Trip to Oxford

There are certain things that I can always count on on my visits to Oxford, Mississippi: comfort food at Ajax on the square, beer that must be "iced down" (because they do not sell cold beer in Oxford), casual conversations about projects with our work, the latest updates on who is doing what and with who, fun times with good people, and kudzu.

On my drive up to Oxford Saturday morning, I had a ball of excitement in my stomach. I sadly hadn't been back to oxford since Courtney and Britton's wedding last August. So I had a million things going through my head on this drive, from what I wanted to eat at Ajax to who all I would see and visit with.

You don't realize just how flat Louisiana is until you drive beyond the state lines. North Mississippi is green rolling hills upon hills. As I pulled off of I-55 and onto Highway 7 on my last stretch to Oxford, I was brought back to my very first drive up to Oxford in May of 2006. I was on my way for a job interview in a place I had only visited once for two hours on a class trip. Along Highway 7 I noticed just how green everything was and I thought, "Wow, what is this green vine that grows over everything?" That was my first introduction to kudzu, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudzu . I honestly do not think that I had ever seen such a vine before. It takes over everything, and grows wherever the good Lord will allow it. Its like Mississippi keeps her best secrets hidden by kudzu, only for those who live there to enjoy and share. It is such a pretty drive along highway 7 and I feel that those who drive it often may forget to take in its beauty. There are green fields between the hills, along with ponds and an assortment of homes and churches, and dont forget the kudzu.

Once I reached the University Avenue exit I spotted the Kroger, that on my first visit I looked at and thought, "Maybe one day that will be my grocery store for shopping." Sure enough it later became where I did my grocery shopping. My stomach was talking to me by now, I had saved up all morning for our late lunch at Ajax Diner with all of my Oxford friends. I was lucky to quickly find a parking spot on the square and, of course, I was the first to arrive at Ajax. Once everyone (Alexis, Darrell, Courtney, Matt, & Edye) got there and we had our drinks form the bar we settled into the back table. Alexis and I had trouble deciding between which entree to get, the chicken fried steak or the fried catfish. So we each got one and halved both, that was a fabulous idea. It felt as if I had never left and that I wasn't just in for the weekend but still an Oxfordian. Jonathan and then Ginger soon joined us. We talked about weddings, Courtney and Britton's house under construction while they are living happily amongst it all (BTW, it is going to look great!), work, shower hosts, plays, Henry and Sanders, the Solomons tan faces, and why not to call Jonathan when he is putting Sanders to sleep.

The reason for my trip was to attend Julie and Daniels' wedding. Julie looked so beautiful and they both looked so happy. We had a fun shakin' our tail feathers to the "Solid Gold" band. Margaret's cakes were a huge hit and the caramel is still my favorite. Now the newly weds are off to travel California for a month.

After the wedding we took advantage of the "sweet" suite Alexis and Darrell were staying in at the Inn at Ole Miss. Fabulous! I had such a great time with everyone is Oxford and hope to visit again very soon for our next wedding coming up, Ginger and Paul's, August 8th!