January Wrap up

WOW!! 6 months down 6 to go!

Here's the link to August's wrap up if you missed it :) LINK 
Here's the link to September's wrap up if you missed it :) LINK

Here's the link to October's wrap up if you missed it :) LINK

Here's the link to November's wrap up if you  missed it :) LINK

Here's the link to December's wrap up if you missed it :) LINK

I'm now 50% of the time done with the trip!!  6 months done 6 to go.
I've done 50% of the states (24 out of 48)

Commonly asked questions

What states did you do in the month of January?  Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana

How many states are done in total? 20     Go HERE for the list and to see a map of all the cities I've visited.

What's been your favorite (in JAN)? Probably Louisiana I really enjoyed the New Orleans for the art.  But I did have fun in Kentucky too! I learned about a lot of things I'd never heard of before Laughter Yoga, Food not Bombs, and Wacky Wednesdays.

Trivia I learned about myself this month:  Mia learned when she doesn't want to be held accountable she holds the whole process up!

What's been the hardest or least favorite this month? Seeing the effects of Katrina.

What's next? Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas

________________________________________________

If you have any other questions or want more in depth answers please feel free to ask :)

This next month I'm continuing to practice the skills of staying in the present moment, and connecting with people as I meet them.  I'm also practicing being inspired by the small things, the everyday and common things of life. 

I am adding to my practice: Exercise, Healthier Eating, Acceptance of all people.

Will you practice with me?

Chili Cook off

Opportunities ABOUND on this adventure! I showed up in Henderson, TN a little bit earlier than I'd expected to so I got to go to the Chili Cook off!

There were 20 groups entered into the competition.

 Besides delicious chili there were groups that entertained us, desserts, and the competitors got into it dressing up and decorating their tables.

The chili varied from Texas style  to Vegan to 4 types of wild meat (bison, venison, hot sausage and *now I forget the other meat). Pretty much you name it and it was there.

Entertainment was done by local students and some chili competitors too.

I'd never heard a drum line play before .... that was fun to see and VERY LOUD with in the space we were in! All and All a fun time!

Bridal Fair

Mia and I had the opportunity while in Gulfport, MS to attend a Bridal show.  No, Mia isn't walking down the aisle anytime soon. The opportunity to go was present to us because Mia knows an event planner. We couldn't believe how much work goes into setting up for this 5 hour event. Mia's friend and his company worked Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday morning for the event! That's a lot of man hours for one afternoon.

Mia and I had a great time walking around looking at all the pretty flower arrangements, dressing, cakes and photography. I can't believe how many details there are for a wedding.   (Makes me rather happy dogs don't get married)  

If you're interested in an event planner in Gulfport, MS I'd recommend Mia's Friend - LINK

Wade In, Weighs In

Mia wrote about this because I couldn't go on the beach, no dogs allowed.

At the Biloxi Beach in Mississippi I saw this historical marker:

Civil Rights Wade-in: On May 14, 1959, April 24, 1960 and June 23, 1963, the Biloxi beach front was the site of planned civil rights wade-ins demanding equal access to the public beach. On April 24, 1960, several citizens, both black and white, were injured and arrested. Including the leader of the wade-ins, physician Dr. Gilbert R. Mason Sr. This series of protests gave birth to the Biloxi branch of the NAACP, major voter registration drives in 1960, and a 1968 federal court ruling opening the beach to all cititzens.

Even the birds are wading 

____________________________________________________

What a peaceful way to protest! And based on the sign you'd never guess what followed the wade-ins.

The first showed the protesters how the local police would respond, in support or repression. The nine participants were forcibly removed. The second protest had only one participant, Mr. Mason Sr. During the third wade-in the protesters were instructed to get rid of anything that could be construed as a weapon since these were peaceful protests. The protesters took food, footballs, umbrellas and started swimming.  The protest organizers knew whites would come out to stop the protest, however they hadn't anticipated them to have as many weapons as they had.

"No one expected the violence that erupted.

 We weren't prepared for it.

 We were overwhelmed by their numbers.

 They came like flies over the area." 

Pastor Black, one of the protesters

When night fell the white mobs when through the black neighborhoods, rioting, threatening and firing guns.  Many of the protesters were beaten, and the details can be found online, I will not repeat them here, it is far too gruesome for me to write.

"If we are to receive a beating," 

wrote Evers,

"lets receive it because we have done something, 

not because we have done nothing."

______________________________________

"Those events need to be remembered, 

so that another generation - black and white- can understand

 how much progress we've made." Mr. Winter

___________________________________

"A price was paid for the privileges and rights we enjoy, 

and those that paid the price should be remembered." Mr. Black

Interesting how I read the sign and thought how peaceful to protest with a wade in and nice the historians honor a peaceful event and then when I research it to talk about it, I discover it's called BLOODY SUNDAY.   How humbling to be there. 

To have my feet in the same waters, and on this same sand.  

Thank you to those that sacrificed so much for the equality of ALL MEN & WOMEN.

Mia with her feet in historic waters

Katrina still in effect

It is cleared, but unlivable

Brand new house next to abandoned 

Church & Barber in 1 building

Everyone is still doing what they can.

Going to the 9th Ward was very eye opening.  I knew people had said there were still houses that hadn't been cleaned up. And there are some. Most of the places are cleaned up, or cleared. However even with the clean up underway there is still so much work to be done.

Many of the houses were being rebuilt on stilts or being built with bricks or other more sturdier building materials. I wonder if that will help next time New Orleans floods...

I'm impressed by the people that live there, I'm not sure how I would do. It seems so depressing to me and I wonder how the people the local people stay encouraged. No doubt I saw several churches and house of prayer locations, I'm sure spirituality helps, as well as strong community connection.  I heard there is lots of crime down there, I did not see any of that, there was a strong police presence and many posters encouraging neighborhood pride.

Obviously the 9th Ward isn't made for tourism, it's a bedroom community, so there really is no reason to go see it when down visiting New Orleans.   HOWEVER...

This picture used to be 24 houses now only 9

North of the 9th Ward and East of New Orleans was Six Flags over Louisiana.  Six Flags is now abandoned and decaying. It was sort of spooky and I think it was affecting the neighboring homes more than in the 9th Ward. I understand it is expensive for the company of Six Flags to clean up or fix everything on their property but seeing the houses near by even more ignored then down in the 9th ward makes me think the people or effected by the Six Flags scenery.

Below is a picture of the neighborhood right behind the park,

 the house with the open garage doors is untouched from Katrina.