A Hidden Gem: The Abita Springs Opry

Last Saturday, my wife and I along with M.D. and Marijane Whitfield left Clinton headed south.  Our destination was the Covington/Abita Springs area.  The ultimate purpose of our journey was to see and hear the Abita Springs Opry.  Abita Springs is right beside Covington, LA on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain and right across the lake from New Orleans.  For those in search of day trip or an overnight stay in the New Orleans area before the heat and humidity of summer completely sets in, I would recommend a fun trip to the Abita Springs Opry.

Abita Springs Town Hall, hoe of the Abita Springs Opry

The show is held in the Abita Springs Town Hall.  The old town hall is set up to hold about 400 people in white plastic folding chairs.  There is a "concession stand" behind and to the side of the stage that serves soft drinks, water, gumbo and what I am told  is an amazing bread pudding.  If you eat before going to the Abita Springs Opry, save room for the bread pudding.

The Opry starts promptly at 7pm and ends promptly at 9pm.  I think there is a broadcast of some sort that is involved with the Opry and that is why it is on such a strict schedule.  Each band will play between 5 - 7 songs and you will get a good taste of their style, talent and music.  On the night that we went the show it ended with three strong groups.  Perhaps the one with the most personality was a group called Chrispin Schroeder who was lead by a local pastor named none other than Chrispin Schroeder.  The next group, The Deslondes was kind of like a modern day "'O Brother Where Art Thou".  They fused New Orleans Rhythm and Blues, Country and a twist of Jazz and Gospel.  The last and perhaps most talented group was Tuba Skinny.  who played a traditional bluesy New Orelans Jazz with a wonderful trumpet and clarinet as well as a talented vocalist.

The Deslondes

The term "Opry" is often linked to the Grand Ole Opry and country music.  That is not the case with the Abita Springs Opry.   The Abita Springs Opry hosts "Louisiana Roots Music" which can be anything from bluegrass, jazz,  zydeco, gospel or busker (New Orleans street performer) music.

I would give the Abita Springs Opry a big thumbs up and recommend it to anyone.  If you like live music then you will really enjoy the Opry.  The next and last performance of the Opry before Fall 2016 is May 21st.  It would be wise to buy tickets in advance.  Tickets are $18 each and the contact number for the Opry is 985-892-0711.  Make sure and check out the website of the Abita Springs Opry for more information: http://www.abitaopry.org/index.html

A Post-Election Observation

A True Story:
Wednesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the Mississippi Republican senatorial runoff between Thad Cochran and Chris McDaniel, I came upon a situation just west of Mississippi College.  A 60 year old African-American nursing assistant, dressed in nursing scrubs and driving an older model Chevrolet Blazer was on the side of the road, her right rear tire shredded.  Helping her to change the tire was a white male, mid-30's, a McDaniel voter. 

Another white male, mid-50's, a Cochran voter, came upon the scene.  He walked beside the car and offered to help in removing the very tight lug nuts.  As the Cochran voter loosened the lug nuts, the McDaniel voter raised the car on the jack.

At that same time, a white truck with an African-American male, maybe a Democrat, maybe a crossover Cochran voter, drove up behind the disabled vehicle.  He stepped out and walked to the scene, asking the woman if she had a spare.  She replied, "In the back."   He reached into the back of the Blazer and removed the spare tire.  As the bad tire was removed, the spare tire was put in it's place, the driver of the white truck tightening the lug nuts.

Looking back on the scene, it seems to me that the woman on the side of the road with the broken down Blazer is a lot like the state of Mississippi, not the richest with maybe not the best vehicle on the road.

What really struck me was how selflessly the three men helped that woman on a very hot afternoon.

Any one of them could have probably changed the tire by themselves but here they were, three men whose political views were set aside for the greater good of the woman broken down on the side of the road.  Three men whose job was made easier by welcoming one another to the process and each doing their part, working together.

Wouldn't it be refreshing to see this type of cooperation and behavior from our politicians and their supporters.  Our state and country would be better for it.

The True Heroes

Up until this week, we had been hearing much about Syria and chemical weapons and a possible air strike on Syria by the United States.  President Barack Obama, 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been beating the war drums and trying to encourage the American people and our allies of the importance of striking the existing regime in Syria.

Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for his "extraordinary efforts" to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. Part of the Nobel Committee's decision was based upon Obama's promotion of nuclear nonproliferation and a "new climate" in international relations fostered by Obama, especially in reaching out to the Muslim world.  After the last couple of weeks, perhaps Obama should consider giving the Peace Prize back.

Much has been made of Vladimir Putin and the Russians coming to the rescue to help at least temporarily keep America from becoming involved militarily in another country.  While there is some truth to this, I think there are two other true heroes.  They are heroes that stepped up a couple of weeks before the Russians.

The first heroes are the British Parliament. When faced with the opportunity to fight alongside the U.S. in another war in a Middle Eastern country, the British Parliament voted 285-272 against using military force against Syria. This thirteen vote difference kept the British on the sidelines and postponed a strike. 

The second group of heroes was the American people.  Democrats, Republicans and Independents for the most part were all tired of war.  The last poll that I recall reading about before the "Russian Rescue" had only a 29% support level for a strike against Syria.  Predictions by the news media were that both the House and the Senate would vote against military action.

Hopefully, this episode has been a lesson to Obama and to the elected officials that represent us.  We dodged a bullet this time.  Sometimes history works out that way.

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.

Our Austin Experience: For Ole Miss Fans Headed to UT Game

Recently, our neighbor two doors down, told Mary Lea that she and her husband were going to the Texas-Ole Miss game in Austin.  It is their first trip to Austin, TX.

This past September, Mary Lea and I were in Austin on the weekend that UT was in Oxford playing Ole Miss.  Besides battling rainy weather, we enjoyed our visit there.  If you are an Ole Miss fan headed to Austin and you have never been there before, the following is the travel advice that Mary Lea gave to our neighbor:  

Cheryl –

So good to see you yesterday and I am so excited about your Austin trip.  Here are some pics from our trip:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151035911945741.425965.502660740&type=1&l=47f0285ec4

Austin Images that brought things to mind:

http://www.google.com/search?q=austin+texas+south+congress&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=X0PUUa2lPNKx0AHOu4GIDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDUQsAQ&biw=1600&bih=754

SoCo area – South Congress area – there is shopping and this is the area where some of the food trucks are -  The Mighty Cone was my favorite.  And Fran’s Hamburgers was an old-fashioned burger and malt restaurant – not a food truck but an old drive-in.

There is also food trucks all over…and in another park area is Gordoughs - http://www.gourdoughs.com/  It doesn’t sound good but it is delicious…you and Jehu should split the Flying Pig.

Gourdough's: The Flying Pig, Bacon with Maple Syrup Icing
Their slogan: Big. Fat. Donuts.

The bats come out at the Congress Street Bridge every evening at dusk IF it is not raining.  There is a viewing park at the Austin newspaper (Austin Statesman, I believe) that is a great place to view the bats.  I know it sounds creepy but it is pretty amazing to watch…they come out for like an hour but 10 minutes is about all you need to experience it once!

Town Lake…we walked around it about 3 miles.  Good walking trail.

6^th Street  -  Great tex mex was at the Iron Cactus (they also have a restaurant on the Riverwalk in San Antonio).  I highly recommend this restaurant.

We wanted to go to the Broke Spoke but it was closed for a private event…just a hole in the wall kind of bar/restaurant…but supposedly has amazing Country Fried Steak and is an Austin institution.

The Johnson Presidential Library is on the campus of UT and was under renovation, but the top floor of the library has a replica of his oval office including an avocado green phone…it was pretty cool but Ricky and I are history buffs.

The Salt Lick Barbecue restaurant was out from Austin in Driftwood, TX but it IS worth the drive.  They accept cash only.  Their bbq turkey is amazing.  http://saltlickbbq.com/

We also drove out to Barton Springs (Zilker Park) and then Mt. Bonnell. 

Also – I just remembered a great breakfast spot -  Kerbey Lane Café – Just across from the UT campus - http://www.kerbeylanecafe.com/cafe-locations/ut/   They have great omelets and special pancakes.  I think we had the lemon poppyseed pancakes and they were amazing.  It is a UT hangout for students.

We walked each morning and walked around the Texas State Capitol grounds and it was a nice walk and an impressive complex.

We drove from Austin to San Antonio and back about a 90 minute trip.  And, we discovered Gruene, TX by accident on that trip.  We ate lunch at the Grist Mill Restaurant and they also have live music there in the evening.  It was a great location…I think it may be 45 minutes outside of Austin - http://www.gristmillrestaurant.com/

Hope you find this helpful…and I cc’d Ricky in case he thinks of something I forgot.  It looks like we were all about the food and I guess we were this trip because it rained the entire time.  Very much hoping you all have much better weather.

ML

Not Funny!!

A few Sundays ago, in Atlanta, the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections reported that a doctor from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Dr. Hannah Berry Gay (a south Jackson girl and Wingfield graduate), had successfully cured a Mississippi infant of HIV.   This is positive news for not only the medical community but for the world and especially Africa with the abundance of babies who are born there with HIV.  This is also positive news for Mississippi, a state that evidently is stuck in the 1950s and 60s according to several television comedians.

Jon Stewart, Daily Show slam on Dick Molpus and Mississippi

Just over twelve hours earlier before the announcement of the cure for HIV in infants, on Saturday Night Live in a regular skit called, "Really!?",  Seth Rogan and guest host and African-American, Kevin Hart joked about the Supreme Court's debate over Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.  The two comedians made jokes concerning Mississippi.  Hart stated that in Mississippi he wouldn't even feel comfortable going outside on a cloudy day, much less at night.

He continued, "Mississippi, listen - I know you're not as racist as you were in 1965, but understand something - no one is as racist as you were in 1965.  Listen, that is statistically the best year in history of racism.  Saying you're less racist now is like being pulled over for a DUI and telling the cop, 'I've been drunker.'"

Just weeks before, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart took a shot at Mississippi and it's former Secretary of State, Dick Molpus, basically implying that Molpus and the state of Mississippi were racist.  Molpus, a native of the racially notorious, Philadelphia, MS was known in Mississippi for his work towards racial reconciliation and the "comedy" against him and Mississippi was unjust.

Constance Slaughter-Harvey

According to a blog written by the Clarion-Ledger's Jerry Mitchell, Molpus was criticized for a possible federal clerical error.  In 1995, Mississippi legislators ratified the 13th Amendment after it being rejected by that same body 150 years earlier.   Then- Assistant Secretary of State and African American, Constance Slaughter-Harvey stated that she "distinctly remembered sendng in the final paperwork to have the 13th Amendment ratified.  The Office of Federal Register said the paperwork was never received.

Mitchell's blog quotes Slaughter-Harvey who worked in the civil rights movement with Medger Evers and Aaron Henry as saying any criticism should be directed at her since she was in charge.  Concerning the paperwork, she further states, "That was taken care of.  That was important to me."

On Stewart's show, he portrays Molpus as a good ole boy segregationist who files the paperwork in a shredder behind his desk.  

Jon Stewart has since given an on air apology, but there is something about the jokes from our comedian friends concerning the Mississippi of today that stikes me wrong.

If it were not for the fact that Mississippi has the most African American elected officials of any state, maybe it would be funny.  If it weren't for all the many people of both races who have made efforts towards getting along and treating each other in a civil manner, towards reconciliation, it might be funny.  If my children were not the second generation of students to be educated in integrated public schools, it might be funny.  If I did not live in an integrated neighborhood and community, it might be funny.  If the state that these comedians describe even existed anymore, it might be funny.  But it's not funny.

In 2007, my wife, Mary Lea Nations and two other female partners started a non-profit, association management company.  Her partners are Jean Weiss and Bertina Dubra, both of Clinton, MS.  Dubra just happens to be African American.  In the Mississippi of Saturday Night Live and Jon Stewart, this would not be possible.  Mary Lea and her partners have several national clients and at times are in the running for additional national clients.  Do you suppose the "comedy" about Mississippi helps them?  I think not.  Do you think that is funny?  No, it's not!