M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I Graduation

This is Darwin, currently somewhere over Arkansas on Delta Airlines. I must say this is a first for me to be using WiFi at 36,000 feet. Check that off the bucket list! AND, check off walking for my Masters degree commencement. Yes, that was this weekend's trip; down to Starkville, Mississippi. For those who don't know where that is, it is west central Mississippi. (Why do I keep writing the whole thing out? Don't you remember how fun it is to say all those S's, P's, and I's?) It was great to see some old colleagues and meet others in person that I never had the chance to meet since my program was a Distance Learning program via internet. It was also wonderful to meet my professors in person; even those that had the reputation of being the crabby professors. In all honesty, they were all awesome to meet and since my grade was not on the line, there was no need for such formality.

The ceremony was as expected. Honestly I was hoping for a little more prestige for getting a Masters degree and getting a 4.0 GPA. It turned out that they were giving medallions for undergrad students that made 4.0 (Suma Cum Laude), but they don't recognize that for graduate students. *Sigh* Oh well, I know what I got. I also thought that we would receive our Masters degree hood on the stage, but they only did that for Doctoral degree candidates. Seeing as we had over 100 Masters candidates, I'm sure we're all glad in the long run that they gave us our hood prior to the ceremony. Below are some pics.

This is a small joint called The Little Dooey, a popular BBQ place that everyone down here recommended. (No disrespect to anyone but it still doesn't beat Lon's Cookin' Shack in Provo.) But their deep fried pickles weren't too bad.

After receiving my empty diploma. :o)

Picture of what the hood looks like from behind.

Me and my proud wifey. (Just a side note, when I returned my gown, or garb as my dad calls it, I asked if I had to return the hood or if I could keep it. The guy said I had to return it. I replied, "I paid $90 to rent this thing?" His reply, "Pretty much." Then I asked, "What if I refuse to give back the hood?" He replied, "You can keep it if you want. There is no way for us to know who returned theirs or not." So I kept it as a souvenir.

I was really impressed with the size of campus. Perhaps the size of BYU's campus but about 2/3 the enrollment.

The next day was set for site seeing while we were in this neck of the woods. The next few pictures were taken along the Natchez Trace Parkway, a historic road turned into a National Park that was originally a buffalo migration trail, also used by Native Americans and eventually turned into a road by the Union Army. The scenery is immaculate and you can see some of the most quaint little sights you could ever hope for.

Along the Natchez Trace Parkway

My sweetie pie getting out to see some sights with me.

There is a cute little town along the trail called French Camp. Full of history and the most wonderful atmosphere. The Visitor's Center is an old house and inside they were cooking biscuits and cinnamon rolls using dutch ovens on a fire, all free of course.

There was also a small band playing good ol' fashion southern music; you know, the kind you would hear on Oh Brother Where Art Thou.

And I made a friend.

This gentleman was doing wood carvings on the porch. The one on the left is a humming bird and the right is a peacock.

After we left French Camp, MS, we left the Natchez Trace Parkway and drove down to Vicksburg which lies along the Mississippi River west of Jackson. Just as we were about to head to dinner, an awesome thunderstorm rolled through and boy did it pour! Ki and I loved to watch it out our hotel door. Note that Ki's feet are up due to swelling during the pregnancy and all the walking around we were doing. Driving to the restaurant was a little unnerving hardly being able to see out the windshield, driving in a foreign location, and driving through large puddles. On the restaurant TV it showed the weather channel which was a huge squall line (a line of thunderstorms that stretched from Tennessee to Louisiana.) The affect even closed the Atlanta airport for 3 hours today delaying tons of flights. Even ours because of connecting flights!

Today before we flew out we toured Vicksburg. Many folks may not realized this, but Vicksburg was THE turning point in the Civil War. Many think it was Gettysburg, but Abraham Lincoln stated that Vicksburg was the key to winning the Civil War and the war would not end until that key was in their pocket. It kept the South alive! There is no way to recount a summary that does it justice so I hope the following interests you enough to learn more on your own.

Recreation of what a typical redan (fortification) looked like.

Entrance into the park.

Cannons recreating a set up where a battle took place under the command of Union Captain Samuel De Golyer.

The battlefield, Confederates on the opposite end.

A plaque stating the army headquarters of Ulysses S. Grant on the hill below with a statue of the Major General on his horse.

An interesting plaque stating the wounded, dead, and missing of various battles. Click on picture to enlarge.

This tunnel was built through this hill because as the Union soldiers climbed over it, they would get plucked of by Confederate snipers.

Once through the tunnel you can see the hill where the Confederates were stationed in their redan.

The ship below, the USS Cairo, (pronounced KAY-row in the south) is an actual Civil War ship that was brought up from the Mississippi River after being sunk. Looking toward the front you can see the old beaten up wood boards. The main frame looks like it had been replaced to support the structure. Original cannons and metal armor is present. It sunk exactly 148 years ago TODAY, Dec. 12th! What a day to visit.

A model of what it would have looked like.

The frame for the paddle wheel.

Across the parking lot from the USS Cairo Museum is this cemetery where about 17,000 Union soldiers are buried and 13,000 of them are unknown. Union losses during the Vicksburg campaign were about 3 to 1 Confederates.

Looking over the Mississippi River and Louisiana on the other side.

It was a wonderful and awe inspiring trip; so wonderful to graduate, see some of this country, it's scenic secrets, and to be enlightened on our American history. It really makes me want to go back to see more. Thanks Mom and Dad for coming with us to support me in my graduating ceremony!