Meridian and North Midtown Arts Center

If you didn't already know, I hail from Meridian, MS.  My family has called Meridian home since 1987. We lived in the same house until I was 19 years old. However, when I was 19 and living in England, my parents decided to move our family about 2.5 miles away from my childhood home and into a much bigger house. It took me a long time to feel like our new house was really home. But now, at almost 29 years of age, I do feel like it’s home. Yesterday, I had the day off and got to go to Meridian to have lunch and visit with my mom, brother, sister and nephew.

 We had a delicious lunch at the Deli on 5th. 

I, of course, had to have the Red Velvet Cake for dessert. 

My sister and her baby

My nephew has taken quite a liking to his oldest Uncle.

we sure do love our nephew!

After our delicious lunch, we went to mama's house to visit for a bit before I had to return to Jackson.

Let me introduce you to my home in Meridian.

 My mom might die if she knew I was doing a blog on our home because it's in a bit of a disarray and undecorated for Christmas. But whatever. It's still home

Our dining room table with what looks like lots of silver all over it.

and of course, Mr. Buckley, was the first to greet me as I walked in the front door!

 Until the baby came along, Mr. Buckley got all the attention

and he still does from Uncle Clint

a table in our den

My Great-Grandmother's (now mine) baby grand..and my best childhood friend

My Mother by our undecorated Christmas Tree

Myself and my Mother by our undecorated Christmas tree

View up close

Our family portrait that I commissioned our childhood art teacher, Bonnie Busbee, to paint for my Mother's 50th birthday party. She was quite surprised

My family's favorite gathering area, the screened in back porch.

Isn't my sister adorable?!?!

Sisters

My Sister and Brother playing angry birds in the living room

My mom has always adorned our home with our very own artwork

I believe my sister drew "bob"

Our breakfast table

The kitchen (I LOVE to cook in this kitchen)

A painting I had to have when I was visiting New York City. I believe I was 16 years old. It still hangs in my bedroom.

I love going home. Now that I'm older, I always wish I could stay longer. 

BUT

I had to get back to Jackson to go on a date with one of my besties, Jessica Criddle!

Jess and I (and our friend, Travis) headed out to North Midtown Arts Center to check out a famous percussionist,  Tatsuya Nakatani!

Jess watching intently

His show was very interesting. The more we listened and watched, the more we got into it. Overall, it was a very moving experience and I'm certainly glad we got to be apart of it.

After it was over, however, we got a little goofy.

We ran into a guy named Melvin who was having his birthday party at Martin's. Although we didn't go to the birthday party, we still got a picture with the birthday boy!

And then Jess and I wandered around the arts center....

And then we called it a night.

What a fun Wednesday. I wish all my Wednesdays were as amazing as the one I experienced yesterday.

Happy almost Christmas everyone!

my people

Hello friends! Well, by now we’ve all made it through one of the busiest weekends of the year and I don’t know about you guys, but I am plum worn-out! I worked the dreaded “black Friday” (yes, I am in the retail business for now) and all day today (Saturday) so I am really enjoying plopping my feet up on the couch for a bit to write this little blog.

I’ve decided to do a section called “my people” each week featuring a different kick-ass person in my life who has made (and is making) me who I am. Just a little glimpse into my world and the amazing people in it.

Today I want to talk about one of my all-time favorite people and best friends, 

Eric Earl Aycock.

Eric hails from the same little city as I do, Meridian, MS. I honestly don’t even know how to begin describing him to you because he is pretty indescribable. He has one of the largest personalities I have ever met. Along with one of the biggest hearts I have ever seen. Eric is amazingly brilliant and to watch his little mind work is incredible. However, one of the things that has always united Eric and I together are our unquenchable thirsts for adventure. This is both good and terrible.

Eric loves people and has truly never met a stranger. Everybody knows Eric. And either people love him or hate him. But hey, even Jesus had haters. He is the smoothest and most charming guy I have in my life. It is an understatement to say that he is a ladies man.

Eric has lived a very colorful life and I know that he would tell you that he is qualified to tell you what NOT to do in life. He can also tell you what to do because he’s done just about everything in his short 35 years of life. He’s worked as a set dresser on many films in L.A for years. He has a precious 5 year old little girl, Ava Marie Sadie Rose, who is the apple of his eye. He is forever writing music and poetry and playing around with so many electrical/musical gadgets that I can’t even tell you what they are. He is an artist, a warrior, a musician, an entrepreneur, a lover, a rebel, and a saint.  I read this quote about Bob Dylan a few years back and it reminded me so much of Eric. “The minute you try to grab hold of Dylan, he's no longer where he was. He's like a flame: If you try to hold him in your hand you'll surely get burned…….Dylan is difficult and mysterious and evasive and frustrating, and it only makes you identify with him all the more as he skirts identity.”

Eric is the person I call when I don’t know what I think. He’s also the person I call when I have a lot to say. He always listens to me no matter how trivial or unimportant or dramatic I am. Nobody makes me laugh like Eric. Nobody says things where I can understand them like he does. He has a gift for making people feel good about themselves. He always has a different hat on everytime I see him. He’s more stylish than anyone I know (girl or guy).

Eric means an awful lot to me and my family. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed countless days and nights together. We’ve cried, laughed, and driven eachother crazy. We’ve helped eachother in times of distress, feast, or famine. Eric is like the big brother I never had.

This past Thanksgiving weekend, Eric came to visit me. He wrapped up working on the B.P oil spill and is headed to New Orleans to begin work on a movie Monday! It was amazing to get to spend a little quality time with him. We went with a group of our friends to dinner at Underground 119 Friday night where Eric presented me with a beautiful hand-made scarf for being there for him and helping him and just being his best friend. I was shocked. And about cried. It was truly the sweetest thing. And I LOVE my scarf.

Eric has been sober for almost a year. I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am of him. God is truly doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Eric Earl Aycock, you are my people and I love you so much!