Tag Archives: Mississippi

Four Wheeling at Copiah Creek

Standard

For years my husband has been wanting to take me four-wheeling at Copiah Creek, a little known four-wheeling “destination” in Central Mississippi. I have used every excuse in the book to avoid going. This Father’s Day I finally ran out of excuses and agreed to go. But, when we tried to start the four-wheelers, one of them wouldn’t crank. Once again, I had narrowly avoided going on this dreaded adventure. At least that is what I thought!

Last Sunday on my way back from a quick trip to the beach, my husband suggested that we go to Copiah Creek for an afternoon of four-wheeling fun. Fun? How could an afternoon of four-wheeling be fun when all I could think about was the laundry that needed to be done, the groceries that needed to be bought and all of the other things that needed my attention before Monday morning arrived. I spent the entire drive back from the beach dreading the afternoon.

When I arrived at Copiah Creek I was pleasantly surprised. Timothy had a wonderful time playing in the creek. The water was clear and the creek bed was filled with rocks that were perfect for skipping. The older kids enjoyed exploring the endless trails on the four-wheelers. I was even talked into taking Timothy for a ride. He loved it – like father, like son.

While I doubt that four-wheeling will ever be something that I love doing, I must admit that I had a really nice afternoon. Who knows, I might even be talked into spending another afternoon at Copiah Creek one day soon.

20120711-215412.jpg

20120711-215345.jpg

20120711-215428.jpg

What Would Your Last Meal Be?

Standard

As I was listening to NPR on my way into work today, the Morning Edition host announced the death of Nora Ephron, the famous screenwriter and director, probably best known for the fabulous movie “When Harry Met Sally.”

During the newscast, an excerpt was played from an interview that Renee Montagne did of Ephron in 2010. In the interview, Ephron talked about playing the game “What Would Your Last Meal Be?” Ephron noted that her last meal would be a Nate & Al’s hotdog. Recalling her friend, Judy, who was dying of throat cancer and couldn’t even have her last meal, Ephron said “And that’s what you have to know, is, if you’re serious about it, have it now. Have it tonight, have it all the time, so that when you’re lying on your deathbed, you’re not thinking, oh, I should have had more Nate & Al’s hot dogs.”

Since turning forty, I have started having some nagging concerns about whether there is enough time left in my life to do all of the things that I want to do. Ephron’s comments caused me to mute the radio and contemplate her words for the remainder of the drive into the office.

Is Ephron right? Is the answer really just to figure out what I love doing “so that you can do a great deal of it”? At first blush this sounds like awfully good advice. But, is finding happiness really that simple?

I know that I love italian cream cake, especially if it comes from That Special Touch Bakery in Pearl, Mississippi. But, part of what makes eating italian cream cake so enjoyable is that it is a very special treat. If I ate it every day, in addition to weighing 200lbs, the enjoyment of eating it would quickly vanish. Aren’t most things like italian cream cake? They lose their luster the longer you have them or the more of them that you have.

The only thing that I have found in life that can be different is a relationship, at least a good one. An old friendship gets better with age. A good marriage grows as each year passes. As your child becomes an adult, your relationship changes from that of a parent/child to that of a friend and confidant.

Perhaps my goal should not be to merely eat more Nate & Al’s hot dogs, but rather to find people I love to join me in eating more Nate & Al’s hot dogs. Even though I really don’t like hot dogs, I think that might just be my perfect last meal.

“Help” Brenna Get Ready for College

Standard

Brent’s Drugs in Jackson Mississippi's Woodland Hills neighborhood was opened in 1946 by pharmacist Alvin Brent. Scenes from the movie "The Help" were filmed at Brent's.

On Sunday, April 22, 2012, a group of Senior girls gathered to “help” Brenna get ready for college.

Dressed in 60′s inspired dresses, hats and gloves, the girls enjoyed ice cream sundaes and lemonade.

What a wonderful way to celebrate the end of high school and prepare for college.