Lunch Break

What ever happened to the lunch break? That elusive 60 minutes set aside midday for nourishing your body, stepping away from work and enjoying simple food? Most of my lunch breaks are in the form of business meetings, and if they aren't in a group setting then I'm scarfing leftovers in between emails from my desk. Someone could win a Tony with a play about the 21st century lunch break, because there is nothing sadder than sitting in a cubicle while eating from tupperware with plastic utensils. And in my case, utensils that have been used over and over again, only to be wiped clean by a paper towel from the ladies restroom before being shoved back into a drawer.

A lot of people use their lunch break to take care of those things that just can't be accomplished outside of normal business hours. The bank. The post office. The dentist. The cleaners, the gift shop, the salon. You get the idea. My friend Jenny can get more accomplished in between Noon and 1 p.m. than most folks do in a week. They say if you want to get something done, then ask a busy person, but I say, if you want to lose your mind and put on 10 pounds in the process, work through lunch.

Here in Mississippi, we have a short window of wonderful weather. March and April are by far our nicest months. The mosquitos are still plotting their wrath but have yet to emerge and the world is full of blooms. Today, as I sit on the deck during my LUNCH BREAK, Google tells me the temperature is 82 degrees. The meteorologist in me gauges the humidity is damn near zero. I'm honestly not sure you can get better weather than what the good Lord has provided today.

So, how do you normally spend your lunch break? At an 8-foot, round table of strangers for a conference luncheon? (Wishing someone on the opposite side would pass the rolls already!) Running stoplights so you can get to an appointment on time, only to be back at work within the hour? Scrolling your Instagram feed only to see the same images you viewed earlier in the morning?

I say let's stop the madness, friends, and take back the lunch break!

Bluegrass-Gospel in the Piney Woods

I checked out of the Uptown Motor Inn and headed south on I-55 toward the Piney Woods region of the state.  My destination was the Magnolia State Bluegrass Association (MSBA) Winter Show. I was warmly greeted by Bertie Sullivan, MSBA president and nominee for bluegrass promotor of the year, at the Columbia Ag Expo Center.  Folks started arriving in Columbia days before, parking their RVs and setting up camp for a weekend of old-timey bluegrass and gospel.  Between MSBA meetings and more formal performances, pickers of all experience levels gather casually to play.  

Among the groups performing that Saturday (Jan. 24), were the Larry Wallace Band, Shallow Creek and the Mississippi Bluegrass All-Stars (Bertie's hand-picked selection of players). One of the state's most acclaimed old-timey fiddlers, Fiddlin' Bill Rogers performed with several groups, including the All-Stars.  He is a kind man who has served as a Master Instructor to many young folks across Mississippi as part of the MAC's apprenticeship program.  When Bill introduced himself, he was dressed comfortably in a baseball cap and jeans.  The next time I saw him, he was sharply decked in coat and tie, and burning the bow to the traditional tune"Roly Poley."  

(Please note: I have a new camera and shot this video holding the it vertically.  However, the video will only play horizontally.  Sorry for the neck ache, but its worth a watch!)

The bluegrass community in Mississippi is larger than I realized, with many groups playing both secular and religious songs.  String instruments ranging from stand-up bass, mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and banjo are played in almost every group.  Because Mississippi's bluegrass community gathers so often, audience members are devoted and know much about the groups performing, including set lists, family ties and work life. 

Folks were especially excited to hear Shallow Creek, a bluegrass-gospel group out of Picayune. From what I understand, a group of three brothers make up the core of the band.  The brothers are all registered nurses who specialize in emergency room care.  The audience was truly taken with Shallow Creek.  Many sung along and swayed in their camping chairs.  The mood felt much like an unofficial worship service, and in many ways it was.