Deep Southern Living
As my days as a Mississippi resident come to a close, I can't help but reflect on the things that I find charming and irritating about life in Mississippi. I love how you can make eye contact with strangers and wish them "good morning." I hate how the phrase "bless your heart" is a putdown. I find it funny how Mississippians can drink hot coffee in the middle of July and sweet iced tea in January. I get frustrated with the lack of quality education for all Mississippian, but I am frequently humbled by the sage wisdom of the front porch philosophers. It's a place where you never really meet a stranger, but you're always learning something new about other people.
This saccharine reflection was sparked by an article I read on CNN by Southern Living writer Rick Bragg. Bragg's article "What Stands in a Storm: When the Winds Die Down" (found here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/25/what.stands.in.storm/index.html?hpt=hp_bn1 ). His reflection on the clean up and recovery efforts in his Tuscaloosa, AL, neighborhood after the catastrophic tornado earlier this spring. I encourage you to read his article, because it beautifully describes what I love most about living in the deep south... its hospitality. In this world of crime shows like Law and Order: SVU and CSI one would think most Americans would avoid interacting with each other for fear of crossing paths with a psycho serial killer. However, in a time when everyone in the neighborhood had damaged homes, businesses, and churches they reached out to help their neighbors first. In a society where who you vote for and where you go to church determines one's relationships, none of that mattered. Chainsawing downed trees, nailing up tarps on damaged roofs, and making sure everyone was okay were people's immediate reactions.
Sure during political campaign season we see some un-hospitable behavior; but time after time with disasters like Hurricane Katrina, the Mississippi River flooding, and the spring tornadoes you will see the most generous expressions of hospitality and outreach. I guess you can attribute this to the fact that Mississippi is full of good Christian folks in the buckle of the Bible belt. So, to the good folks of Mississippi, sometimes your backwards politics and strange ways drive me nuts; but your heart and hospitality cover many of your flaws. Now I raise my condensation covered glass of iced tea to you! Bless your heart, I will miss you!.
This saccharine reflection was sparked by an article I read on CNN by Southern Living writer Rick Bragg. Bragg's article "What Stands in a Storm: When the Winds Die Down" (found here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/25/what.stands.in.storm/index.html?hpt=hp_bn1 ). His reflection on the clean up and recovery efforts in his Tuscaloosa, AL, neighborhood after the catastrophic tornado earlier this spring. I encourage you to read his article, because it beautifully describes what I love most about living in the deep south... its hospitality. In this world of crime shows like Law and Order: SVU and CSI one would think most Americans would avoid interacting with each other for fear of crossing paths with a psycho serial killer. However, in a time when everyone in the neighborhood had damaged homes, businesses, and churches they reached out to help their neighbors first. In a society where who you vote for and where you go to church determines one's relationships, none of that mattered. Chainsawing downed trees, nailing up tarps on damaged roofs, and making sure everyone was okay were people's immediate reactions.
Sure during political campaign season we see some un-hospitable behavior; but time after time with disasters like Hurricane Katrina, the Mississippi River flooding, and the spring tornadoes you will see the most generous expressions of hospitality and outreach. I guess you can attribute this to the fact that Mississippi is full of good Christian folks in the buckle of the Bible belt. So, to the good folks of Mississippi, sometimes your backwards politics and strange ways drive me nuts; but your heart and hospitality cover many of your flaws. Now I raise my condensation covered glass of iced tea to you! Bless your heart, I will miss you!.
Well put, Katie! And Bon Voyage to you on this next chapter. You might add how it takes a ratio of 2-to-1 for southern potato salad to BBQ in some circles. Wonderful send-off!
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