Flippin Kinda Trippy Like a Mississippi Hippie :)

While it has almost been a week since day one in Mississippi I can still remember traveling down the roads from Tennessee to my summer 1998 stomping grounds. We left after 6 last Monday and headed straight for Mississippi, almost. We actually stopped to eat practically right away. Our dinner of choice? McDonalds. So, mashed against the car door underneath the weight of two children my Micky d's laden stomach and I slept on and off the whole way there. We stopped again in Alabama for Cracker Barrel, one of my all time favorite places, and headed the rest of the way getting there around 1am. After spilling out of the vehicle and into the house I was not surprised at all to find stew cooking on the stove just in case we were hungry. Oh sweet southern hospitality, won't you please take me home? Seeing grandma and diddy after 14 years was spectacular. I find it funny what doesn't change in 14 years. 

Tomb at the Church I went to as a child! 

Looking at their now older faces and small house  I was comforted in their familiar smiles and thick welcoming accents. I slept so hard that night! The next day we went  to drop off some corn to some neighbors down the road and visit with their donkeys  - and one gorgeous gelding named Shine. Following that little soiree we went to where we lived in Booneville, MS! 
Talk about your little southern town. I counted two stop lights in the whole place - maybe. Jason laughed because where one stoplight had been added a few years back now stood a stop-sign. I guess they realized there wasn't enough traffic to bother with a stoplight. The house I lived in with them was now deserted and falling apart, but driving down the road conjured memories of my first true love - Pepper. As we passed the houses I remembered running that puppy up and down the street whenever she had to go potty. I also remembered sneaking out of my window to play with one of the neighborhood kids and getting a whooping when I came back later! We stopped in a little antique store and headed to a corner burger place for lunch.
 After lunch [or before] we drove past the park Sandy took Randy and I to as children! What an experience, to drive through your childhood - especially that piece of time in mine. That night we had a good old fashioned southern home cooked meal. The whole family came over as we devoured corn, biscuits, cornbread, ham, green beans, egg salad, and sweet tea - yum!! Once again, as people wrapped me in warm embraces and asked about Randy I sat smiling, barely remembering these dozen or so faces surrounding me. The only memories 14 years old and barely touched. Never the less it was wonderful to see them and to remember what it was like being 8 and living in Mississippi. The following morning Sandy, Jason, Grandma, and I headed to Tupelo, Mississippi - the place where Elvis was born! 
We got to walk around his birth place and read about his life. How exciting! I was bummed I didn't get any Tupelo Honey, darn you Van Morrison! Back at the house we prepared for another round of dinner - fried chicken, biscuits, sweet tea, and all the rest. Grandma was positive it was only going to be us for supper but once again about 5 more people showed up. It was no surprise to me that we had more than enough food! 
As I sat early the next morning, sipping coffee and rocking away in the crisp morning air I mused with diddy at how beautiful the lake is with a blanket of fog. I could truly get used to the gorgeous views and calming serenity of waking up and enjoying a cup of coffee as I look out over all that God has created - with people I love. What I wonderful trip back in time :)