SS Hurricane Camille

I’ve written about the SS Hurricane Camille before, but this time I decided to take a deeper look at the tug over the years. Washed ashore during Hurricane Camille in 1969, the vessel became a well-known Gulfport, Mississippi landmark, a rusting reminder of what was once thought to be a once-in-a-lifetime storm. For decades, it stood as a silent witness to the power of nature. But in 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and in the wake of that destruction, the storied tug was finally scrapped — closing the chapter on a symbol of survival and storm-battered resilience.

My grandmother, mother, aunts, uncles, and cousins stand in front of the SS Hurricane Camille in 1969.

Here is one from the Early 90's of me, my sister and parents in nearly the same location.  

Another one from the late 90s with me, my sister, mom, and a family friend.  

This one I took in the early 2000's prior to Katrina.  

One taken about 6 months after Katrina.  

Please excuse the flash — this photo of the plaque was taken before Hurricane Katrina.

This was an experimental photo series I shot in the early 2000s, with the idea of developing the film and assembling the images like a puzzle — this was the final result. 

Memories

This is one of my favorite photos of my mom, my nephew, and me. We lost her on this very day in 2014, and not a single day goes by without missing her. Now, my nephew has grown into his own man—no longer the little kid he once was. Looking back on these memories fills me with joy, reminding me of how things used to be and the smiles that came with them. Though time has passed, those moments remain a cherished part of my heart.

Paws

 My life has been touched by many people… But not just people.  I wanted to take a moment and remember the furry ones from my past that have touched my soul.   They have had a profound impact on who I am and I think of them often.  

Buddyroe and his ball.  

Dottie

Peppermint Patty "Peppie"

Red Dog and Simon 

Scrappy

Shadow

Smokie

Spirits

I spent most of my formative years in this Pearl, Mississippi house.  It holds so many memories for me both good and bad.   I cannot believe it is being sold.

This house remains one of the most interesting places I have ever lived.   I will always remember lying in bed and listening to the sound of people walk down the halls.  It never scared me; it just was.  I also remember seeing a woman walk down the hallway and hearing voices in rooms where people were not.  It was unnerving at times; but it was always fun living in a haunted house.   I remember when I first heard my mom and grandma mention to me about the spirits.  I had never heard them speak of such things… it actually surprised me; but let me know that It was not just me that experienced it.   The weirdest thing was when things would move.  You couldn’t expect anything to stay in one place, it would inexplicably move to another part of the room or another room in general.  You just never knew what would happen. 

I can’t help but wonder if my mom is now counted among the spirits that reside at 306 Pearl Drive.  She passed away in the living room sleeping in her bed.  She slept in there because she was an amputee and getting around was easier than going into and down the hallway.  

I wonder if she made friends with the other spirits in the house too.  In life, she never met a stranger… I doubt death would stop her. 

My Mama

From my first moments you were there... From the moment I existed you were my built-in-best-friend. Though things were not always perfect and distance divided us... I never once doubted that you loved me. I'm trying to figure out how to find you in a world you don't physically exist in anymore. I'm trying to figure out how to live with a broken heart. I love you very much, Mama.

Tina Louise Wixson (August 10, 1960 - April 12, 2014)   Tina Louise Wixson, 53, passed from this life Saturday, April 12, 2014 at her home in Pearl. Visitation will be held 5:00-8:00pm, Monday, April 14, 2014 at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home. Graveside services are 11:00am, Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at the Drakes United Methodist Church Cemetery in Flowood. She was born Wednesday, August 10, 1960 in Jackson, Mississippi, a daughter of the late Grant Wixson and Louise Hawthorne Wixson. She was employed for several years as a school bus driver with the Pearl School District. She loved spending time at her home on the Pearl River and gardening in her yard. A gifted artist, Tina painted many artworks which her family and friends will treasure as keepsakes of her love for them. Survivors include son, J. Grant Wixson Blakeney; daughter, Christina Louise Shores; brothers, James Wixson and wife Michele and Bubba Wixson and wife Becky; sister, Sheila Williams and husband Marvin; and grandchild, Hayden Shores.

My Hero...

On Sunday January 6, 2013 I lost my hero.   My Grandmother Lalia Louise Hawthorne Wixson passed from this world.  It is a hard thing to accept, someone that meant so much to me no longer a phone call away… There are moments where it is almost unbearable.

But then I think of the legacy that she left me.

Every time I look in the mirror, I see her work in progress.  She took me in when I needed her and she insured that I went to school and had every tool that she was able to give me to live the best life I possibly can.   

And I will. 

Every breath I take, every moment… will be in honor of her. 

Lalia Louise Wixson

August 4, 1939 – January 6, 2013

Louise Wixson, 73, passed from this life Sunday, January 6, 2013 at Hospice Ministries, Ridgeland.

Visitation is 5:00-8:00pm Monday, January 7, 2013 at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Graveside services arer 2:30pm Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at Drakes United Methodist Church Cemetery in Flowood. 

She was born August 4, 1939 in Madison County, a daughter of the late Robert Lee Hawthorne and Catherine Lee Eley Hawthorne. She was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker and a member of Drakes United Methodist Church.

Survivors include sons, James Grant Wixson and wife Michele and Bubba Wixson and wife Becky; daughters, Sheila Williams and husband Marvin and Tina Wixson; brother, Henry Hawthorne; sisters, Sarah Haskins, Betty Dulworth, Annette Creel, Clara Reid and Margaret Hawthorne; grandchildren, Jayroe Williams and wife Rebecca, Heather Williams, Christina Shores, Grant Blakeney, John Wixson and Kirby Wixson; and great-grandchildren, Autumn Williams, Destiny Crosby, Hanna Crosby, Hayden Shores and Charles Williams.

Magic and Possibility

To see the world through the eyes of a child…

Is to see a world of magic and possibility.

To see the world as an adult…

Is to forever wish to see it through the eyes of a child. 

Silent Shadow

Part of the Wordless Wednesday!!!!

2-Days Early... Ribbit!

My mom surprised me today with an early birthday present; needless to say it is one of the best cakes for my personality.  It is vanilla chocolate swirl with butter cream icing.  I’d offer a piece, but I can’t guarantee that it would survive being posted. 

Shining Star

Every family has a shining star, someone that stands out and works to keep the family together.   My family has been lucky to have been blessed with more than one of these stars, and My Great-Aunt Frances Anderson was one of these that shown as bright as the stars in all the sky.   She was responsible for so many wonderful gatherings that united immediate and extended family.   She was there with my grandmother and me during a dark period in both of our lives, and accepted me no matter who I was. On more than one occasion taught me that people will love me no matter what… or how different I am.   My family lost this wonderful person last night, but we each gained another guardian angel. While our hearts grieve for her no longer being here with us, for the games of Phase 10 that will never occur… or the songs sung. We know that she will be in our hearts, in the smiles that we see, and in the love we have for one another.   Though she will be missed, we will always feel the love she gave us and we will always love her.

Frances Anderson

1932-2011

Brandon

Frances Eley Anderson, 79, died Monday, May 16, 2011 at Crossgates River Oaks Hospital. Funeral services are 2:00pm Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at Bethel Baptist Church in Brandon with interment in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends 12:00-2:00pm Wednesday at the church.

Mrs. Anderson was an active member of Bethel Baptist Church and the Red Hatters of Pearl, as well as a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.

Survivors include her husband of 60 years, J.W. "Andy" Anderson, Jr.; son, Dale Anderson (Libby); grandchildren, Jennifer Layton O'Neal (David) and Walter Dale Anderson, Jr.; great-grandson, Thomas Maguire; brother, Henry Hawthorne; and sisters, Louise Wixson, Sarah Haskins, Annette Creel, Betty Dulworth, Clara Reid and Margaret Hawthorne. (from: clarionleger.com obits)

Journey

 As I look at life so dear,

I know the journey is clear.

For the journey I’m on is like no other,

so I know I must go further.

Do not weep for me my loved ones true,

for I will always be with you.

Although you could not go with me,

now my heart is filled with glee.

But in your hearts I will dwell,

and that will do you well.

And I will see you from above,

not unlike a passing dove.

I hope to see you smile,

as you go another mile.

But to you it may seem odd,

that I am now with my God. 

Happy Holidays!

This is the season that the world is supposed to unite and share and good cheer for one another, so many religions have major celebrations at this time of the year… that it truly is the holiday season. This is the season for giving, for showing others that you care… that you think of them even when they are not right in front of you. This is the time where we share our lives with strangers and donate to the less fortunate, and open our hearts like we never even consider doing other times of the year.

Why is that?

I Challenge Everyone that reads my blog to take the joy and love of the holiday season, and carry it with them throughout the entire year…

Happy Holidays… I wish each and everyone a Very Happy Holiday Season and A Happy New Year!

Time Theory

Have you ever thought about how time moves, and brings us along with it? I think of time as a piece of growing paper, right now we are on the edge of the paper, nothing in front of us… it just grows and makes a path before us as we move forward through time. Everything and everyone that came before us still exists, they go through all their lives just like normal… up until the point that they no longer need time, and after that they move on leaving part of themselves behind that exists where they once did… back in 1988 or 1388 B.C.E., of course living people do the same. Now Einstein said that time travel forward was possible, and that past travel was impossible… I disagree.I believe that the only way we can travel into the future is by traveling close to the speed of light and allowing time dilation to occur, this would in fact give the traveler the sense that they have traveled through time, when all they really did was just wait for time to pass around them. Now travel into the past I believe is possible, and has been done at many points through history, its just that many travelers are smart enough to know that interfering with a timeline would only create a paradox that has already been created. Take the ole “Dead Grandfather” paradox… Ok You go back in time and kill your grandfather before he has a chance to father your dad, therefore giving you no possible way to exist. So how could you have gone back in time and killed your grandfather? OK… Well lets say you wanted to go back in time and kill your grandfather, so you went back… You know what!? Your going to fail, and I can prove that by your existence. So perhaps even though we live on the edge of time, whose to say that were not already re living our lives and part of us hasn’t already moved on? Who’s to say that the edge of time isn’t already at 2063 and some of us are already long dead? And Who’s to say that some of the random people you see on the streets that look at you aren’t really time travelers? Just something to think about…..

(Flashback... Originally Written Jan. 29th, 2006 at 12:34 PM

The photo is a restored, as best as possible, photo of my grand mother and my aunt and uncle... aprox 1960.)