We had a trip planned to Top Sail State Park near Destin,Florida for spring break. However, Mother Nature had different ideas for us. Wisdom is taking past experiences and using it to make good judgements. Being in a camper for three days in the rain is NOT fun.

So, we opted for Biloxi and the Beau Rivage. My mother-in-law got us a sweet deal on the room and dining, and we had a blast at the pool and shopping. Even my teenage son got into the shopping. He picked out clothes...

Goodbye, thirty-something.

Hello, 40.

My glass is at least half full. I'm thankful to be alive to see another birthday. I got the few gray hairs cut off Monday (if I keep my hair cut short, you can't see the gray. )

I received the best birthday card from my daughter this morning. The best ones aren't from Hallmark. They're homemade, or rather heart-made.

Here's a couple of pics of it to share...

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I don't know whether to call it irony or an oxymoron.

As the cold rain fell to mark the beginning of spring break, we decided to call our neighbors/friends and go out to eat.

We had heard of this new restaurant in downtown Clinton called The Petra Cafe. It's a Mediterranean-style restaurant, and they told us they had a belly dancing contest on Friday nights.

Belly dancing. In Clinton.

Four blocks from Mississippi College.

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The junior high years were the worst in my life.

Or, at least in my pre-adult life.

I hated seventh and eight grade. Everything seemed to change. My friends. My school. How I felt about the world and myself. I don't have to tell you about all the awkward phases that were immortalized in your yearbook.

It was a time when I didn't understand why a particular girl was so mean to me. Twenty five years later, I find out she was in love with me.
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"Shhhhh!"

I walked a few steps further, following my dad through the white oak woods by Okatuppa Creek in Choctaw Co. Alabama.

"Listen...."

We were deer hunting at what we called "The Old Place". I had wonderful memories there. "Paw-paw's" house/fish camp right by the creek. Plenty of white sand for a boy to play in.

I was around ten at that time. Trying not to make noise as the leaves crunched...