Saturday Morning and a Late Evening was had.

 Last night, I had a small supper party for some of my neighbors here in the Garden District. It was a party of four, which included me.  These three individuals have some what of a shared literary background; one is a CNN researcher, one is a historically published writer, and one is a therapist dealing with transgender issues in a family setting. 

So the conversation flowed with various subjects, laughs, and a tear or two for good measure. This is the first supper I had for friends since I've been on the wagon.  They brought their own libations, and I provided the water and food.  We had smoked crawfish boudin from Vron's. Smoked pork tenderloin and a salad made by the CNN researcher.    They came at the stroke of 7 in the evening, departed, almost at midnight.  So I think it went well, based on the text comments I got when they all made it home.  They all live about three blocks from me.

I found it quite interesting that one of the topics that was discussed was my sobriety and how I have dealt with it.  Come to find out that some of the rather large circle of acquaintances and friends here have also taken up the no-alcohol lifestyle.  The writer commented that I had started a trend; I said no, it just must have been the cosmic forces swirling around the brick streets here.  

Tis Thursday May 28th

Greetings:

I was sitting here, beginning my day at 4 a.m. I tossed and turned last night, woke up fairly rested, a surprising achievement. 

I saw my mental health medical doctor (psychiatrist) on Tuesday.  I have been going to him at the behest of my Primary Care MD. Over the past 30+ years, I have gone to several Mental Health Professionals to understand some of my behavior and to add tools to my mental health toolbox for coping with usually high-stress situations and long-term events.   Over the years, I have seen a BCSW, LCSW, psychologist, and now I have reached all the way up the totem pole of Mental Health, and I have a psychiatrist now. I am seeing Dr. Rodgman for my alcohol matters, which I celebrated 6 months the other day of being sober.

The Good Dr. has really helped in providing me with mental health components to help me understand myself and my surroundings.  

That's about it on a rainy Thursday early morning. 

The Low Plains of the Delta

 As I was sitting here this evening, going through some photos I had taken with my phone, I came upon one from MSP Parchman. 

 It makes several statements, the Low Plains, the flat land of the rich, nutrient soil of the Delta, the white clapboard houses of the staff, how simple, ordinary they are against a backdrop of a setting Sun on a Cloudy Day. The wind at Parchman howls daily, blowing with gusts, then a slight breeze, always there. It transforms the trees into a shape that leans on one side.  Almost became my home. Someone suggested that I come out of retirement and administrate there, helping the hierarchy.  Nope, I like it on my Red Bricks.

20 Years and hopefully more to follow.

 Yes, this Blog is now 20 Years Old.  

I had started it by default, more like a need to write my thoughts, to share my experiences, both intimate and public.  It developed over time into a connection within the world of blogging, to connect with people, to project my thoughts and events onto the world, and to gain knowledge from other folks' experiences. 

 I will continue because it gives me a sense of self-satisfaction in ways I really cannot describe here.  It's a sense of a wider community of folks, that I see their worlds and they see mine.  

I appreciate all the comments on my blog and accept the comments I write on others' blogs.

 Looking for more years to come. Hopefully.

Entry of May 2nd, 2026

 I woke up early this morning, about 130am, then I tossed till 3am, then I went back to sleep. Around 4am, I awoke and felt remarkably rested for some reason.  

As I tend to do, I read my commentators' comments.  On May 2nd of this year, I wrote about loneliness, and some of my loyal followers, who are actually my online friends, commented on the blog entry.

All stated various reasons, opinions, or agreements with each other.  

This is the "community" that I regard as giving honest, heartfelt advice; that one can take to the bank, so to speak.  

To all of those who commented....... Thank You!!!

Getting back to my lil' routine

 Easing back into a routine.  Gee, I am glad to be home, not on the road.   I do have a trip planned later next week to see the kin folks, down on the Farm.  I haven't seen them since earlier in the year.

Looking forward to seeing them all. 

Tomorrow I am working in my front flower bed, planting some Lilies to sprout later on.  Blowing the Magnolia Leaves that are still falling from the three big Magnolias, one in my yard and two in the neighbor's yard.  They are likely between 75 and 100 years old.   Since their leaves don't really compost well, you have to get them up. Two weeks ago, I filled 9 55-gallon bags of Magnolia leaves.  More bags to fill until they stop blooming.  

Back from the Delta

 I am home now until the 15th of June.  

I have a chance to dine for lunch at Stafford Shurden's Cafe in Drew, Mississippi.  Had the Blue Plate Special.  All Home Cooking: the sautéed fresh green beans, the homemade-from-scratch brown gravy on the homegrown cream potatoes, with the hamburger steak... Hmm Good.

When I am on the road, I like to have lunch or supper with the locals.  Drew, Mississippi, has about 1800 souls; it is a typical Southern small town deep in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.

Here is yours truly standing for a photo in front of Stafford's Cafe.  Also, as I drove past Drew that evening, it was the sunset over the Delta, I took the photo.

The first photograph tells a story here in the Delta: a setting sun over expansive green fields, with a single electric pole carrying two wires.  It's the Delta in the early evening, as the day finishes, on the hard work in the fields, of the struggles of many generations, with the lone electric Pole giving hope for another day.

Lil' Rest for the Weary

 I came back from the Delta, half-way sick, turning around and going back Sunday for four days.  The reaccreditation audit will begin on Monday morning; the audit team has four members.  

When I do come home, which will be May 20th.  I will be home for almost a month.  Which is the best news I have had in a long, long time.    I like working from home !!! 

On The Road Again.

 On Monday, I travel once again, up to the Delta, to those Flat Brown Fields   , for a short two-day review.  After that, I will return to those fields one more time in May.  Then turn my attention to the southern part of Mississippi, near the coast.  for the rest of the summer and into the fall.  

A Friend Reminds Me.

 A friend reminded me today, when I read his SubStack, how isolation, when a person is associated with addiction, has a way of creating and holding on to the person, creating loneliness. This loneliness is a factor in lapses and eventually a total relapse that could be self-destructive. 

Hearing that from a friend who shares some of the same life experiences as me and with me makes the point even clearer.  

Just my thoughts on the above.