OXFORD EXPEDITION!

Considering its relatively close proximity to where I live, it may be surprising that I had never visited Oxford, Mississippi ( www.touroxfordms.com ), until this past year.  Even more surprising to tourism marketing professionals might be the motivation for what brought me to finally make the effort to visit this well-known university town of the South.  The photo below shows the iconic columns of the University of Mississippi's most famous building, The Lyceum. 

It is the events of the 1960's that beckoned me to The Lyceum.  That is because just a short time ago, I learned that one of my California cousins had a "front seat" to the events involving James Meredith's attendance at the University of Mississippi.  During a meet-up with that cousin at one of Branson, Missouri's numerous theater venues that honor veterans, he stood up when the call was made for veterans to rise and be recognized for their service.  Afterward, I realized I did not know exactly where his military service had been, even though I was aware of where other male cousins had completed their military service.  Later, when I asked him, he told me he had served in Mississippi, and when I asked, "Where in Mississippi?", he answered that he had been one of the armed forces Military Police that had been assigned to drive, and otherwise escort/assist, in integration process of the University of Mississippi.  There are several reasons that can explain the fact that it took me fifty years to find out this most interesting fact.  Some of the reasons include the thousands of miles that separated our families, and the relative high cost of long-distance calling and travel during the 1960's.  However, I tend to think it was the realization of the vast cultural differences between his growing up in the cultural melting pot of Los Angeles, California versus my growing up in the "WASP" location of Northwest Arkansas.  

Sometimes, when you are going through your daily life---especially in your youth/young adult days---you don't have a clue that you are a player in significant historical events that will go down in record books in the future.  My cousin's positive comments about James Meredith prompted me to want to find out more about this man whom my cousin had helped protect.  Meredith was a 29-year-old veteran when he entered the University, and while reading up on him,  I learned about the memorial that was constructed on the University of Mississippi campus to commemorate those events, and I wanted to see it in person.  The photo below shows that bronze statue of James Meredith, walking up to the symbolic columned facade of the Lyceum, to enroll in the University.

In 2002, the University of Mississippi ( www.olemiss.edu ) remembered the 40th anniversary of the Meredith's admission, with this statue of him, installed on campus in his honor.  Meredith humbly commented that he was in a "war" to get the constitutional rights held by any American, and not as a participant in the civil rights movement.  Strangely enough, he later supported the 1967 gubernatorial bid of Ross Barnett, who had been one of those who blocked Meredith's admission to Ole Miss.  There are numerous books written by, and about, James Meredith, that can easily be found at Amazon, and similar book sellers.

This statue of James Meredith is my visual aid for my First Place 4 Health ( www.FirstPlace4Health.com ) memory verse from  Hebrews 10:36, that talks about perseverance.  It says, "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."  I am thankful for James Meredith's perseverance, and also for my cousin's perseverance in fulfilling his military duties. 

There were a few other reasons I wanted to visit Oxford, Mississippi, and one of them was to check out the woodland trail that leads from the University of Mississippi campus, to the former home of famous Oxford resident, William Faulkner.  The trail is shown in this photo, and goes through Bailey's Woods.

This photo shows Rowan Oak ( www.rowanoak.com ), the name of William C. Faulkner's property, which is now owned, operated and maintained by the University of Mississippi.  The home sits on 4 landscaped acres and 29 acres of largely wooded property, known as the aforementioned Bailey's Woods.

This brick sidewalk between the street and the front door of the home was planted with cedar trees, because at the time the home was built, there was a theory that cedar trees helped purify the home, and thus made the home occupants have better health.  I saw this same landscape concept used in the approach to The Hermitage, in Tennessee, home of former president Andrew Jackson. 

Visitors enter the Rowan Oak home through the front door, as this tourist is about to do.  This architectural style has been described as "primitive" Greek Revival.  This style was seen in the United States more frequently in the late 18th and early 19th century , because travel was made easier to Greece after the Greek War of Independence in 1832.  Faulkner purchased the home when it was in disrepair, a century later, in the 1930's  He did many of the renovations himself. 

This photo shows that there are Plexiglas barriers that restrain the visitors from tromping through the restored rooms, but if you want more of an "up close" look, there are videos on the Internet that take the viewer through the home, and talk about details of the furnishings.  In addition, a lifelong learning organization called Road Scholar ( www.roadscholar.org ) conducts week long programs in Oxford, Mississippi, that will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about this town and its famous residents!

One of those interesting details that is most famous is this outline of Faulkner's award winning book, A Fable.  The outline he wrote in graphite and red on the plaster  bedroom walls shows how the plot of the book unfolds on each day of the week leading up to Easter Sunday, during a story set in Europe during the War I. 

My tour guide pointed out this "phone nook" in the home, where Faulkner was notified of his winning of a prestigious literary award, and well as the phone numbers he had scribbled all over the walls.  (Apparently, writing on the walls is acceptable if you happen to be one of the most famous Southern writers of the twentieth century!)  The young woman who was showing me around the home is one of several University of Mississippi students who work as "caretakers/guides" for Rowan Oak. You can read a complete biography about William Faulkner on the website, www.nobelprize.org .

While touring inside, I mentioned to a professional photographer on the property that I was particularly interested in the Underwood typewriter Faulkner used, because my father used to sell Underwood typewriters that looked exactly like the one the writer used.  So the pro photographer offered to take my camera and go behind the barriers I was not to breach, so that I could have this closeup photo of Faulkner's famous typewriters for my blog.  (Daddy would be proud I was promoting Underwood typewriters!)

There are dozens of artifacts enclosed in glass cases on the second story of the home, representing different decades of the past.

I was especially intrigued by the old fashioned Glenmore brown and white whiskey jug on display, because ever since I was a child, this "evidence" of a product called "whiskey" was the only alcohol-related I ever saw in my childhood home (my parents were teetotalers).  My mom always said it was an item left behind on a camping trip by one of dad's fishing buddies.  I still have the jug, at my home, and use it as a vase. 

The second story of the home has videos playing that show Williams Faulkner at various public appearances he made throughout his lifetime.  William Cuthbert Faulkner (September 25, 1897 - July 6, 1962) is described as an American author who won the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature. 

Later, in 1954, his book, A Fable, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well as the National Book Award.  He spent more than a decade and tremendous effort on it, and aspired for it be "the best work of my life and maybe of my time." 

I was pleased to get to see a live production of a William Faulkner re-enactor, when he put on a production at The Sheid, on the ASU campus, in Mountain Home, Arkansas.

At the time of the live performance, I had just spent long periods of time watching actual videos of the real Faulkner, so I found this presentation fascinating!

The young Faulkner was greatly influenced by the history of his family and the region in which he lived.  This photo of the government building in downtown Oxford, Mississippi, was likely the inspiration for some of the scenes in the "mythological" county of Mississippi where his stories took place. 

There is a bronze statue of Faulkner on the building's front lawn, and although it is gated, the gate is unlocked, so that visitors can go in and get their photo made setting next to the famous author.  Speaking of famous Mississippi authors, it was the generosity of former University of Mississippi law school graduate, author & lawyer John Gresham, (along with other law school alums) that provided the funds to complete a thorough renovation of Rowan Oak, which led to it being rededicated in May, 2005. 

This photo of the roots of one of the majestic trees on the Rowan Oak estate serve as a reminder to explain the origin of the name "Rowan".  The story goes that Faulkner chose the name because in European folk lore, the rowan tree was said to have magical properties that would keep away evil spirits. 

 

Rowan Oak, in Oxford, Mississippi, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1968.  Its linkage to the University of Mississippi is extensive, even though Faulkner only attended the University of Mississippi for 3 semesters, enrolling in 1919, before dropping out in November, 1920.  He was able to attend there because his father worked at Ole Miss as a business manager.  Young Faulkner skipped class often, and received a "D" in English.  That would be the first, of many literary disappointments, as he received MANY rejections from publishers of his writing.  (Unlike today, when ANY author, can publish ANY written manuscript, for ANY person to read on the Internet!)  William Faulkner had other connections to Ole Miss, in that he served as the university's postmaster from 1921-1924.  Also, in 1929, Faulkner wrote As I Lay Dying (my personal favorite of his literary publications) in the University Power House, where he worked as a fireman and night watchman.  The moral to this story is "Perseverance Pays Off" in the end!  Seeing examples of perseverance in Oxford, Mississippi, gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!   Tricia

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ADDENDUM:  This blog is dated as "September 30th", in honor of the birthday of my cousin, who is mentioned in this article.  He celebrated 80 years of PERSEVERANCE on this day, in 2018!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  Also,  since I am writing this blog to help give me visual aids for the Hebrews 10:36 Bible verse about PERSEVERANCE, I want to quote a statement given by James Meredith to The Durango Herald just this month.  At age 85, he stated, "I've been in the God business all my life.  Ole Miss to me was nothing but a mission from God.  The Meredith March Against Fear was my most important mission from God, until this one coming up right now:  Raising the moral character up, and making people aware of their duty to follow God's plan and the teachings of Jesus Christ."  Now THAT is what I would call Christian perseverance!

LOUISIANA PLANTATION TRAIL EXPEDITION!

For decades, I have seen  photos of this "tunnel" of  oak trees in magazines, and dreamed that one day I would be able to see it in person.  And, by the Grace of God, this past July, I was able to actually stroll what is called "Oak Alley" in south Louisiana.  The photo above was taken by Brian Jewell, editor of Group Travel Leader Magazine ( www.grouptravelleader.com ) , who (along with other members of his staff) worked with the River Parishes Tourist Commission ( www.neworleansplantationcountry.com ) to co-ordinate our group's site visits to seven different plantations.

During my tour of Oak Alley Plantation ( www.oakalleyplantation.org ), I was able to understand that this famous scene was the "street" or passageway that led from the banks of the Mississippi River to the "big house", where the planter/owner lived with their family. It is one fourth mile in length, and made up of 300 year old live oak trees.   The photo below shows a closer view of the familiar Louisiana plantation-style home that usually comes to mind, when you think about this part of the country.

A view one would get as they left the main plantation home would be the passageway to the Mississippi River. Perhaps at one time, the visitor could see steamboats on the river, but now the huge grass-covered levee renders the actual waters of the river out of sight, since they are on the other side of the levee.  The photo below is looking towards the levee, and the "blue sky" above the levee indicates that is the space above the river. 

Another very popular historic home to tour in the area is The Houmas House ( www.houmashouse.com ).  What I find amazing about this home, is that the owner actually lives there still, yet he lets visitors enter his "inner sanctom", to get a glimpse of how the property is being used now.  In addition to it providing a domicile for the owner, he has added to the property so that it has large spaces for special events, a restaurant, gift shop, and rental cottages for overnight visitors.   

I mentioned that seeing "Oak Alley" was a long-time dream; likewise, a swamp boat tour has also been an activity that has interested me.  On this trip, we were able to take our first trip into the swamp on an air boat ( www.SwampAdventuresNOLA.com ), equipped with "ear muffs" to protect our ears from the extremely loud fan motor that propels the boat over the shallow waters.  Once we had journeyed deep into the swamp, the driver stopped the boat, we took off our ear protection, and listened/watched as he pointed out the fascinating flora and fauna that surrounded us:

We also took a different swamp tour, at a different location, and this time, it was on a pontoon-style boat, and at a much slower pace ( www.cajunprideswamp.com ).  Needless to say, we saw plenty of alligators on both trips into the Louisiana swamp.  On the pontoon boat ride, the captain's young son passed around a small, live alligator that guests could choose to hold, if desired, and have their picture made with the alligator.  After much hesitation, I decided to hold it, because I wanted to get a photo of me holding an alligator.  However, after seeing the (scary--- in my mind only) alligator that showed in the photograph with me, it looked no bigger than a large lizard I commonly see around my home.  Hence, I am too embarrassed to put the photo in this blog!  Yet, at the time I was contemplating holding it, it seemed huge!   While educating myself on New Orleans area attractions, I came across an article that offered suggestions for Grandparent/Grandchild outings that mentioned "swamp visits".  I would recommend one of these swamp boat tours as an excellent opportunity to spend time with a grandchild in the outdoors! ( I want to give a "shout out" to the website that provided the article, because it has started a "spin-off" called Boomers. The  Executive Editor of the new Boomers magazine is a Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sister of mine, from our days at the University of Arkansas.  Her name is Laura Claverie, and you can read more great articles for folks of my generation, by clicking on www.nolafamily.com/nola-boomers/ )

All of the plantations we visited included recreated slave quarters, in order to commemorate the people who did the actual physical labor to make these properties possible.  The re-created slave quarters shown below were at the San Francisco Plantation. 

The San Francisco Plantation main house ( www.sanfranciscoplantation.org ) is shown in photo below, and is on property owned by Marathon Oil.

The first time I saw a photo of the San Francisco Plantation, I was immediately curious about the cylindrical tower pictured adjacent to the big house.  During my tour of the property, I learned that this was their water storage and supply system.  If you look closely at the photo below, you will see that there is a pipe leading from the tower, into the upper story of the home.

At the Destrehan Plantation ( www.destrehanplantation.org ) we were able to see their water supply tower system (shown below), which was not quite as ornate as the one at the San Francisco property.

There are various educational exhibits/demonstrations available for visitors at the Drestehan Plantation.  I was delighted that the one our group was able to witness, involved the use of the indigo plant, which was one of the crops grown on plantations, hundreds of years ago:

The Ormond Plantation is not only historic, but also available for special events, and our group was treated to a delicious evening meal there, in the formal dining room.  In addition, their website ( www.plantation.com ) indicates they also function as a Bed and Breakfast, to provide overnight lodging. 

The elegant cuisine we enjoyed at the Ormond Plantation was just one  of the many opportunities to sample local flavors.  We enjoyed a seafood lunch, along with several nearby refinery workers, at a restaurant adjacent to the levee. The display case at the counter where you placed your order left no question as to what their specialty was:   ( you can see below it is GULF SEAFOOD!)

Another important crop, in addition to the indigo plant,  during the height of the plantation era was sugar cane.  One of the ways that sugar cane was used was to make rum.  In recognition of that tradition, a local family has recently opened a small distillery, which we were able to tour.  They proudly label their product as "Made in the USA"!

We also went to a restaurant where alligator was not only on the menu (which I was able to sample), but also there was a live alligator just inches from the shoreline, that caught the attention of the man shown in this photo, who is pointing to it.

No trip to the Gulf of Mexico area is complete without the traditional "Shrimp Boil Plate", so I thoroughly enjoyed the one I was served at the Frenier Landing Restaurant ( www.frenierlanding.com )

Another plantation we visited that has an architecture less associated with an "antebellum" time period, was the Laura Plantation (www.lauraplantation.com ).  It is said to have a "Creole" design, and our tour guide did an outstanding job of describing the lifestyles of the various creole characters who have lived there:

So far, I have mentioned five of the plantations we visited .  The sixth one was called Evergreen Plantation ( www.evergreenplantation.org ), and for me, it was the most memorable because of the animated stories provided by our tour guide.  Before we retreated to the air-conditioned interior spaces to tour, we went around to the front of the house which faces the Mississippi River and levee, to get a photograph of its impressive entryway way and porch:

One of the plantations whose modern-day owner was deeply touched by learning of the history and hardships of the slaves who had formerly lived at his plantation, decided to take a completely different viewpoint, as he prepared the plantation for public visitation.  Simply called "The Whitney" ( www.whitneyplantation.com ) it is focused almost entirely on the enslaved people who were born there and died there, or otherwise wound up at this location.  He built a wall, inspired by the Viet Nam War Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., that is engraved with

the names of all those slaves who were, at one time, simply listed as "pieces of property", by the slavemaster who owned them. 



Our group visited a historic church (Riverlands Christian Center) in Reserve, Louisiana that gives a glimpse at what segregation in the churches looked like in the pre-civil rights era.  Since it was a Sunday, we were able to participate in their weekly worship services, as well as hear a presentation called "Soul River---A Musical Journey through African American History".  Visitors are always welcome at the worship services of the Riverlands Christian Center, and to schedule a presentation of their "Soul River" program, call 985-210-6621.

The Riverlands Christian Center  is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and serves as the visual aid for one of my First Place 4 Health ( www.firstplace4health.com ) memory verses that says, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 Corinthians 4:17 .  I am very thankful for the strong faith of persecuted Christians, that enables them to endure their hardships, because of their faith in God's promises.   This church is a reminder of a time when the ONLY hope an enslaved person had, was that of eternal glory, after they died.

 This trip along Louisiana's Plantation Trail gave me "MILES OF SMILES"! (Or, as they say in the swamp, "See ya later, alligator!")

YOSEMITE EXPEDITION!

Yosemite National Park  ( www.nps.gov/yose ) lies in central California on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada.  This sign I photographed in June, 2018, at the entrance, is a much more "modern" looking sign that the one that my husband and I saw, when we visited the park back in 1998.  I would later discover that this was the first of dozens of new signs (and new names!) for places I saw twenty years ago!

Fortunately, the name, and magnificent view, of the "cut-in-half-sphere-shaped-mountain" in the center of this photo has not changed, and it  is still called "Half Dome"! 

However, one thing about Half Dome that has changed since twenty years ago, is that you now need to register and get a permit to climb its spherical ascent side.  Apparently, so many people were ascending to the top of it (no technical climbing equipment is required, rather one holds onto a metal railing that leads to the top), that overcrowding became an issue. 

At the observation patio near the entrance to the park, there is a model of Half Dome, that allows visitors to see the topography of the surrounding mountains and valley. 

Yosemite is famous for its spectacular waterfalls, and the best viewing of these is before they run dry during the late summer months. 

My son (who rock climbs regularly at Yosemite) gave me some recommendations on hikes that would be suitable for my cousin, Debbie (shown in this photo), and I.  One he recommended as a "Must See" was the jaunt to Bridalveil Fall.  Since we were there in June, the sign was accurate in that it was steep, but we did not encounter any icy conditions!

The entire ascent to the Bridalveil Fall viewing area is alongside this cascading rush of water, crashing against boulder after boulder.

Debbie is seen in this photo, with the spraying mist of Bridalveil Fall behind her.  We did not go much farther than this point, because the rocks were big and slippery, and we had many more places we wanted to check out in the park!

After the falls, we drove down to Yosemite Village, and the biggest challenge we faced was finding a parking place!  Once that hurdle was overcome, we set out on foot to explore what the village had to offer.  We visited a gift shop, a restaurant, a re-created Ahwahneechee Indian village.  We also saw an Indian Cultural Exhibit that depicted the history of  the Miwok and Paiute. 

Being a "photography nut", I was eager to visit the Ansel Adams Gallery ( www.anseladams.com ).  When I was there twenty years ago, the gallery had offered a free "photography walk", and I was eager to find out if they still did so.  The answer was "Yes", but it was all booked up for that day, so Debbie and I signed up for the first one offered the next morning. 

When we arrived at the gallery the next day before it opened, we chatted with other guests who were also going to be on the walk.  Soon our leader appeared, and we followed her like "ducks in a row" across the meadow and the Merced River, to a location that would give us a beautiful view of Yosemite's Upper Falls.  Our leader is the girl in this photo that everyone is looking at. 

She had a copy of one of Ansel Adams photography books, and took us to a few of the same locations where Adams captured the magnificence of Yosemite Valley.

This photo shows the meadow in the foreground, and the Upper Falls in the background.  Folks are asked not to walk on the meadow, as it is in a restoration phrase; likewise, pets are not allowed in the meadow or on the trails. 

One of the ladies in our photography "class" tried out the skills she had just been taught, by taking this photo of Debbie and me together on the boardwalk, with the Upper Falls in the background.  I think she did a great job!

After the photography class, Debbie and I made our way over to the famous hotel she had been wanting to see, after hearing great things about it from family members who had stayed there.  Debbie and I called it The Ahwahnee Hotel, but we found out that it has a new name, due to the fact that a new concession service has taken over the management of the park.  It is now called the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, and true to its name, it is MAJESTIC!.  Debbie looks like a little midget beside its MASSIVE fireplace!  You can find out more about lodging available within the park at www.travelyosemite.com .

After a thorough visit of the public areas of the legendary hotel, we drove over to the newly opened Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.  We felt very fortunate on the timing, because this section of Yosemite had been closed for renovations until just a few days before we were there. 

One of the new exhibits is this "slice" from one of the trees at the Mariposa grove, and I am using it as the visual aid I to help me learn my First Place 4 Health ( www.FirstPlace4Health.com ) memory verse from 2 Corinthians 4:16.  It says, "Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."   These giant trees sometimes will have an outer appearance of charred bark, but somehow---miraculously---they will recover and manage to eek out another growth ring.  They are being inwardly renewed!

One new component of the Mariposa Grove is this shuttle bus that takes one to the trails within the Mariposa Grove.  Twenty years ago, when I visited with my husband, we were able to drive our car to the parking lot where the trails begin. 

The Mariposa Grove is where you can see those famous trees with tunnels through them!

Out of curiosity, Debbie and I stopped at this historic hotel near the giant sequoias.  It used to be called Wawona Hotel.  It is now known as "Big Trees Lodge".  Admittedly, that is an easier name to remember, and does relate to its location near the famous big trees.  Not surprisingly, it was completely booked up!

After the Mariposa Grove, Debbie and I made our way eastward through the park, through the Tuolumne Meadows.  There are two rivers that flow through the park---The Tuolumne River and The Merced River---and we had managed to visit both of them in one day!

To me, the highlight of the eastern side of the park was visiting the unforgettable Olmsted Point. 

Olmsted Point is an easily accessible rock outcropping, with huge cracks and boulders left by glacial action of centuries ago.  I could have stayed there for hours taking photos, but darkness was approaching, and we had many more miles to go!

This is a photo of my beautiful Cousin Debbie, and it was such a blessing, to get to spend time with her at Yosemite National Park.  That is because June, 2018, marked the one year anniversary of her liver transplant!  She had been on the Liver Transplant List for almost twenty years, and she is a wonderful example of perseverance and hope!!  We had a great reason to be celebrating this milestone in her life!  Getting to make this visit to Yosemite National Park with her, was an answer to many prayers, and gave me MILES OF SMILES!   Tricia