A Great Book on Mississippi and Katrina

Last year I shared a number of books that I had read with you.  This year,  I have not read as much but it seems that some of my more favorite books have been written by those who are or have been correspondents/journalists in written or broadcast news.

Perhaps two days after the eighth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the most timely is a book written by former CNN correspondent, Kathleen Koch.  In the book, "Rising From Katrina: How My Mississippi Hometown Lost It All and Found What Mattered",  Koch, who had two CNN documentaries concerning Hurricane Katrina and the response of the communities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland in the wake of that storm, writes in great detail that which she could not put in a one hour documentary.  Koch, a former resident of Bay St. Louis and graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, is able to communicate what so many Mississippians felt after the storm.

There is an unexplainable pride in being a Mississippian.  In a state where you are continually first in every bad category and last in every good category, Mississippians can easily have an inferiority complex.  And yet, for some reason we are a proud and stubborn people.  In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi responded well.  Very well.  In that we can be proud.  Koch documents this and the spirit of our people, especially those on the Coast and those from inland Mississippi and other parts of the country who volunteered to help.

I would recommend that you read her book.  As a Mississippian and a former resident of Bay St. Louis, it made me proud.

You Can Never Err On The Side Of Generosity

Every once in a while, someone does something really nice.  Something that is truly unexpected.

This past Monday, Ms. Leora Cook came by my office for help with her insurance.  After helping her with what was a very easy task, she displayed a beautiful caramel cake as a gift to me and my office.  Needless to say, it tasted wonderful.  Everyone in the immediate office complex was thankful.

Of course, the cake was not necessary in order for me to help her with her insurance.  However, when this 84 year old woman presented it to me, it was much appreciated.

It is odd the things that we remember.  Maybe the gift of cowboy boots to a young boy.  A gift from my Uncle Avery in Greenwood.  A purchase that would have been frivolous for my family at that time.  Or maybe the fun that my Uncle Earl would bring home in a large brown paper bag.  A bag filled with sparklers and fire crackers.  In the cold air of a Louisville, MS night, we would slip out into the yard and fire them off, whole packs of firecrackers at a time, writing our names in the air with the sparklers.

At least ten years ago, when my children were much younger, my family went to Margarita's for Mexican food.  Across the restaurant, sat Chet Dillard and his wife, Marilyn.  I had helped Chet with his campaign for Attorney General many years earlier.  We exchanged pleasantries.  Chet and Marilyn went back to their meal and we returned to our table and ordered ours.  Chet waved goodbye as he left the restaurant, my family enjoying our food.  When we were finished with our meal, I asked the waiter for the check.  He told me that the man across the way (Chet), had paid for our meal.  Ever since, I have appreciated that simple gesture of kindness.

All those memories because of a caramel cake.  Or maybe the generosity, appreciation and kindness that it took to make it.  Maybe we should all make an effort to be a little kinder.  To be a generous giver.  A giver of our time and money and appreciation.  Because, take my word for it... people remember.