Day 10: 119 Miles
Starting location day 10: Poverty Point State Park, Delhi, Louisiana – 33 degrees
Ending location day 10: Natchez State Park, Natchez, Mississippi – 45 degreesDay 11: 207 Miles leaving the Trace
Starting location day 11: Natchez State Park, Natchez, Mississippi – 40 degrees
Ending location days 11-13: Sandy Creek Campground, Jasper, Texas – 45-70 degreesMajor Stops: Emerald Mound
Weather: Mostly sunny the entire time
Last stops on the Trace
One of the final stops of significance that we have not already talked about, is Emerald Mound. The Park uses the singular, but the site actually has a few mounds that were built over 300 years, from 1300-1600 AD; and, like Poverty Point, they did it WITHOUT earth moving equipment! It is hard to imagine a group of people keeping at something longer than the United States is old! The sign in the picture below talks about how this may have come about.
Reflections on Leaving the Trace
Driving 50 mph along the winding Natchez Trace Parkway with very little traffic, I had gone into a deeply mental state. The slow pace and lack of driving stress became hypnotic as it took me into the past. I felt the ghosts of ancestors long gone and the horrors of slavery and war. These ghosts walked this beautiful path with me whispering in my ears. “What would you be willing to die for?” “What does it mean to be a human?” “What does it mean to be an American?”
How does anyone answer these questions?
- Would I be willing to die for someone’s freedom even when I don’t know them personally?
- Would I be willing to die for my own freedom or my daughters?
- Would I be willing to die to maintain my financial standing, my way of life?
- What is fair and what is justice?
- Does being a human being mean I must live up to some standard? If so, what is that standard, and how do we all align on this standard?
- What does it even mean to be an American?
Freedom
Are we ever really free? Getting a little ahead of my story….I used to think so, until I just had to drive through a vehicle inspection point because I was driving on a highway near the Mexican border. I never left the US. I was simply in proximity to our border with our peaceful neighbor, Mexico. Yet, my vehicle was subject to a search, and I had to provide my ID. Is that free?
A person I know, who lives in China, told me that he might “secretly” follow my blog. At first, I thought that was being funny; but then I realized he was likely being honest. That certainly is not free.
Clearly being enslaved is not free. Would America even fight this war today? Are we willing to put our lives on the line for something we believe?
I wonder what the French saw in us, to give us the Statue of Liberty? Perhaps it was simply opportunity? The ability to search out your way and gain financial success. Is that all it means to be American..financial success? I don’t know the answer, but I think it’s something we should all ponder a bit as we move into the post pandemic world. The world has tilted and we all must find our way.
Actions Tell the Character
I confess to being a podcast junky. I LOVE them! They are all fascinating, and I learn many different things. So, I must share one that I recently listened to that will help me to close this discussion. It was the story of Oliver Sipple on Radiolab. Link to podcast is here. This is the man who saved President Ford from being shot. Spoiler alert, if you prefer to listen to it first, stop here……
Since you are reading on, this is the man who grabbed the women’s arm and deflected the second shot at the President. It turned out he was an ex-Marine (honorably discharged) who had served in Vietnam. He was gay, and Harvey Milk got involved to publish this fact as this was an upright person who was also gay. At this time, many people thought gays were sexual deviants, so Harvey wanted to use this man to show they were not. Despite Sipple’s desire to keep his sexuality out of the press, it was published in the story. His mother would no longer speak to him, his father told his brother to forget he had a brother, and thus he ends up losing his family for the rest of his life. So, tragic!
I’m telling you this story, because of the strength this man shows and his characterization of how to judge a human. In his statements to the press, he stumblingly tells them, (paraphrasing) ‘It doesn’t matter who one loves. It matters what one does. That is the defining element of a person’s character.’ Sipple was not a comfortable public speaker, but he laid out his honesty and bravery for all to see in his actions and words. Today he would be seen as a hero.
Thus as I leave the Trace behind with all these musings, I hope our country can become less judgemental and more loving. That we can adopt an abundance mentality instead of a scarcity one which will allow us to help our fellow humans to rise out of abject poverty and hatred. Our actions must speak for who we are and those actions are how history will judge our time.
Vacation from Retirement
I was sad to leave the Trace because as my friends know, I am deeply reflective and this was a perfect fit for me. But, now we are on to happier and less deep topics.
My sister mentioned to me that I had been moving a lot and that I would need a vacation from retirement. Again, she is a smart cookie, and was right. I was tired of moving. So, I decided to stay in one place for three nights and recharge. This gave me a chance to give Clarice her first bath since leaving Michigan, do some more trip planning and catch up a bit on the blog. The place is Sandy Creek campground which is an Army Corp of Engineers campground. It was the first time I ever stayed in one, and it was lovely.
The world would be a much better place if everyone were as reflective as you, Karen. This post in particular should make us all think long and hard about the questions you’ve posed. Thanks for taking us along for the ride. You’re good company and I’m learning a lot. Be safe!
Thanks, Ang! I hope you are well! Miss seeing you.
Hey Karen! Loving your blog and admiring you every time I read it. Appreciate your musings and I’ve learned so much! Can’t wait to hear your next leg of the journey!
I am loving your blog!! What an adventure. I know have more places I want to go. Be safe and have fun. I will keep reading!