Deb and I "got out." And we crammed a lot into our adventure to Arkansas and Tennessee while there to participate in a family wedding.We saw the sun. Cotton fields. Soybean fields. Highway poetry ("Buckle up, y'all; it's the law.") Mississippi River. White River. Lots of rivers. Big churches. Big Walmart's. FedEx planes overhead. Razorbacks (everywhere) and Red Wolves (with a tour of the football stadium.) Barbecue. Girls with makeup and fellas with big trucks. Fried pickles. Fried green tomatoes. Grits. Parking ticket at the Little Rock airport. County Courthouse so I can officiate legal weddings. Barbecue. Five added pounds. Country music. Delta Blues. "Domestic beer." Barbecue. Being addressed as "Justice" when asked if I had time that day to officiate another wedding. Being called "Mr. Mike" by everyone else under the age of 40. Gas under $3. Barbecue.
"All y'all's." Yes Sir,""no Sir." Being called "Honey," "Sugar," "Reverend" and "Yankee." Catching myself talking like a Southerner (does Southern California count?) while not really
understanding real Southerners.
Juneau to Ketchikan to Seattle to LA to Memphis. Memphis to Minneapolis to Salt Lake to Seattle to Ketchikan to Juneau. Memphis, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Hot Springs, Little Rock, Jonesboro, Memphis. Bass Pro Shop. A free knife given to the nice folks at TSA (again.) Wearing UAS gear and getting treated like a celebrity...or maybe like a foreigner.
Our California children. Our Arkansas relatives. A new nephew. A 45-minute rehearsal. A beautiful wedding. A fun reception. A little stomp on the dance floor with my own pretty bride.
Them's? Them there's Arkansas! I like it. A lot.
