Jackson

Going to Jackson was so much fun and yet it was so weird to go back. I had forgotten a lot of it but it all immediately came back as we started driving around. I was taking picture like crazy. I lived in Jackson back in 1993-1996 so the last time I was there was 12 years ago and I was only 13 years old! I made a list of all the places I wanted to go see, but I told myself that I wouldn't look at the map so I could see if I remembered how to get around or not. I just kept telling Ryan, "This is so weird, this is so weird." Because a lot of things hadn't changed at all. Here's my old house. The yard doesn't look as nice as it did when we lived there and the color of the house has changed, but the neighborhood hadn't changed a bit. I loved our neighborhood since all the houses were on 1 acre lots. So much room to play!


We had lunch at Brooksie's Barn. Talk about true Southern comfort food. They had everything you could think of fried catfish, hush puppies, collard greens, black eyed peas, chicken and dumplings, pulled pork, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, southern green beans and potatoes, etc. It took me back to those times that we'd stop at a little cafe on the way home from skiing on the Tennessee river and have fried catfish.


Here's my elementary school and the playground. I went to 5th grade here and my brother went to 1st through 3rd grade. My mom used to substitute teach here so I'm sure she has fond memories at our elementary school too.


And here is the middle school I went to for 6th grade and half of 7th grade. Good ol' Tigrett Middle School.

On Sunday we went to my old ward and it was so good to see people there! Jackson is such a transient place that there were a lot of families that have moved away, but there were a few people that have stayed and it was so fun to catch up. I seriously felt like I had gone back in time the whole time I was in Jackson. Things that I had totally forgotten suddenly became so familiar again and I got to see places that I haven't been to in years. I even got to see my good friend Sandra! She came by our hotel and spent the afternoon with us. I loved catching up and remembering old times. I loved how she said it...we're all still similiar to our 13 year old selves, just not quite so perky. Thanks Sandra!!!