MLK and Molé

After spending that last couple of weeks settling back into Oxford and catching up with our MS friends, Abby and I decided that we needed to take at least one little trip before school starts up for me. Given that this weekend is the MLK holiday weekend, we thought that a trip to National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM) in Memphis was in order. We made the drive up on Saturday and had a really nice time at the NCRM.

Half of the NCRM is actually in the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was shot. The other half is in the motel across the street where James Earl Ray fired the shots. We spent most of our time in the Lorraine Motel section, which focused on the history of black America from slave days up until MLK assassination.

There are too many interesting exhibits for me to recount them all, but one of particular interest to Abby and me was the section that focused on James Meredith, the first black student to register at Ole Miss. This all came to ahead in 1962 when federal troops and agents had to forcibly allow Meredith to register against the protests of the governor and an angry mob. Two people were killed in the skirmish.

What struck me so much about this was that it was less than 50 years ago! Everyone wants to act as though the racism at Ole Miss is ancient history, but this is simply false. Ole Miss has come a long way but still has a long way to go concerning race relations.

The other thing that stuck with me from the day was the vision of MLK. He wasn't simply someone who saw the Civil Rights Movement as a movement of blacks to gain more rights in America. He was able to see the implications of this movement. He saw how the issues in the Civil Rights Movement were the same issues that disenfranchised people faced throughout the world, whether they were blacks, those living in poverty, or innocent Vietnamese citizens. He drew his philosophy from Jesus Christ and Mahatma Ghandi. But at the same time he was able to understand and become involved in a single incident, like unfair wages for sanitation workers. He was very incredible man.

After looking through the Lorraine Motel part of the museum we headed over to the second part of the museum across the street. This focused on MLK's actual assassination and civil rights since his death. I was amazed at how much controversy still surrounds the circumstances of his death; they never taught that in grade school!

After the museum we headed to a Mexican restaurant we found via my new GPS (thanks Mom & Dad!). It was a cool setting, but I made the mistake of ordering molé sauce on my dish, which I discovered I do not like at all. Anyway, it was a great trip and I recommend anyone in Memphis with some free time check out the NCRM.

Classes start for me on Wednesday and Abby is gearing up for a new semester at the Student Athlete Academic Support Center. She is hoping to hear about a full-time job she applied for at the center very soon! We will update you as soon as we know more!

New Year's Resolution....Write More Blogs!

OK all. I have to apologize for not writing a blog in so long. For some reason it's easy for me to tear myself away from reading textbooks, but not from spending time with friends and family! Anyway, I have many updates to give:

Abby and I started our journey home on December 18th driving from Oxford to Lexington, KY where we stayed with our friends Dan and Emily. It just so happened that they were throwing a holiday party that evening where we all ate and drank till late in the evening. It was great fun and we actually caught up with several other friends who are transplants from Charleston to Lexington. Ziggy probably had the least merry time; I think he felt a bit intimidated by Charlie, the resident canine.

We awoke the next morning to learn that a major snowstorm had moved in to the east, right where we were heading! We decided to go ahead and drive to Charleston that morning not knowing what the roads would be like. Luckily they were not bad and we made it to the Drescher household that afternoon for tree decorating.

Abby stayed in Charleston for a few days, which included a trip to the Drescher grandparents to celebrate an early Christmas (thanks for all the gifts!), the annual Drescher family Christmas party, and cookie decorating! Unfortunately I had to drop her off at Yeager Airport at 5:30 am to fly back home. Ziggy and I missed her dearly when she was gone!

Abby celebrated Christmas with her family in North Potomac, MD. Over the break she had a chance to see some old friends, see many movies with her Dad, and remember how cold it really is in the North.

Meanwhile, my dad and I made a trip to Morgantown to see the Mountaineers beat the University of Mississippi in men's basketball. The next morning we drove from Morgantown to Beckley on Christmas Eve to join the rest of the family (both sets of grandparents and the Doylestown crew) to celebrate the holiday. On Christmas Eve everyone went sledding and even built a snowman! Christmas was great fun as always with many gifts being given and received and way too much food being eaten.

After being home for a few more days where I had the chance to catch up with friends and eat lunch with both sets of grandparents one more time, I made my way to Maryland to visit Abby's family. We spent New Year's Eve in Baltimore with Dan and Emily (mentioned above) at a SOJA and Easy Star All-Stars Concert. It was so much fun!

I spent the next two days hanging out with Abby and here family. Sadly I had to watch the Mountaineers lose twice in one day (with two Florida State alumni!). Still it was lots of fun and I wish I could have stayed longer!

Inevitably we had to leave to come back to the South. We made the 15 hour drive in one long day arriving in Oxford around 10pm central time. We are busy unpacking and settling back in as we prepare for our first winter and spring in MS.

To those of you we were able to see, it was great and we miss you already. To those of you that we missed, we're sorry and we miss you even more. To everyone, we love you all! Peace, love, and a happy, healthy New Year.