The other day a couple in Buzzy’s Country Store informed me that they were from Mississippi. They are here because the dude is in the Navy and is stationed at Pax River.
After some chit chat about how Southern Maryland’s July and August weather is not much different than Mississippi’s, I very tactfully asked them about their State’s rep as far as being last or near the bottom of most quality of life issues. I even asked them if it was true that the Alabama state motto was “Thank God for Mississippi or we’d be last in every category.”
The lady told me that they get that a lot when they tell folks that they are from Mississippi. I immediately regretted bringing it up. However, to try and redeem myself, I went on to tell them that I knew how they felt because I sometimes get that kind of feedback from folks whenever I tell them that I am from Ridge. (For example I once had someone ask me after I told them where I grew up – “Does Ridge have indoor plumbing yet?” I was tempted to respond “Yes, but we still pump all of our shit directly into the Bay and the River.”)
The lady from Mississippi informed me that the “Thank God for Mississippi” is considered a joke in Mississippi and that there is even a website for it – no surprise there eh? She told me that Mississippians say the same thing about Alabama. She also noted that regarding those lists ranking the states, the saying goes – Mississippi is often first on every list you want to be last on and last on every list you’d like to be first on. She did note that Mississippi’s cost of living is nowhere near as high as say Maryland’s plus real estate prices are much better in their Magnolia State.
With no professional baseball nor football franchises there, Mississippi has never been on Brady’s and my stadium itinerary of places to take in a game. Al Watson keeps talking about us taking in an Ole Miss football game some fall and I may just take him up on that offer. (Clarksdale and Robert Johnson’s Crossroads are on my musical bucket list of places to visit so I have that to prod me on also.)
Every time I hear mention made of Mississippi I immediately hum Dylan’s “Stayed in Mississippi a day too long.” Here is an in depth review of the tune – maybe a little too in depth but worth a read anyway (click here.)