Friday Night Fun

Too bad I don't have any more photos from this night because it was the best ever!  Penny, Mary, Sally, Janie and I met for dinner at Gardinia's around 8:30 and ordered wine, water and apps!  Within a few minutes we spotted a few family members, Jimmy and James Dale.  We all were so excited to see each other.  We usually always saw one another at Nanna's house on Christmas.  So, we hung out.  Then Penny said "I think that is the editor of Delta magazine who just walked in the door."  Sure enough it was, and she was so sweet to meet and chat with us.  I think she was impressed that her magazine went to Pensacola, Atlanta, St.  Louis and Vicksburg!  Then we ordered steaks and more wine..and in walks another Dale!  This time Daniel.  We all started squealing.  The night ended with Penny ordering champagne at 12:30 and us shutting  the place down at 2 AM!  Sally who is 27+ weeks pregnant didn't even want to call it a night. BEST NIGHT EVER!

A Bit of History

Pinky didn't place much importance on anything besides family.  The only reason any of us knew the Guidon Flag existed was because of the oral history she gave for Delta State University.  She was given this flag in 1966 from a member of the Navy.  It flew in JFK's inaugural and funeral procession.

We couldn't find it after going through all her things at first.  Friday afternoon, Sally was bending down to pick up some trash and found this letter lying on the floor.  The front part of the envelope had Pinky's handwriting and it spelled out in all caps.."IMPORTANT!"  It was the letter authenticating the flag and it's history.  We were all excited but still no flag.

We talked about it.  I didn't even know what we were looking for in terms a flag.  I was just thinking red, white and blue.  But Mary said she looked it up..and it was a blue/white flag with a chevron edge.

We spent all day Saturday slowly making our picks of things we wanted to take home with us.  Once we finished, we started cleaning up and going through clothing/purses.  Penny and I were in her large closet, and I was sifting through to make sure there was nothing I wanted to keep.  And then I spotted a chevron edge...and started screaming "I FOUND IT!" We all came running into the den and took a long look at it.  All of us too excited to speak:)  It was really neat to see something that we weren't sure ever truly existed.

It is locked up in a safe deposit box now, and we are all trying to figure out where it should go.

Pinky's Place

A couple of hot and LONG days were spent going through Pinky's things and dividing them up.  It is hard to describe the amount of stuff she had.  She kept everything.  It was hot.  But it was so interesting coming across letters and photos.  She lived a big life in such a quiet and simple way.  There are so many lessons to be learned from her.

It was hard driving off from her house.  I no longer have any family in the Delta.  Very sad. Sally, Janie and I talked and promised each other that we would try and come back every couple of years to remember.

Last Pinky Photo

Downtown Gwood

Sally, Janie and I decided to stay at The Alluvian while we were in town.  We aren't sure how much we will ever be back in Greenwood, so we wanted to stay somewhere that had some great memories.  We stayed here for Nanna's 88th and 90th birthday celebrations.

Anyway, it is such a great hotel with a beautiful courtyard, bar, lounge and restaurant!

A Few Other Spots

War Memorial and Sidon Cemetery..where we placed flowers for Pinky.

Elder Grove

When we were little kids, Pinky would take us "out riding."  Her favorite spot to go was Elder Grove.  If I remember correctly, it is about 14,000 acres in Sidon, MS that has been in our family for at least 5 generations.  We were always told that our great-great grandfather, Solon Irving Brown, won most of it in a late night game of poker.  All of his descendants own the land now, and we rent it out to a local farmer.

Sally, Janie and I had to spend a few days in Greenwood this past weekend helping our two aunts go through all of Pinky's things, and us three girls wanted to take a trip out to the land right when we got into town.  It had been so long since we had been, we had to ask a few people in the family for directions.

It was pretty awesome to see it.  We climbed up on top of my truck to get a good view.  Corn was being grown on one side of the road and peanuts on the other.  Standing out there made me realize why Pinky wanted to retire back home after living away/abroad during her Navy career.  It is just a different part of the world.  And a place where you can just block out all the noise.

Before we left, we filled up a bunch of mason jars with dirt for us and our cousins:)

Random Shots

Week Long Visit in Pcola

Me and the kids went to Pensacola for about 9 days, so Solon and Luke could co to the Flip Factory together for the week.  It was a little day camp that centered around a bunch of bouncy houses and a water slide on Wednesday.  We all had a great time spending time together.  We took the kids to the splash pad on Palofox, Baskin Robbins, tubing down a river and Flounders.  And they had fun playing around the house and of course swimming in the pool  Lukey and Solon have become such great friends...it was fun just watching them have a great time.  As for Tot...she busted trying to walk and had a shiner that still hasn't gone away!