Homeward bound

On I-10 west, we drive that long span over Lake Pontchatrain and head back into Mississippi, towards our former home, Hattiesburg. Deep in the Pine Belt, Hattiesburg is a college town, home of the University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey College. Though only about 50, 000 people, it had around eight art galleries when we lived there, an indy film theater and good, local restaurants. We stopped at one of my old casual favorites for more gumbo and crusty french bread then drove by our old home. We moved from there when C. was just seven, but she remembered it and was able to pick it out before me. We hoped to make it home that night, even though it would be a nine hour drive. We gave up about 10:00, once again around Jackson. The nights in the hotel room were as enjoyable as our wanderings. We each brought journals and wrote down our thoughts as we unwound and then played cards and laughed and talked.
In the morning, she slept as I made time on I-55. It was good to see the Tennessee line again and to come home to our messy house, a husband and father thrilled to see us, and animals going wild on our return. I love travelling. As achy and tired as I am today, I still feel refreshed and renewed. In the last two and a half years, I've put over 56,000 miles on my car, and this is the first trip for pleasure those miles have included. That's not going to happen again.

Written by sistercdr Blog about this entry

This entry has 17 comments: (Add your own)

#17 Comment from justaname4me2
4/15/05 11:41 AM | Permalink

I followed your trip and I must say. This is a wonderful, amazing memory for the two of you. I hope she never forgets it, and I imagine some day she will write about it herself. You only get a few chances to do things like this, I'm glad you are one of the few who took the time.
Rebecca
http://journals.aol.com/justaname4me2/InTheShadowOfTheIris/
#16 Comment from ryanagi
4/14/05 1:51 PM | Permalink

I loved reading about your trip too! Great entries!
#15 Comment from deabvt
4/14/05 9:45 AM | Permalink

What a great Trip!
V
#14 Comment from belfastcowboy75
4/13/05 6:31 PM | Permalink

I just read all the trip entries, and I was enthralled. I've never spent much time in the south, except for FL, but you really captured the flavor of it. Sights, sound, smells...thank you for this. I feel a bit renewed myself.
#13 Comment from iawilk
4/12/05 9:48 AM | Permalink

WOW! It was good to read about someone going back home to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. My 87 year old father was born there and for years as a young family man, he took his family to visit our grandfather there. I still remember sights and happenings there. Ofcourse my experience as a Black child was completely different than yours, but I still remember the fun times visiting my "Papa".

Thank you for bringing those good memories back to my mind.

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Homeward bound