The Year of Being

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365 days. That’s a lot of time. Time to think, time to reflect, time to laugh, to cry, to fall to your knees, to dust yourself off and start anew. It’s a great many sunrises and sunsets, dinners and lunches, books checked off the “must read” list, novels written and edited. It’s one more school […]

A Homecoming

Ever since we moved to Mississippi in July, I’ve been floundering through my days, trying to make my way. I’ve been detached, untethered, a kite bouncing around in the wind, the child at the other end distracted and uninterested. This weekend, that changed. It was the Cotton District Arts Festival and Super Bulldog Weekend in […]

Adaptation

Ten short months ago, we received word that Mississippi State University wanted Chris. (Cue the Billy Squier music.) Ten short months ago, we broke the news to the kids. Sam and Gus smiled nervously and nodded their tentative approval, George bit back tears, Mary Claire exploded into full-on, body-thrashing, vitriol-spewing anger. “Nooooooooo!!!!” she screamed as […]

2012

2012. I like the sound of it. 2011 was a year of Big Changes. This one is going to be a year of Grand Adventures. I love the possibilities. We wrapped up the Old Year in high gear. Lots of visits with wonderful new friends and treasured old friends. Hugs for grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles. […]

Permitted

It’s official. He has his learner’s permit. He’s the first of the Willis’s to have something issued by the state of Mississippi, and he’s pretty darn excited about the whole deal. We’ve been out on the road with him a few times already. Here’s what I’ve observed… 1. He’s a Right Side Hugger. Perhaps it’s […]

The Accidental Thief

Katrina with Andi and Mary

My dear friend, Mary, can throw one hell of a party. There are many things that make her a fabulous hostess. She’s willing to put in new hardwoods and replace baseboards to make her house look perfect. She is a meticulous planner, detailed to a fault. She makes a damn good South of the Border […]

Bridges and Abs

Enjoyed a beautiful drive back from Indiana yesterday. Ten hours of sunshine and a lovely sunset on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Oh, and I missed a deer by about 2 feet at 60 miles an hour, but that’s another story altogether… It was good to be with family. Good to be with friends. I was […]

Mississippi Delay

City of Starkville Water Tower

I’ve mentioned it before. Everything here moves slowly. Slower than slowly. Slooooowly. Like molasses. Or a snail stuck in molasses. I’ve discovered that every date or time promised in Mississippi is merely an approximation or a best guess. Now, don’t get me wrong. These Mississippians might be slow moving, but they’re nice as can be. […]

Lessons from Starkville

Chris and the Kids in Starkville

I’ve been here for 72 hours and I’ve already learned a great deal. In light of my new-found knowledge, I thought I’d share a few Starkville tidbits with you — just in case you ever decide to venture down to our new neck of the woods. 1. You can’t buy wine in the grocery store, […]

Birthday Bliss

George Opening Presents

We celebrated George’s 9th birthday yesterday. For those of you keeping track, yes, it was a week early. Fairly certain his actual birthday would coincide with moving day, we decided to be proactive and get something on the calendar before his Big Day got lost in the cardboard boxes that are currently decorating our house. […]