The city that prides itself in parades rarely has a procession like this. Hundreds of police cars driving slowly with lights flashing for miles in respect of the slain officer who had only served for two years. All of those the blue lights and not one siren. Heartbreaking silence. They have come from Baton Rouge, Hattiesburg, Saraland, Satsuma and Hoover. Dallas, Texas, Escambia County, Florida and Maryland. Firefighters stand at attention in front of their firetrucks parked in the medians.

“Put your phone down and pay attention to what is going on around you. That is where life is. That is what you write about."

This was the first thing Rick Bragg told us on the first day of his feature writing class at the University of Alabama. It was the first thing I wrote in my notebook and the first thing I read when I went back through the notes a few weeks ago searching for tips to become a better interviewer and writer.