Today’s ride is short, just from Jackson, MS to Little Rock, Arkansas.  The back roads are again glorious today, though it’s much hotter earlier in the day today than yesterday.  I love seeing all the little BBQ stands along the way and now for a second day in a row, Terron and I re laughing back and forth at all of the Dollar General stores.  I swear there’s one every 20 miles!  And between these landmark are fun little things, like a Tipi!  

I’ve seen others like it, just not this one.  The places we’ve already been to in our lives are later remembered for the memory there.  That restaurant where you had your first date; that campground where you met a new friend, the arena where you saw a favorite band in concert; and you are instantly transported back.

The same is true  in a journalist’s life but the memories are very different.  When we go back to someplace the job’s taken us, we remember the reason why, the story that led us there. The moment we crossed the bridge over the Mississippi River, into Arkansas, I see one familiar thing after another!  I spent ten years anchoring the news in Arkansas.  Today I instantly recalled how to pronounce all of the odd names of counties and cities.

And there are places I clearly remember driving to and the reasons why.  When I see a sign for Varner, I remember that this is where the Cummins unit is located at the state prison.  This was Arkansas’ death row.  And I remember being there to cover the executions of several men.

As we move up the road we are in construction.  Hmm I recall this very stretch of highway under construction when I lived here, more than ten years ago.  Do they re-do the roads that often  here?

Through Little Rock, I see the state Capitol and the station where I worked, the many hospitals where I interviewed doctors and patients for my health reports here.  And I see some new highways that have gone in for the many new restaurants and shopping that weren’t here when I lived here.
You know as I’m writing  this I am a little saddened that I did not go by my old house – never thought of that earlier.

Instead, we head right to a friend’s house where we’re staying tonight.  We have not seen Jill and Robert for almost 2 years and now their daughter is 5!  She is excited to see us and even created a beautiful welcome sign for us!  And Bella and Budreau greet us too.

We dump our bags and chat for a bit and head over to visit with Terron’s mentor Jim and his wife Libby.  I am very excited to see both of them!  They are just the sweetest, most positive force of life ever!
We really do have so many wonderful friends here in Little Rock and I will apologize right now for not seeing them all while we’re here.
Jill and Robert grill up a fantastic dinner for us! And Jill made a fresh Key Lime Pie!  Yum!  Leah and I play in her closet, hiding from the monsters and I reflect how life is so good, because it’s filled with wonderful people!