? Just like what do you think a queer history class from Tuscaloosa from Tuscaloosa should teach about Tuscaloosa?

SH: (sighs) Well, I mean, really the krewe baby, it started with, with them for sure. Um, but you, you know, I don’t, that’s hard to say. I’m not sure.

AR: Yeah. It is a big question.

SH: There was, there was speakeasy bars back in the 70s here that people didn’t know about. And actually, there was down on The Strip called uh Half Dollar or something. Something crazy.

AR: Hmm.

SH: That a lot of gay people in the 70s in college went to there, but they just knew that you just didn’t talk about it.

AR: Right.

SH: And I was told that by a guy that used to come in the bar. So. And then Chukker was really, Chukker was on the space before Michael’s.

AR: Right.

SH: That I knew of too.

AR: Now this is gonna be an out of the box question. Have you been to Icon at all? And do you have any experiences with Icon compared to Michael's?

SH: Yes, I’ve been to Icon. Um, I don’t know, maybe it’s too small for me. And it don’t have a lot of heart.

AR: Mmm. I can agree with that. (laughter)

NP: Yeah

SH: I mean I’m just saying you can tell he’s in it for the money.

AR: Yeah.

SH: Cause I don’t see him doing a lot with, I don’t know like, he’s got so many more options now with the underage or having some I don’t know. Something for them or something.

AR: Mmm.

AR: Um. What would you say were like the most important queer spaces? Besides, you know, the bars if there were any?

SH: (laughter) That was really it here except for like, if you were involved with softball in Birmingham.

AR: Mmm.

SH: That was the only other thing. That was a huge thing. Was being involved with the Birmingham gay softball league.

AR: Okay. So, was there a lot of, were there a lot of queer people here traveling to Birmingham to have those queer experiences?

SH: Mhmm. Yeah. For sure. They used to have those every Sun—tournaments to play every Sunday. So.

AR: That actually sounds pretty cool. (laughter) Was it like a whole event, that you know there would be like would there be like a whole horde of people—

SH: Yeah

AR: -- just travelling every Sunday?

SH: Yeah, they played every Sunday and you know there it would be this field then that field goes on.

AR: Oh, okay.  

SH: I don’t know if the girls are involved as much as more so the guys get it going.
 
SH: And they travel all over now.
 
AR: Gotcha.
 
AR: What did those games look like? Like, did you attend any of those and were they're like-
SH: Yeah, I played.

AR: Oh, you played?  

SH: Yeah, I couldn’t do the team much (unintelligible). But, I would (unintelligible) some and I mean it was just a lot of fun. There is some – mighty, I don't know what it's called. And it might be the invisible project. Are y’all familiar with that?  

AR: Yeah, the Invisible Histories Project?  

SH: Yes. They're posting a lot of videos that they have found on TikTok.  

AR: Oh.

SH: Yeah, so y’all may want to check those out.

AR: Yeah, we definitely will.
 
AR: So, I guess I'm just interested about this softball team now (laughter).

SH: (Laughter).
 
AR: Did you, like, make any friends on the team? Did you, like, meet any people that are still in your life today? Anything, like, any really important experiences you had through that team?
 
SH: I met a lot of great people up there from Birmingham that I’m still friends with. Girls. I don’t know, I just met a lot of different people through it.  
 
SH: And I actually, one of my bartenders - well was one of my head bartenders at Michael’s - he kind of runs it now, Rodney Stan, if y’all want to try to contact him and talk to him about it.   
 
AR: Yeah, we would love to contact him.
 
SH: I don't have his contact information (unintelligible because Abby and Harpo were talking at the same time).
 
AR: That’s okay. We’ll find him.

SH: His name is Rodney Stan.

AR: Okay. That's really cool.
 
SH: Mmhmm.
 
AR: Was it just kind of, like, from people all over Alabama? Or was it mostly from, you know, specific towns or was it mostly from Birmingham? Like, who comprised-

SH: It was mostly from Birmingham at the time.  

AR: Okay.

SH: Now it's all over and now, I mean, it’s across the United States. They travel. They do major tournaments.  
 
AR: Wow, okay.
 
SH: So, yeah.
 
AR: That's pretty cool.
 
SH: Yeah.
 
AR: Okay, this is another personal question. But I guess I kind of want to hear about your experiences with, you know, the partners in your life; what love has looked like in your life? And yeah, just what your queer relationships have been like if you are open to sharing that?
 
SH: I am really not open to sharing that because I have not had the best luck in relationships.

AR: That's totally okay (laughter).

SH: (Laughter).
 
AR: Let's see.
 
AR: Oh, you said you were – you went to Mississippi State University, correct?  

SH: Yes.  

AR: Okay, so I want to hear a little bit about how that college town compared to this college town of Tuscaloosa and what those queer communities looked like; if they were similar, different?
 
SH: Yeah but, we somehow found each other. Mainly through flag football (laughter).  
 
SH: Yeah, you know, I hung out with a girl. It was just weird because everybody that was gay there played flag football.
 
AR: (Laughter).
 
SH: (Laughter) So that’s how we found each other.
 
AR: That's pretty cool that even though it wasn't, like, an explicit thing you guys all somehow knew.

SH: (Laughter) (Unintelligible)
 
SH: We just had, we had, we would go as far as, like, Memphis and Jackson. Jackson and Gable. We would drive two or three hours to go to the bars on the weekend.
AR: Mmm.  
 
SH: That was all we had. That’s all we knew.  

AR: Right.  
 
SH: And then flag football we always went to the nationals.

AR: Oh, you went to the nationals?

SH: And they were in New Orleans so then you’d meet a lot of other people.  

AR: Oh, that's pretty cool.

SH: Mmhmm.

NP: So, one of the questions that I was looking at that we have is, why do you think another gay bar like Michaels hasn't opened up in Tuscaloosa? One that's, you know, so involved with the community because Icon exists but, you know, like you said, it doesn't really have the heart in it.

SH: Yeah. Um, I'm not sure like, I’m just not sure about that I think everybody is so… It’s accepting to a point. But I think it's more accepting than it was. I'm not sure why nobody has.
 
AR: Okay, I have another question about Michael's then. Why do you think, or do you have any theories as to why Michaels had changed hands so many times? And why, you know, people wanted to sell it?
 
SH: Mm, I- I don’t know. Like, I was… I owned it the longest. Like it would sell, like, every two or three years. But I owned it the longest. I don't know, it was, it was stressful, sweetie.  

AR: Yeah.

SH: But I don't know if that was some of the reasons, and it can be really hard on your relationship. So, like, I know that the guy that I bought it from, that was one of the reasons. It was too much.
 
AR: So how long did you end up owning it for?
 
SH: Almost 10 years.
 
AR: That is a long time to deal with all those pressures, I'm sure.

SH: Yeah.
 
AR: What was your favorite aspect of hosting, you know, community events and being that space for people to come together?
 
SH: The people. Like, I just love people, baby. And, you know, it was hard enough being gay or just the lifestyle (unintelligible).  
 
SH: You know, it only takes about ten minutes of your time to make someone feel good about themselves.  

AR: Right. Was there any, like, particular events that you think would be important to mention or, you know, document in some way?
 
SH: I mean, we did fundraisers for, you know, WAAO [West Alabama AIDS Outreach] - well, it’s called Five Horizons now - back in the day when they were starting out. When they really had nothing.

SH: That was the only, like, big fundraisers we would do.

AR: Okay. Did the Krewe ever get involved with Michaels at the time in helping run any events or any of those fundraisers?
 
SH: Yeah, that was like… Yes, they were involved when the Krewe got bigger and stuff.
 
AR: Okay. And then in what ways were they involved? Like, what events did they help you with? Or anything like that.   
 
SH: They would do, like, their pageants and stuff, like, it was gonna be over who were the king and queen. Not king and queen, but, like, Mystic Krewe of the Druids, they would do their pageants and stuff there.  
 
AR: Gotcha, gotcha.  

SH: And they always had the after party from the ball there.
 
AR: (Laughter) Now that sounds fun.
 
SH: (Laughter) That was fun. That was, that was the most fun, because everybody was there.
 
AW: Sorry, I haven't spoken yet. I do have a question. How do you think that the AIDS crisis kind of impacted the kind of people that would come to Michael’s?
 
SH: Explain, well explain what you mean, sweetie. I’m not sure what you’re saying.  
 
AW: Like, from what I've read, there was kind of… that was the beginning of solidarity between gay men and lesbians but, you said that there was a lot of disjointedness. How do you kind of feel like that impacted, like, bringing the community together?
 
SH: Well, they were together so far as on that issue.

AW: Okay.

SH: If that makes sense what I’m saying. But I mean, so far as just individuals go, I don't know, like, the lesbians didn’t want to hang out with the gay guys. But they supported each other when it comes to that. Which is crazy.  
 
AW: Yeah. Yeah. So, you did mention before that, you know, you have the straights, the bisexuals, you had everybody - was it, like, mostly gay men and lesbians? Or did you see other members of the queer community as well?
 
SH: Yeah, it was everybody. Like, trans, I had a lot of straight people and then we would always have, like, engagement parties. That was huge. Like, everyone’s getting engaged from there all the time, doing their bachelorette parties.  All the time.  
 
AW: Gotcha.  

SH: And then (laughter), well, I’m not going to say. I’ll keep that to myself (laughter). Anyway…
 
AW: So, how do you feel, kind of, the straight people who came into Michael’s impacted the space? Was it kind of like they were in there as allies? Or were they there just to be there for the sense of community?
 
SH: They were there just to see what it was about. If that makes sense. And then, well it’s funny because you could always tell, like, the straight guys that would come in with their girlfriends and stuff. And they would tell us, you know, we're straight, we're white. We know that. And so, it was almost like they were being mad that they didn't get hit on (laughter) by the end of the night. It was weird (laughter). Like, what do you want, you know? (Laughter) It was, you know, it was just real exciting.
 
AW: So, would you say that they were largely accepting-

SH: And the girls were like that too, the straight girls were also like that.
 
SH: What now?

AW: Would you say that they were largely accepting of the queer community, at least whilst they were at Michael’s?  

SH: Yeah, like, because they just didn't know and then once they came in and experienced it, you know, they were, like, educated and it was cool. It wasn’t as what all they thought gay people were in their minds, if that makes sense.  

AW: Yeah, that makes sense.  

SH: Yeah, so.
 
AW: I think we're all collectively looking through our list right now.  

AR: Yeah, I think we've, like, pretty much covered what we want to. I have a question for you, though. Who would you recommend that we talk to? I know you mentioned that one person that owns the softball team, correct?

SH: Mmhmm.

AR: But was there anybody else that, you know, you think is important to the queer community here in Tuscaloosa that we should talk to?
 
SH: I’m sure he’s told y’all about Ray Taylor.
 
AR: I don't know if we have heard about them.
 
SH: Ray Taylor?  

AR: Yeah. Would you mind telling us a little bit if you don't mind?
 
SH: Well, he’s the one that kind of started the Krewe, the Mystic Krewe. So, you definitely would need to talk to him.
 
AR: Yeah. Yeah, we definitely do. And then is there anything you want to put out there; any sort of legacy you want; anything you want to say you're super proud that you did for the community? Basically, anything you want; you can boast yourself up; you can brag; you can do whatever you want (laughter).
 
SH: (Laughter) Like I said, the only thing I was super proud about was, when I had it, was educating people. And at the time, everybody was very accepting. Now considering all politics if we look back 100 years, but at that time - back when Clinton, Bill Clinton, was in office - it was just, I don't know, everybody was more open minded and accepting to a lot of things. But I was just very proud I educated a lot of people in Tuscaloosa. Like, other bar owners and things like that.  
 
AR: Gotcha. Sorry about that door (laughter).

SH: That’s okay (laughter).

AR: I'm very happy that we did this. I really appreciate all of your time that you took with us and answering the questions that you were very comfortable answering. We really appreciate you. And we're probably going to stop recording in a second. But is there anything you want to say?

SH: Ok, well sorry I couldn’t meet with y’all today.   
 
AR: No, you're so fine.