In the midst of chaos there are still signs of joy, hope

Published 1:33 pm Thursday, June 11, 2020

It feels to me as if our country is in a bit of a freefall right now.

And this plunge into fear and unrest from the COVID-19 pandemic and the protests, some of which have included mayhem and rioting due to the heinous killing of George Floyd by a white police officer, has made it a challenge to find safe grounding.

Therefore, in an attempt to help me keep my footing, I decided to make out a list of some things — good things — and also things that remind me that not everything in life has become unhinged.

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First on my list is the weather.

No matter what else is going on in the world, we can be assured the weather in Mississippi during the summer months is going to be the same — hot and humid. Don’t let these last couple of days we have had fool you. These milder temps are just a tease. We all know that, by August, we will be wishing for relief from the heat.

Secondly, kids are going to be kids. The other day I was with Vicksburg Post photographer Courtland Wells while he was taking pictures of kids at a swimming pool. There I was reminded of the pool games that have been around for decades.

It felt so “normal” to see a kid tossing a ball to another while on the diving board in hopes it would be caught. There were also the teen sunbathers. Swimsuits, of course, have changed through the years, but girls wanting to cash in on a little vitamin D are still around.

Also good and grounding is gardening. I speak often of my flower beds, but I am glad my dad, year after year, has put in tomato plants. For the past couple of years, hubby has helped out, and he said it is looking like they will have a robust crop in a few weeks.

I can’t imagine a summer without eating a homegrown tomato sandwich slathered in mayonnaise. Of course, if there is bacon around, a few slices makes for a gourmet meal.

Speaking of gardening, I can’t help but smile when I smell a gardenia. It has always been my favorite flower, and this year I planted a bush in a pot on my back patio. Last week, I had more than 20 blooms. Talk about a “happy camper,” when I walked outside and got a whiff of those beauties. I felt like I was in paradise.

While there are some issues that I feel are daunting and deplorable and certainly must be addressed, I also have to remind myself of what is positive and enduring, still.

Today, this minute, it seems like goodness and calm are hiding under a bush. But I know if I just take the time to look and find them, I will be able to stand on solid ground.

 

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. She can be reached at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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