Mississippi Traveling

I wrote a book back in 2010 called Traveling Streams: A Reflective Journey. But as my journey continues, so do my reflections during the downtime of this pandemic. More past travels come to thought as I know that” He drew me out of many waters.” (Psalms 18:16) 

While in Mississippi for graduate school during the late 70’s, I was blessed with several mini trips as I traveled through the state. It is very large in size and one can easily drive for hours within this beautiful state. In spite of some of the state’s dark history, the landscape is grassy and gorgeous. During the Civil War, it has been said that soldiers decided that Port Gibson was simply too pretty to burn. 

Once when driving back towards Jackson, I heard the band Kansas singing “Dust in the Wind.” I could clearly see that my father was getting close to the end of his journey, and I made a point of jotting down that song’s title. It seemed so perfect and as fate would have it, I was able to get the album with special help and we did play it repeatedly at his memorial service sometime thereafter.

In Jackson, the spring looks like it has been dressed for a fancy party. Even the humblest homes look so rich as the red, pink and white flowering dogwood trees line the fronts of their houses. It is breathtakingly beautiful!  And then, there are the tall, strong magnolia trees, for which the state is named, that proudly show off their strength like rooks on a chess board. 

I took a one-day trip with a ceramic’s classmate down south of Jackson. He had some business at the Keesler Air Force base in Biloxi. I tagged along and we first stopped in Magee to pick up his sister. She worked for the local newspaper and after going in, I was intrigued as I watched one of her coworkers do the layout before the paper’s weekly publication deadline.

Later, I saw the University of Southern Mississippi-Hattiesburg sitting on the right as he drove. When we made it to the twin cities of Biloxi and Gulfport, we stopped at the beach and got out of the car. The three of us walked on the sand, pulled up our pants legs and put our feet in the Gulf of Mexico. The snapshots from those days are long gone but the memories live on many years hence.  

He went on to take care of his affairs on the Air Force base while his sister and I chatted up a storm. We eventually headed back to our respective homes feeling much richer after having experienced the peace of the landscape. This is another sainted memory that floated to the top of my mental rolodex. More travels will be forthcoming as I slow down and allow the cream to rise to the top! 

Lynn M.  
January 29, 2022 

Brand New!

Hey!  It is a brand New Year.
Time to wipe away that tear.
From affronts of yesteryear.
No more crying in your beer!

Let it all go far away!
It’s now time to have your say,
On who sits on your front row,
Not those that operate low!

It’s time to rise and play,
With those who mold good clay.
And sow good seeds that do grow,
Germinate, though sometimes slow.

Lift your head and clean off the dust,
Scrub and get rid of that rust.
Sparkle, shine and forge ahead,
The lit path guides.  Enough said!

Lynn M.
January 22, 2022

Temping

At one point during my journey, I found myself constantly looking for stable employment. I was living far from home as a transplant in another state. I held on tightly to one of my Unity pamphlets and repeatedly read the quoted line, “Then saith He unto his disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few.”‘ (Matthew 9:37). It took a while for the meaning to sink in, but it gave me the courage to get out there and try to find work again.

I was hired on my first temp job and there I learned to stuff envelopes, neatly fold business letters and file in a filing room. One job led to another, and I ended getting a proofreading job through another temp agency in that state.

Now, as, I look back, I am stunned by the multiple skills that I have acquired along the way while keeping the cash flowing in to pay bills. I have learned to use business etiquette as I answered corporate phones. I cheerily greeted weary travelers who were coming into offices for high-powered meetings while working as a receptionist.

Temping also allowed me to manage different executives’ calendars and input data into an intricate engineering program. I even learned how to collate sheets and build presentation notebooks for an upcoming conference. I had to use Excel in-depth for one job and mastered using the sum icon to calculate the numbers on the spreadsheet.

Very importantly, during those years of temping in different cities, I learned how to build slide presentations. I even purchased a couple of how-to books to guide me as I continually worked on perfecting my ability to do it efficiently. At the time, I could not see that I was collecting and gathering a wide variety of things that I can now do with a level of ease.

Along with all of those temp jobs, there were so many other accolades. The settings were often refined and located in luxurious skyscrapers with breathtaking views. There were sometimes fresh cut flowers sitting around those offices to add to the welcoming atmosphere. I was also invited to a quite a few high-end office parties where the ambience was beautiful as I met many wonderful people along the way.

So, no. I did not get the big job with the fancy title. I did not get the 30-plus year retirement. I did not get the gold watch. But Lord, I received so very much more! And now, many of those skills still serve me today as a continue to work and labor during these present moments.

Lynn M.
January 15, 2022

The Niagara Falls

In the summer of 2002, me and my only friend in Boston braved a trip to Niagara Falls. We boarded a Sunshine Travel tour bus that left from Boston’s Chinatown, and we were the only non-Asians on the luxury bus. But we did not care because we were ready to latch on to a new adventure!

My traveling companion had told me months earlier that she had dreamt that we went to New York together. I had dismissed it as being far-fetched for I had no plans of going to NYC at that time. Little did I know that the gods had accurately sprinkled angel dust into her dreams. We did indeed go to New York together; just not New York City. 

The bus was quite nice with all of the special amenities. She slept and I took in every sight as we traveled into new territory. We stopped and ate at an Applebee’s Restaurant in Waterford, New York. We later stopped somewhere else and enjoyed a hefty feast. I remember that a huge baked fish sat in at the center of the table along with other delicious side dishes. It was quite apparent that a lot of planning had gone into organizing this trip.

We further ventured into upper state New York and our first stop was the 1000 Islands where we watched several boaters celebrate Pirates Days. We even crossed the historic St. Lawrence Seaway on our open boat ride and later stayed over at the Knights Inn in Liverpool, New York. After heading back out, we rested on the bus as were looked forward to the main event – Niagara Falls!

At one point after dozing off, I woke up and noticed these huge rainbows as I looked out the window of the bus. I was amazed and wondered what was happening. As we got closer, I saw that we were actually approaching the Falls. I guess the water created the prism-like reflections in the sky. 

I don’t recall the actual order of things, but I remember that once we were in the Niagara Falls State Park area, we decided to take a ride on the Maid of the Mist. During the time on the boat, we were so close to actual Falls that I thought that it was my last day on earth. It was terrifying and we were quite soaked before it was all over. 

Yet, that did not deter us from testing our nerves nor verve. We later had to put plastic on over our shoes to experience The Cave of the Winds, as we walked along side of the mountain-like steps or wooden decks. Spectators from the top were looking down at us as if to say, “Wow! Why would you take that chance?” as we maneuvered the slippery walkways. Years later, I saw the movie Niagara with Joseph Cotton and Marilyn Monroe and I was reminded of those dangerous wet, scary redwood walkways.

Once we were back on dry land and had left the park area, we had another great meal at a Chinese restaurant. Our bus then headed back towards Boston, my temporary home. Helen Keller said it best when she wrote, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all!”

Niagara Falls 2002

Lynn M. 
January 8, 2022 

The Quilt

For years as I drove from state to state either in search for a better life or to care for loved ones. I had a silent divine covering in the trunk of my Mercury Monarch.  It came in the form of a quilt made by my great-grandmother, Sophie.  On many occasions, I used it for comfort in times of fear of the unknown. 

Now, many years hence, I realize that my great-grandmother’s arms were silently hugging me as I drove throughout the Southeastern states. The love that went into that quilt blanketed me as it protected me, one of her descendants. I only met her once and as a very young child, I do not particularly remember her face.  

However, I have a clear memory of her house. It felt warm and inviting after we had traveled in the hot sun to get there.  My father parked under a shade tree across from her house, to cool us down.  Once inside, I recall the long lace tablecloth that was draped across the dinner table in a dainty fashion. I also remember the hand-crafted doilies that sat on the arms of the furniture and decorated the room like fresh flowers. I have liked doilies ever since that day. 

Little did I know that the same hands that adorned that house would one day offer me solace through a red quilt.  It accompanied me for quite a few years and over many miles. My mother passed it on to me. And as fate would have it, that quilt offered me divine protection as a familial shield.  So grateful! 

Lynn M. 
January 1, 2022