Oxford, MS. Home to Faulkner and the University of Mississippi – Ole Miss. The town was worth the day trip. If I was in to shopping, it would have had more appeal. I was able to buy two books of poems by Tony Hoagland for $3 each. Lucked out at getting a bar spot in the town’s best diner (Ajax), and had great shrimp and grits for dinner. It was cool to visit Faulkner’s house – though I’m always a little ehhh on those types of things – I find it neat, but I’m not in awe. It’s a peaceful place, and it was cool to see an outline of one his works scrawled on a wall. I also liked the writing desk at the window (it’s better than my writing view which is the inside of my apartment).
Midday, I spent a little bit of time at a coffee shop reading my newly acquired books – I’m digging him – not sure why I haven’t read more of him… he’s funny:
It is just our second date, and we sit down on a bench, holding hands, not looking at each other, and if I were a bull penguin right now I would lean over and vomit softly into the mouth of my beloved
I walked around the University a bit – college towns are always pretty vibrant. I wouldn’t have minded staying a little later to hear some live music – but there’s plenty of that here in Memphis, and I needed to get home to feed the beast. I took a somewhat back way home – one that took me towards Holly Springs. I liked driving through the hills of north Mississippi.
In a strange way, I was happy to do the trip alone – I can’t think of any of my friends that I would have wanted along for the ride – not sure they would have enjoyed it as much as I did, and I wasn’t in the mood to be responsible for someone else’s enjoyment. Of course I thought my ex, B, would enjoy it – I knew that before I left. I suspect I’ll think that on every trip until I decide to have a travel buddy. But for now, I’m pretty content going solo.
