Page 12 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2015

LETTERS to the editor
LETTER from the editor
July is high summer; it’s hot, humid of course, and — if we’re lucky — we get some time to be lazy and removed from everyday routines and obligations. That’s what we call a vacation, and we Americans are not as good at it as the Europeans are. However, studies show that vacation time is beneficial for many reasons.
You don’t have to leave home to have a vacation. It’s possible to stay home and relax, put the daily routine on hold and have fun. That’s a staycation. In South
Mississippi it’s not
only possible to have
a staycation, it’s easy, thanks to the wealth of things to do and places to go; not to mention enjoying activities at home.
Perusing this month’s special section on staycations may give you some ideas of things to do. There’s
a list of possibilities
— far, far from being
complete — and
tips for making the
most of a staycation.
The suggestion is to
adopt some or all of the tips. I saw one right off the bat that I doubt few people can abide: turn off your smart phone. Let’s face it: most of us are permanently tethered to phones. It would take real discipline to turn it off for a few days. But really, what is so earth shattering that it can’t wait until the staycation is over?
Please read the story in the People section about a group of Long Beach church members who’re going to Haiti to help people in that impoverished, earthquake-stricken country. It’s inspiring. The other People story is also inspiring. It’s about Elizabeth Vogel, a young violin virtuoso, who surely will have a bright future.
But, talk about inspiring! Look no farther than the story in Living History about Katherine Blessey’s family immigrating to America from a displaced persons camp in Germany following World War II. It’s beautifully written in Katherine’s own words and fitting for this month when we celebrate our country’s birthday. The Haiti story and Katherine’s tribute remind us of the tremendous blessings we have to live in America.
Here are two last plugs: locals should not ignore the Magnolia House restaurant at Harrah’s Gulf Coast in Biloxi (Dining section), and find out about the good things being done by the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy as written by Sam Burke in The Final Say.
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net
Thanks for your support, the
2nd annual Ports of Call Festival was a community success. To continue our housing and workforce training programs, we more
than doubled funds raised from
last year’s inaugural event. Even more businesses and restaurants supported our mission of promoting strong communities by providing individual access to opportunities that inspire self-reliance.
LORI WEST CLIMB CDC
Thank you for being a sponsor at this year’s Red, White & Blueberry Festival. Your support aided in creating a wonderful quality of life for Ocean Springs, Jackson County and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
OCEAN SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
LOOK US UP ON
FACEBOOK.
South Mississippi Living magazine
12 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • July 2015
Judge Robin Midcalf Brosig and Lynn Lofton, editor of South Mississippi Living, at the Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue fundraiser for Congregation Beth Isreal.
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Enhancements make the best even better
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WOLF RIVER
RECIPES
Canoeing is a great family day trip
Great summer eats for the heat
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PEOPLE DINING SPORTS & OUTDOORS
SHOPPING
HOMES
HEALTHY LIVING CLICK!
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FALLEN OAK
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