3-23-08: Mississippi

On the road out of the motel and looking for an eleven o’clock meeting in Baton Rouge. It wasn’t there. So, back into the Easter morning Interstate traffic past the overflowing church parking lots, past, and over, lots of bayous, rivers, creeks, bottoms, swamps, sloughs, and lakes. Lots of water. The trees leafing out in light bright yellow-green among the dark pines. Dogwood blooms. And thus into Mississippi where the destructive power of hurricane Katrina is still evidenced even this far from the coast and this much later in time. Broken trees, trashed forests, and the occasional missing roof.

The Little Black Creek campground was waiting for me. I staked out a site and went into town for some errands. I was able to connect to the Internet by lurking behind the closed library in Hattiesburg. Dinner at Shoney’s where my youngest daughter used to work. “American Food.” And plenty of it. Addicts, even recovering addicts like me, probably should avoid all-you-can-eat places. Especially all-you-all-can-eat places. I found a nice NA meeting at 6 PM and got my fellowship fix.

Arrangements to visit the oldest daughter tomorrow afternoon. So back to the campsite to stand by the lakeside and watch in the starlight some swimming animal making a small wake on the glassy surface. Then to sleep. As I drifted off I thought how much I really love living outdoors. I appreciate the solitude, quiet, nature sounds, and most of all, the delicious air.