Be Proud of Where You are From

I think everyone has a familiar landmark that reminds them of home; a place you pass that lets you know you are almost there. I’ve lived in East Tennessee for many years, but my hometown is Natchez, Mississippi. I don’t get there often but when I do, I drive by the house that I grew up in, the schools I attended, the church where my mom played the piano and where I first stood on a stage. Sometimes, I just enjoy a strong cup of coffee sitting on a bench on the bluff watching the Mighty Mississippi River and conjuring countless days gone by. No one can take away your memories. They are a part of your life, and they are the stories you tell your friends and family. I hope each of my paintings of small towns reminds folks of a cherished memory of a place they call home. Home is where it all begins. As Billie Letts said in my favorite book Where the Heart Is, “Home is the place that’ll catch you when you fall. And we all fall”.