Going great, folks! Hit the Natchez Trace Tuesday morning and made several stops along the way to do a little hiking and see the sites. I’m going to have to do a post just on the trip driving the Trace later. So many pictures! So nice to tromp around in the woods again!
Stopped off in Jackson for a visit with friends that included a trip to the Art Museum and a Friendsgiving celebration on Wednesday evening! Great couple of days relaxing.
Completely forgot to take pictures of the friends, but it was a small gang of people who worked together at MSDH years ago. Always fun to see them and catch up. Such wonderful folks!
The Mississippi Museum of Art currently has an exhibit that includes Van Gogh, Monet, and Degas, three of my favorite painters. Given that this is a small museum, the exhibit had none of their more famous works and was fleshed out with other artists of that time period. Still, it was quite lovely and I found an artist of whom I was previously unaware that I really liked and want to learn more about: Berthe Morisot. Lovely work!
Rolled out of bed Thursday morning, headed to Fulton to visit with family. A quick drive through Krispy Kreme was necessary to spur me on my way! The drive from Jackson to Tupelo was a little sad because of all the tornado damage along the way. When I got to Tupelo, I rolled off the trace in search of a signal for my phone to plug in the address to my counsin’s house. I drove all over Tupelo with the firm belief that the signal would magically appear. Alas, it did not. I finally pulled over and completely turned my phone off and back on. Then it did magically appear. Ha! Not sure what happened, but I did finally make it to the relatives’ lovely lake home outside of Fulton and we had a grand visit. Been quite some time since I’ve seen those family members; too long! Will definitely not wait that long again.
The drive today from Tupelo to Florence, Alabama, was very nice. Took a couple of short hikes along the way and saw some beautiful sites that I want to revisit in the spring. As I was leaving the last trail, another hiker — a lady about my age — was setting out to hike it herself. We talked briefly, and as we were parting she rapped a Happy Birthday song, just for me! It was hilarious, but I cannot remember it now to save my life. You meet fun people everywhere if you just take the time!
Now I’m at a nice hotel, waiting for my buddies to show up and for us to begin terrorizing the town and celebrating my birthday even more. Can’t wait!
That Sassy Age 
I have been thinking of you all week! Happy, happy celebration.
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