Thursday, September 10, 2009

Mississippi Mama



Mama Dawg was one of my first blog friends. It was back in the beginning where I spent most of my blog time meandering and looking around - checking out blog rolls and never remembering how I got where. Mama had posted a video of her enchanting daughter Light of My Life (LOML). It was their accents and the sweetness of their voices that hooked me. And they were having so much fun together this mother and daughter. I was thrilled when she agreed to take us to Mississippi for Travel Thursday.

Most of y’all don’t know me, but I’m Mama Dawg from over at Two Dogs Running.

When Pseudo asked me to guest post, I was flabbergasted. I mean, she’s an incredible writer and I’m, well…….I’m one of those people that writes the way I talk. Just imagine reading this with a slight Mississippi accent. So, it’s a honor to guest blog over here in sunny, gorgeous, exotic Hawaii. Thanks again Pseudo for this chance.

When I asked what she wanted me to write about, she offered up two choices. Disney or Mississippi.

I was soooooooo tempted to go with the obvious and talk about Disney World. However, I chose to go the other route and give y’all a little taste of my home state.

I grew up in south Jackson and moved away when I was 11. I just moved back a couple of years ago when I was 30. I had lived in Florida and New Orleans prior to moving back.

Having lived in the suburbs all my life, I decided to switch things up and move out to a very tiny town in northeast Mississippi. We have family here, so it’s not like I was moving to a strange place.

However, it was a drastic change. A positive change, but drastic nevertheless.

My daughter was 7 when we moved here. She is truly an amazing kid and adapted quickly to the changes in her life. She’s actually thriving on the small town sense of community. We can never go ANYWHERE without someone stopping and saying hello to her.

I had reservations moving back to Mississippi knowing all of its history. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to raise my daughter in one of the poorest states or one that still has a lingering air of racism connected to it. It was a tough choice, but the positives ended up outweighing the negatives.

I mean, we live in a tiny town where people are named Epsya, Spooky and Birdie.

We live in a place where we can fish at our own creek.






We live in a place where we drag race our dogs.




We live in a place where I can cut sunflowers AND blackberries during the summer.




We live in a place where we have plums that grow on trees right outside of our windows.






We live in a place where it’s normal to have a squirrel as a pet.







We live in a place where you can take all your baby doll furniture outside and play house with your best friend in the front yard. You can even leave all the stuff out overnight and it will still be there the next day!




We live in a place where you can be the queen of the hay bales.




We live in a place where we get just enough snow to make it magical and not a headache.




We live in a place where you can climb really old magnolia trees just for the heck of it.





We live in a place where dogs at a pond make us laugh like fools.



We live in a place where you can live and laugh and love.






It may not be exotic Hawaii, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Later,



27 comments:

Erin@TheLocalsLoveIt said...

It sure does sound like you made the right choice moving there. Nice post. Love the photos.

Kristan said...

Yup, the accents are great.

I can't believe that pet squirrel! And the cats/dogs don't try to get it?! Too cute.

Thanks for a really fun post!

Amy said...

That looks like a great place to live.

Jan said...

I burst into tears at the end of this post.

I miss the South. I MISS THE SOUTH!!!

Did I mention I miss the South?

Because I do. I want to go home.

Mama Dawg said...

Erin, yep, I still think I made the best choice. Thanks for visiting!

Kristan-thanks for visiting. When we had Jessie (he's now living back outdoors in the woods behind the house), he stayed in a cage indoors and the cats never bothered with him. The dogs stay outside, so they weren't a problem.

Amy-thanks, it is!

Jan-Come back! The south misses you! LOL!

darsden said...

Well Howdy Neighbor I was born and raised in Gulfport. Moved to Florida came back a few years ago to Gulfport and so happy I did. Love being close to my family. Great Post about the Positvie Mississippi.

Jess said...

As I sing Cash's song, "I'm goin to Jackson..." I must comment that I too love the country life! I was raised in Powersville, Georgia (find it on the map yet?) and though I lived all of my life doing the above described things, I LOVE the city life too! I will probably eventually settle back into country living...it is so very peaceful! Wonderful blog post!!!! Have fun in Hawaii!

Sprite's Keeper said...

Sounds like such a great place to live! I actually want to go now!

unmitigated me said...

Honest, now, wouldn't anyplace with LOML be awesome?

Mama Dawg said...

Darsden-howdy! Thanks!

Jess-When are y'all comin' here to visit me? LOL!

SK-It is a beautiful place.

MAW-Truer words have never been spoken!

Teri said...

You are a good Mama Dawg. I love where you live, too!

mo.stoneskin said...

Is that squirrel ok? He looks a bit dazed, slightly drugged even. Did you sedate him for the photo?

Mama Dawg said...

Teri-thanks!

Mo-Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Bijoux said...

I was thinking, "your squirrels look different than ours!"

Anyway, it sounds like you are right where you should be. Good to "see" you again, Mama.

Mama Dawg said...

Cocette-Long time no see! I'm planning on getting back to blogging soon. Hopefully!

Angie Ledbetter said...

Howdy neighbor! I'm right next door in LA. There's always more good and beauty in the south! :D Great post.

ds said...

Love it! I grew up in a similar place; alas, it was in the North...
Great post (love the squirrel)!

Captain Dumbass said...

Do you know anybody named Cooter or Skeeter? Please tell me you do, MD.

cheatymoon said...

What a great post. Loved every single bit of it. Your daughter is gorgeous too.

Beth said...

I could hear the southern accent! Great pictures and descriptions. Mississippi may want to hire you to advertise their state.

Mango Girl said...

Good ole Mississippi...

Glad you are home! Beautiful pictures.

darsden said...

good ole Mississippi Girls indeed too.. a lot of us around these parts ...who knew!

Maureen@IslandRoar said...

Except for the magnolia trees, it sounds an awful lot like where I live! Except up here we don't have the cool drawl. Great photos; I have definitely not seen enough of the south.

creative kerfuffle said...

You should work for Miss. tourism board : ) This is a great post. Love the pictures, love the positive thoughts, simply a great post.

Mama Dawg said...

Angie-Hi neighbor! I used to live in LA. Moved out in 2007. I did enjoy all my years there, however, it appears I'm a country girl at heart and needed to get back to my roots. I agree about the good and beauty in the south! Nice to meet you!

ds-it doesn't matter where you grew up, as long as you loved it! Thanks!

Captain-Yes, I actually do know someone named Cooter. Well, I don't know him personally, however, I know that there is a Cooter around our parts. Man, that sounded really bad!

Only a movie-Thanks!

Beth-Thanks! Hmmmm.....may have to look into that tourism thing! LOL!

Mango-I love being home. 'Nuff said! Thanks!

Darsden-I know! I didn't know we had so many MS girls around here!

Maureen-Glad to hear that you grew up in such a great place, too! Come on down whenever you get a chance. The south has so much to offer!

Creative-You're the second person to echo the tourism board! Thanks so much for your positive words.

Mariah said...

You both kill lme, your accents, the squirrel. I wanna live where you live

Kathy B! said...

The picture of that sweet little squirrel just melts my heart! I think you might be in contention with Hawaii after that post!