The ponytail: Classic hair style. Not reserved for just the young. Up do.
SIMH: Summer In Mississippi Hair. Consisting of a ponytail, often with a hat.
Even when I do my hair all nice for church or going out, it's inevitable that it will end up off my neck, up into a ponytail. A hat also helps hide the frizzies from humidity.
This is my perpetual style for summer in Mississippi. Can't cut my hair so short as it has gotta go up when that humidity hits. Which is every. day. of. the. summer.
Almost done. I might start repeating myself if I continue! There are some things that are easy to get used to, like the wonderful new friends we're making and southern hospitality and no traffic.
Other things I find still don't feel like home. For example: tornado warnings, humidity, RAIN!
I am still amazed at the sounds of birds. We had a few in our neighborhood back home. A couple very talented mocking birds who copied lawn mowers and car alarms. The mocking birds near our new home copy kittens and my son's whistle!
But there are so many birds! We have cardinals and wrens and mocking birds and robins and blue jays and buzzards and hawks and eagles. I get to watch a golden eagle perch and hunt for food every once in awhile. Amazing!
The kids on the bus to the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans were so fun!
As we passed the airport, the kids oohed and awed over the planes taking off. We were pretty close to the airport; the planes were huge compared to our bus. It was hard not to smile as some of the kids saw a plane "up close" for the first time.
Nick thought it was pretty silly that the majority of the kids jumped out of their seats to get a better look at the 10 to 15 story buildings we passed. They had never seen such tall buildings.
Coming from California, 10 stories is nothing! The San Francisco skyline, Oakland, Alameda; they all become common place backgrounds. We also lived near a small airport and the big planes flew over consistently.
We enjoyed others experiencing a bit of culture shock instead of us for once.
California has many signs written in both English and Spanish.
I don't even blink at this anymore.
I did pause for this sign on a bus ride to Louisiana:
I was standing outside in Liberty, MS the other day minding my own business. I was near an intersection that happened to have a stop light. A full logging truck and some kind of tanker were idling here. When the light turned red and the two trucks pushed on the gas pedals hard to get up the hill from a stopped position, I just about lost it!
Remember that I used to live 50 feet from a busy highway. That was only 2.5 years ago.
No wonder I was an emotional wreck. No wonder I couldn't sleep well. No wonder I was frazzled half the time.
The 120 seconds I had to listen to those two trucks made me crazy! They were so loud, I couldn't hear myself think!
Thank you, Lord, for the peace and quiet I have here, where I am now. Thank you that right now, as I write this, I can hear my boys playing nicely outside the back door!
Just had a thought. Don't be too shocked!
I have been paying attention to the new laws being passed in California. Gun restrictions; vaccine schedules. Scary things are happening all around the country.
If I lived in California still, I honestly think I would simple live. I would be (not completely) ignorant of politics and government antics. When I was there, I didn't have time to dwell on these things, even the future of our country.
Now I have a freedom I never did before. Times are tough and if I could find a way to help bring income to my family, that would be good. But I have a simplicity I never knew in California.
In Mississippi, I don't sit in traffic at all. In Mississippi, I'm not working 40 hours at work, commuting 10 hours a week or more, working from home 10 or more hours. In Mississippi, work is left at work. In Mississippi, we sit and talk together as a family in the evenings because we are all home.
I know that this has to do with circumstances and isn't a difference because of the actual place I'm in. It just happens that we are in Mississippi.
I couldn't get a picture of this one. Too bad because it would've been good!
The Finger
California.
That is one of the most legally rude things you can do without actually saying something. I was beaten up in junior high over a mistaken finger gesture made by my best friend. (I don't recall how I became the protector.)
Mississippi.
Driving down a country road, passing a tractor, seeing someone at their mail box, you politely lift your pointer finger off of the steering wheel and gesture, "Hello." Am I right?! Oh, I think there is a slight nod of the head.
Another win for Mississippi, the hospitality state.
Short and sweet.
One of THE WORST roads I have ever marched on for band was in my hometown of Antioch, CA.
Thank you, Mississippi, for keeping up with the roads. They are well taken care of.
