Oxford

Did you know that they don’t have basements in Mississippi? It’s pretty rare if someone does. Even big huge nice fancy houses… they build up, not down. That’s how they roll. But if you’re going to roll to the Upper Peninsula stop in to the Hilltop Restaurant in L’Anse for a fresh Sweet Roll. They’re world famous for a reason. I’ve been on a trend to use completely random tie-ins lately. Speaking of ties… just kidding!

For a little while I’ve been reading pieces of “The Lost Continent” by Bill Bryson and his search for the perfect fairytale small town in the country. Well, it’s still a metropolis compared to my hometown, but Bill, I think I found it, Oxford, MS. Turns out Bill was here too.

My hosts John and Joanna met in North Dakota. There, they both worked at UND in the space studies and law program. John came from a hometown of 350 people where Joanne came from Brooklyn. A little bit of difference there. For now they’re in Mississippi.

Something about Oxford has that great southern sweetness to it, warm and cozy and a slow pace. It’s a beautiful area. And they have amazing thunderstorms! At least one anyways. The rain came down hard and the thunder boomed for a long time. John assured me that if there was a tornado that he would come and wake me up to move to a safer location. Thanks John! However, I’m an adrenaline junkie, I would be pretty tempted to grab my camera and keys.