By Bob Garver “A Man Called Otto” has not been a well-marketed film. The strategy of the film’s advertising seems to be, “You know how Tom Hanks usually plays likeable/heroic characters to go along with his reputation for being a nice guy in real life? Come to this movie to get the opposite of that! See his versatility as he complains in a phony-sounding growly voice for 90% of the movie, followed by a heartwarming turnaround so sweet that most of the audience will be making the universal sign for gagging. It’ll be unpleasant until it isn’t!” First of all, it’s not like Tom Hanks has never gone grouchy before. I can watch everything from “A League of Their Own” to the recent “News of the World” to frankly most of “Toy Story” to see Hanks be grumpy without the movie needing to use it as a selling point. Second, if the film needs to draw that much attention to its unpleasantness, I don’t want to see it. I didn’t want to see “A Man Called Otto,” and would not have gone to see it had it not earned enough money to warrant a review. Fortunately the film worked better in one large dose than it did in several smaller ones. Yes, Hanks’ Otto Anderson spends most of the first act complaining. He complains that rope at the hardware store is sold by the yard and not by the foot. He complains that his neighbors don’t obey simple parking and driving rules in his housing complex. He complains about a stray cat that won’t leave him alone. He complains about his job forcing him to retire. He complains about a real estate company trying to force everyone out of their homes. He complains that America is dying. He’s planning to beat it to the punch, hence the need for the five feet of rope… Otto’s plans keep getting interrupted, usually by neighbors who need him for something. He’s handy with tools and usually willing to do a favor if it means there will be order in the world. The film never delves deeply into his mental health, though he is definitely suffering from depression following the passing of his wife and probably has either OCD or something close to it. It does dwell on his physical health – namely a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I’ve heard the term before, and I had to grit my teeth every time it came up because I knew that its definition would eventually be treated as a punchline. I was right and it was just as painful as I imagined. The ads do get the bare bones of the story and tone right, but what they don’t show is that the movie is very good at showing “why” Otto acts this way. Sometimes his complaints are completely justified, like when he gets into a fight with an antagonistic clown (Otto keeps his temper in check longer than I would have). Sometimes they’re understandable because of things that have happened in Otto’s past. For these scenes, the film brings in Hanks’ son Truman to play a younger version of Otto. These flashbacks may interrupt the flow of the present-day story, but the movie wouldn’t work without them. “A Man Called Otto” ultimately works because the character is more fleshed-out than the advertising makes it seem. It shouldn’t be surprising, given that the role attracted an actor the caliber of Hanks, but things weren’t looking promising at first. As for the character’s grating voice and mannerisms, they’re initially jarring, but you’ll barely notice them after a while. Broad characters like Otto thrive better in two-hour movies where audiences can warm up to them than in spaced-out trailers and commercials where they can be jarring every time. Just like Otto himself, the performance and the movie require some patience, but they shouldn’t be written off. Grade: B- “A Man Called Otto” is rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving suicide attempts, and language. Its running time is 126 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

I read this again the other day. “I will NEVER quit fighting to win against the enemy in my life. After all my bullets are gone from shooting my gun, then I’ll throw that blasted thing at ‘em. When that doesn’t work, then I’ll use my body to punch, kick and bite my way to freedom. And if I still haven’t won when all my teeth are knocked out in the fight, then I’ll try to gum him to death. BUT I WILL NEVER GIVE UP THE FIGHT!” You are breathing and that means you have a negative challenge in your life - guaranteed. Finances, illness, addiction, lies about you, heartbreak, physical pain, family controversy…something is hurting you. And after struggling long and hard, it can seem that you will never find an answer. So, you can eventually be tempted to give up. But folks, even as hard as it is, don’t you dare give up your fight. Here’s why. If you quit trying, you have absolutely zero chance of winning. The very second you stop struggling, you wear a stamp on your heart that says “Totally Defeated.” And total defeat leads to hopelessness. Hopelessness can lead to internalized anger, and hopelessness combined with that anger can push you into depression. A black hole that consumes your thoughts, feelings and actions. Kind of compares to existing in a dark windowless dungeon. Life turns a dull gray, with no spark of interest in your days. But if you decide to get stubborn and stay fighting, then you still stand a chance. A chance that disappears completely when you simply surrender. Even slim as that tiny chance may seem, it is the one thing that will keep your hope alive inside of you. And if you take an even better step - deciding to bare your pain to someone you can trust to be on your side - then you increase the chances of keeping your hope. A struggle shared can mean the burden feels just a little lighter – unless you chose your battle companion badly. Find someone who will listen carefully to you. Someone you can trust to not gossip about you. To be loyal. To care deeply about your pain. To be creative in trying to find solutions for you, when you are too exhausted by the fight to even try anymore. To even whisper a prayer every day on your behalf. To NEVER GIVE UP. Get that kind of person in your corner. Then you have a fighter beside you, a believer who won’t throw in the towel, a thinker who will keep pushing you to look for new answers, and a shoulder to cry on when a solution hasn’t surfaced yet. Rare is the person who is truly more effective as a lone Ninja Warrior. We humans are not built for waging war all alone – or for giving up.

By Kara Kimbrough Forgetting one of my “favorites” from the Top Restaurant Meals and Supermarket Products of 2022" list – the Burger-Burger at the Biloxi restaurant by the same name - triggered a train of thought that ultimately led to a list of some of the best sandwiches in Mississippi. In case it appears I’m being forgetful again – after all, isn’t something called “Burger-Burger” actually a, well, burger? The answer is…"not really" and here’s why. This delicious creation, a favorite of Coast residents, tourists and food critics from around the U.S., has been served in some form or another at various Coast locations since 1947, when the sandwich came over from New Orleans with Abbie and Mildred Brunies. First, it was a staple at a neighborhood diner on Benachi Avenue in downtown Biloxi. After an ownership change, the diner moved to Ocean Springs in the 90’s before relocating 20 years ago to its current spot in a humble wooden building on Howard Ave. After reading and writing about Burger-Burger for a few years but never actually sampling it, I finally found the time to stop in for a leisurely meal last summer. Sitting outside on porch underneath a ceiling fan, I quickly unwrapped the long sandwich wrapped in butcher paper. After examining it from all angles, in my opinion the Burger-Burger isn’t actually a po’boy or burger. Encased in a bun that appears to be a cross between a long, narrow hoagie roll, soft baguette and French bread are grilled burger patties, sautéed onions, mustard and a unique burger/chili sauce unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. To say it’s utterly delicious is an understatement. I’ve returned to Burger-Burger to see if my initial experience was a fluke and I assure you, it wasn’t. Each time, the flavorful burger/po’boy/sandwich was exactly as I’d remembered. Even a to-go order that spent a few hours in a cooler on ice and was reheated when I returned home retained every bit of the goodness of one fresh from the oven. Without further ado, here are a few other exemplary sandwiches that are worth a try. They’re ones I’ve personally experienced or have recently learned about from friends: Saltine’s Comeback Chicken Sandwich – If you haven’t visited this unique restaurant in the old Duling School building in Jackson, it’s time for a visit. One of the best things on the menu is this outstanding sandwich. It consists of a buttermilk and pickle-brined fried chicken breast topped with comeback slaw and pickles. Quite simply one of the best sandwiches you’ll find in the Capital City or anywhere for that matter. Sal and Phil’s Muffaletta – Muffalettas are one of my favorite sandwiches, so I’m picky about the taste and preparation anywhere I find one. One of the best can be found at Ridgeland’s Sal & Phil’s, known for above-average seafood and Cajun dishes of all varieties. Oby’s Roast Beef – This college town stalwart has consistently served good food to starving students and many others for decades. A staple on the menu (one I sampled years ago but still retains its deliciousness) is the roast beef. Thinly-sliced roast beef is topped with cheese and homemade gravy. It's a sandwich whose goodness keeps on giving. Ubon’s Pulled Pork – Yazoo City’s award-winning barbecue restaurant usually attracts diners looking for ribs and wings, but don’t overlook the sandwiches, especially the pulled pork topped with their signature sauce. The Tomato Place’s Fried Green Tomato BLT – Friends’ recommendation of this interesting eatery in Vicksburg caused me to put The Tomato Place on my list of places to visit in 2023. A favorite of the couple was the Fried Green Tomato BLT served on the restaurant’s homemade sourdough bread. Thinking about all these wonderful sandwiches caused me to head to the supermarket to find the ingredients for one to make at home. Here’s a recipe for one that’ll check all the boxes when searching for a healthy, delicious and quick meal. The Best Salmon Sandwich You'll Ever Make 2-3 wild-caught salmon pieces (I used the frozen variety), cooked according to package directions and flaked into small pieces) ½ cup reduced-fat mayonnaise 1 stalk celery, chopped 2 tablespoons pickle relish 1 teaspoon Dijon relish 2 teaspoons lemon juice Salt and pepper to taste Lettuce Purple onion slices Place all ingredients in a bowl and combine. Butter and lightly toast bread long enough to make it slightly crispy. Spoon salmon mixture onto bread along with lettuce leaf and purple onion slices (optional). Note: Makes 2 sandwiches; simply increase ingredients for additional sandwiches. Tuna can be substituted for salmon with similar results. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Bob Garver 2023 is certainly off to an impressive start, movie-wise. Usually the new year allows holiday releases to continue dominating for a week or two before unleashing anything heavy-duty. To be clear, “Avatar: The Way of Water” did still dominate the weekend with $45 million domestic against the $30 million debut of “M3GAN,” but $30 million for a new film in the first weekend of the year is nearly unprecedented. That’s how the film is impressive commercially. It turns out the film is quite impressive creatively as well, another rarity for early January. The film stars Allison Williams as Gemma, a toy designer that suddenly gains custody of her niece Cady (Violet McGraw). Despite her family-friendly job description, Gemma is in no way ready for the responsibilities of parenthood. If only there was a way to keep the child happy and occupied while helping the adult’s career in the process. As Gemma works primarily in robotics, that solution is the Model 3 Generative Android, or M3GAN (played by Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis). At first, M3GAN seems to be what’s best for everybody. She helps Gemma endear herself to her boss (Ronny Chieng) and she’s soon the star of the company as it realizes it has the greatest toy in history on its hands. As for Cady, she and M3GAN bond, and the two are quickly best friends. Of course, some question if it’s healthy for a child to attach themselves to a robot as much as Cady does, but this is the 21st century, how bad could it be for a child to develop a dependency on a piece of technology that was designed in a week by someone with questionable parenting skills? Yeah, things go off the rails. At first it’s just a simple matter of M3GAN misinterpreting her directive to “protect” Cady, but eventually her whole worldview goes sideways and she turns malevolent. And that means we get what we all came for: the psycho killer little girl robot with the strangely hypnotic dance moves. Honestly, full-blown evil M3GAN isn’t that interesting. After some calm, efficient violence, she becomes just another bland “stalker” villain with dialogue that really shouldn’t be in her programming. What elevates the movie is the dynamic between Gemma, Cady, and M3GAN. Gemma undoubtedly has love for her niece, but she makes some ill-advised decisions when it comes to complicated issues like discipline, patience, and grief. The film’s advertising has (understandably) focused on M3GAN turning evil, but it’s also worth mentioning that Cady deteriorates too, depending so much on the artificial friend that she forgets to make real ones. She turns into a raving lunatic before the robot does, and Gemma is forced to recognize that it’s by her design, literally and figuratively. This movie has a lot to say about society’s dependence on technology, giving it more in common with something like the original “Robocop” than movies that simply feature diminutive antagonists like Chucky or Annabelle. Some serious points aside, I don’t want to downplay that “M3GAN” is a whole lot of fun. The movie never fails to play up the absurdity of a robot that can run intellectual (and sometimes physical) circles around the world around it. Nobody in the theater was laughing harder than me when the robot would butt into a conversation with what she “thinks” is a helpful contribution, or when she would win at a mind game that the humans didn’t even realize they were playing. As an action or horror movie, “M3GAN” is okay, maybe a little watered-down because of the PG-13 rating, but as a comedy, I can tell it's going to be one of the funniest movies of the year, and we’re only one release in. Grade: B “M3GAN” is rated PG-13 for violent content and terror, some strong language and a suggestive reference. Its running time is 102 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The Glee Club dates back over 100 years, and each new group of singers adds to the group's history and legacy. Much has changed since the Glee Club was first established, but it has always been a group devoted to the study and performance of advanced choral repertoire. From the beginning, the Glee Club has played a central role in the life of the College, giving voice to college spirit, and drawing musicians of the highest caliber to Occidental. Their reputation for excellence has carried the banners of Occidental far into the musical world through national and international tours and recordings and through the generations of choral conductors who have been affiliated with Occidental. Joined in 2008 by Director of Choral Music Desiree LaVertu, the Glee Club continues to attract national and international attention for its unified tone, intense musicianship, and varied repertoire. The tradition of Glee Club touring goes back over 75 years and has enabled generations of members to share their music all over the world. The Glee Club travels in January during the last week of Oxy’s Winter Break. Destinations alternate between local, regional, and international spots. Their 2023 tour takes them to Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, where they will perform at a variety of venues, including a collaborative concert with Copiah-Lincoln College Concert Choir and Mississippi Boychoir in Jackson, Mississippi, a lunchtime recital at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, a retirement community in New Orleans, an evening concert in Mobile, Alabama, a shared exchange with students from LSU and an evening concert at St. Alban’s Chapel in Baton Rouge. Mississippi Boychoir, Copiah-Lincoln Concert Choir, and the Ambassadors of Co-Lin will join the Glee Club in presenting several musical selections during the concert.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce is accepting grant proposals from qualified nonprofits to implement projects through the Mississippi Healthy Food and Families Program. The Mississippi Healthy Food and Families Program was established by the Mississippi Legislature in 2022 to increase the purchasing power of Mississippi residents with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables and support local farmers by providing matching dollar incentives for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits redeemed at farmers markets and retailers. “The Mississippi Healthy Food and Families Program is a win-win for both consumers and farmers. This program provides increased access to fresh, nutritious produce for residents that need it the most while expanding marketing opportunities for our local farmers,” said Commissioner Gipson. Qualified nonprofits are invited to submit grant proposals seeking funding to implement projects that provide incentives for Mississippi residents using SNAP benefits to double the purchases of fruits and vegetables at participating Mississippi farmers markets and retailers. Funding available this cycle is $360,000. Applicants must have a demonstrated track record or experience with coordinating a statewide network of SNAP incentive programs and leveraging resources to address food insecurity in underserved communities. The submission deadline is January 31, 2023. Visit MDAC’s website at https://agnet.mdac.ms.gov/agManage/uploads/1011.pdf to learn more about the Mississippi Healthy Food and Families Program.

Are the plants in your landscape looking brown and dead after the recent hard freezes? If so, you may be wondering what to do about them. The first thing to do is nothing! We are likely to have additional cold weather events before spring arrives. Leaving the dead foliage on plants can provide some protection against direct cold and sunburn. This freeze was unusual in that the temperatures dropped around 50° F in a 12-hour span. Some flowering shrubs in the southern part of the state were even blooming. Many plants have significant woody tissue damage. This woody tissue is where plants store food to be used for replacing the freeze burned leaves that will eventually fall from the plant. These fallen leaves can add some insulative protection to the roots if any further cold weather occurs. They will eventually decay and release their nutrients to the plant roots. Pruning now will likely damage the healthy tissue that the plants will need to heal. Secondary infections may also occur. Wait until it is clear what tissue has died and until further freezes are not expected. This may be a month or more in most parts of the state. The only exception would be if the frozen tissue gets a wet decay (breakdown) or has an odor. Then it is good to prune the area out, bag, and destroy the affected leaves. Use a sharp blade to lightly skin the bark to reveal the wood beneath. Start at a branch tip and observe the color under the skinned area. Damaged wood should be brown. Work your way down until the skinned area becomes green. This indicates healthy tissue. Prune off the tissue above the green area. For more information, please see MSU Extension publication ‘IS 1663 The Plant Doctor – Cold Injury’ at www.extension.msstate.edu/publications. For Palms refer to publication ‘P 2828 Cold Injury to Palms’. By Jeff Wilson, Modified from previous article by Alan Henn and Clarissa Balbalian.

Were you one of us who made yourself a promise or a vow for the new year? And then look up, and it is six days into 2023 and you’ve already blown it? Or maybe, you’re one of those people who know themselves well enough that you didn’t even bother wasting brain power on considering making a new year resolution. “Why bother? I won’t make it past eight in the morning of January 1 before I decide it’s not worth it.” If you have ever bolstered your courage and guilted yourself into making a New Year’s resolution, you won’t be the first to find this next sentence to be true. Whatever it is you decided to do, to avoid, to tackle, or to never do again…the need to do ‘that very thing’ probably became the focal point of your immediately-and-obsessively-focused brain. Every conversation, every dream, every thought, every song, every show – each and every one of them had a way of leading you to want toss your resolution into the trash dump. Just like the old childhood game, when someone told you that for the next sixty seconds you were not to think about a glass of water, or a phone, or any other item that they named. You immediately had a problem. No matter how hard you tried, that exact thing became front and center of your thoughts about every seven seconds. Doesn’t seem to matter what your resolution is about. Weight, alcohol, drugs, sex, sweets, worry, anxiety. You name it, there just seems to be a built-in rebellion in humans when it comes controlling our reaction to issued-laden behaviors. “I know, I know, I promised myself that this coming new year, I would definitely kick my bad habit. But who am I kidding? I never have been able to make myself do that, every year that I’ve tried. So, to save time, I’m just gonna drop off the wagon before January 1 gets here. After all, there’s a lot of other good stuff I can be concentratin’ on, if I just go ahead and dive off head first now, so here goes.” So, what are you supposed to do, when you know good and well that you need to accomplish a certain goal, and yet it’s the exact opposite of your natural tendency? Don’t even try to ask me. I’m human. Just like you. I don’t have the answers. But I do believe this to be true. If you are going to be successful, it has to come from a deep heart belief that will make you want to change from following your natural tendencies. A heart belief that will lead you to say “No, I won’t, not this time. Because I am worth it.” And that heart belief keeps you saying those words to yourself, until you have control over those harmful tendencies, and you’ve created new habits. Wanting won’t cut it. But we all already know that.

By Kara Kimbrough Salads are the Rodney Dangerfield of the dinner table. To paraphrase the late comedian, “They get no respect.” Often we apologize for serving or eating a salad. If someone asks what we ate for lunch and the answer is leafy and green, we say, "Oh, just a salad." I’m happy to report that, judging from their online presence, salads are making a comeback, so I’m sharing some recipes to get everyone started. Following what was probably a few weeks of overindulging, there's no time like the present to give salads the respect they deserve. Salad toppings to avoid if you’re truly serious about losing a few pounds after the holidays include mayonnaise or sour cream-based dressings, large pieces of bacon or ham and tons of cheeses and croutons. I’m always shocked when I hear fellow restaurant patrons proclaim they’re “dieting and only having a salad.” Then they return from the salad bar with a concoction filled with the above-mentioned offenders, topped by a massive river of ranch dressing on top. Healthy? I don’t think so. I’ll admit, it's not always easy to choose a healthy salad as a main meal or side dish. But after seeing hundreds of videos of the Kardashian family’s favorite salad online, along with a blogger’s post of “Old-Timey Salad” using the juice of a squeezed tomato as the only dressing (I tried it and it worked), I jumped on the salad band wagon along with everyone else. Disclaimer: I am not a fan of the reality show family. I watched the Kardashians’ reality show in the early days ONLY when the Olympic star formerly known as Bruce Jenner played a pivotal role as the stepfather and here's why. Years ago, I was thrilled to spend the day with Jenner when he flew his own plane from his California home to Jackson. Serving as the celebrity guest at a golf tournament hosted by the corporation for which I worked, staged to raise funds for UMMC’s Children’s Hospital, was the reason for Jenner's visit. While serving as his courier to and from the airport and hostess throughout the day and evening's awards dinner, I was impressed with his sincerity and genuine interest in meeting children as well as their parents. And, it was a thrill to watch one of the world’s greatest athletes play golf with my CEO, who actually played as well as the Olympian. An unsolicited autographed photo Jenner sent to me afterwards thanking me for my part in the event further cemented my belief that he possessed a good heart. As a result of this encounter, I was interested to see someone I “kind of” knew on television. Once he left the show that was the extent of my viewership or interest. I WAS curious, however, about the family’s “favorite salad recipe,” especially since it came from a famous Beverly Hills restaurant. Supposedly the salad was created in the 1950’s and was a favorite of presidents (JFK was a fan) and stars, including Elizabeth Taylor. It experienced a revival of sorts after appearing on the reality show. After trying the recipe, I can attest the salad, which literally takes just a few minutes, dressing included, to make, is light, tasty and satisfying. And it’s fun to flip the bowl over after combining the ingredients and having an instant plate filled with a large salad complete with dressing. Following is a version of La Scala’s recipe, along with the blogger’s tomato juice dressing salad. Let’s all vow to give salads the respect they deserve in 2023! Copycat Version of La Scala Salad Dressing: 1/4 cup oil (I used olive oil) 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 clove garlic, pressed 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Salad: 2 heads of lettuce, finely chopped (romaine and iceberg) ¼ pound salami, julienned into thin strips 1/4 pound Mozzarella, shredded 1-15-oz. can garbanzo beans, drained In a large bowl, mix dressing ingredients until thoroughly mixed. Add half of the garbanzo beans, stir and let marinate. On a cutting board, chop all salad ingredients (leave garbanzos whole). Use your hands to combine everything, then pour into the bowl on top of the dressing. Put a large plate over the top and shake lightly, then while holding the plate on top, flip bowl over to allow all contents to land on the plate. ‘Old-Timey’ Salad 1 large head of iceberg lettuce 3 tomatoes 1 sweet onion 1 cucumber Cup of matchstick carrots Salt and pepper Dice onion and cucumber and add to a large salad bowl; add carrots. Cut the top off of tomatoes and squeeze tomato juice over the salad bowl. Next, peel tomatoes and add to the salad bowl. Season vegetables generously with salt and pepper. Last, chop lettuce and stir into the vegetables. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before serving. (You can add your favorite salad dressing, but you really won’t need any; the tomato juice makes the salad very flavorful). Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Mika Hartman As 2022 is coming to a close this week, I can’t help but feel very privileged for this front row seat in Hudson’s life. I get to hear most all of his giggles. I get to watch him explore in a way my older two children didn’t. I get to celebrate the inch stones and I get to see the determination and effort it takes to meet these new challenges. Hudson is a miracle. More often than hearing “how lucky I am to have him”, many want to say to me “how lucky he is to have me”. I understand this and, yes, to be grateful, I know this is a compliment. The truth is my life is better because of him. I know I am a decent, law-abiding citizen who contributes to society and I love God. I know I am a good wife and strive to be a great mom and friend. Then came Hudson; I am now all of those things listed AND gladly so much more. My desires to change laws are from Huddy. My need to write is because of him. My love grew to infinity for a whole community of people I didn’t even know before he arrived. What is astounding to me is how many others feel blessed to be around my son; that he makes them better people, too. Hudson isn’t a one-off miracle, he’s actually 1 in 700 births every year. Many “Hudson’s” are touching lives daily and bringing much needed love to a world that needs it. Don’t take my word for it, read what others have to say about loving someone with Down syndrome: Caterina Scorsone from Grey’s Anatomy: “Beauty. Love. Peace. Contentment. Acceptance. Belonging. Freedom. Adventure. Blessings beyond my wildest dreams.” She wrote this about her daughter, Molly. Julie Newmar from Batman: “He’s the cause of the great expansion of my outlook on life. He’s responsible for my understanding and practice of unconditional love. John is what makes my life great.” Julie is talking about her son, John. Kit Harrington from Game of Thrones: “We had a wonderful loving upbringing in the same family and had a great time growing up, many times under the same roof and became close friends as well as cousins. My only major difference with Laurent is that he has Down syndrome.“ He went on to say, “ I feel lucky knowing someone with Down syndrome: his emotional intelligence is huge.” Kit loves his cousin, Laurent, who has an extra chromosome. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Rogers wrote a book about Robin. She lived only two years; but her presence changed them forever. Dale wrote a book called Angel Unaware. I have read this and it is a beautiful read: Daddy (Roy) said, “No! We’ll keep her and do all we can for her, and take our chances.” Mommy (Dale) smiled then; she was glad, and she said what I had been waiting to hear her say: that You had sent me for some special reason, and they had no right to cast aside anything or anyone You had sent. Jamie Foxx said this about his sister, DeOndra Dixon: “It’s the way our family treats her. With DeOndra, we let her jump in the water and swim a little bit, so to speak. Our family just treats her like DeOndra. She goes everywhere we go. She’s usually the life of the party!” Jamie built his home in a way that his sister could be near him. She passed away in 2020. Sarah Palin wrote a letter (as if it were coming from God) about her son Trig: "Trig's mom and dad were told early by doctors that the child 'may provide more challenges and more joy than what they ever may have imagined or ever asked for. This new person in your life can help everyone put things in perspective... and get everyone focused on what really matters. The baby will expand your world and let you see and feel things you haven't experienced yet." John McGinley from Scrubs (and more) wrote this: "You go to the hospital your wife's in labor and you're doing the thing, and then it's very disorienting and scary and you beat yourself up and you go through a whole period of 'woe is me' and then you realize that this a gift, this child is the light, and if you can nourish that light and just let it shine, you have an opportunity to get closer to what I think is God.” John and his son, Max, are working hard to put an end to the “R” word. Rory Feek (musician) is raising his daughter, Indiana, alone after the passing of his wife, Joey. This is how he feels: "Out of all the parents in the world, He has chosen us to care for and raise this special gift. As Indy grows along with her bright spirit, he's learned that the possibilities are endless for her. "Indiana’s smile lights up not just the room, but the world,” he says. "I think she can be whatever she wants to be, and Joey and I did not know that. She just needs love, just like everybody else.” Michael and Lisa Gungor wrote a song called “Light” about their daughter, Lucy. Here are the lyrics: "Light" Your eyes, they opened And love was spoken The tears came tumbling down Your heart was broken The words were spoken The tears came tumbling down And the blind gained sight As we met our light Oh the joy and fight The gift of life Your hands, the creases Your feet, your breathing You’re mine, you’re perfect light And the blind gained sight As we met our light Oh the joy and fight The gift of life I can’t take my eyes off of you oh my Light I can’t take my eyes off of you Amanda Booth, a supermodel, was given her son’s diagnosis. She decided to meet people with Down syndrome to learn all she could. Here is what she said: "I instantly fell in love with the babies I was seeing, the encouraging parents, and the love they were sharing. I needed to be a part of that. I wasn’t scared of the reactions people would have, sharing our story wasn’t for them, but for the people who needed it, and I knew they’d find us." Amanda’s son, Micah, has taught her how to be an advocate, too. Here is a snippet on this: Now that Micah has grown into a very typical, tornado of a toddler, I’m able to give myself a little shift in my parenting needs: I am starting my advocacy for my son. I need people to see him for who he is. I need them to recognize his ability, and to allow themselves to give him the opportunity to succeed. I need them to not miss out on the love that he has to give. He won’t miss out, that’s my job. Here, I dare to undo all the stereotypes laid out before you. What is stronger in this world than love and bond? Life would be boring if it were easy. And Micah, it won’t be easy, but it would please me to watch you push hard, and to raise the bar. Sally Phillips, actor and comedian, didn’t learn about her son’s diagnosis until he was 10 days old. She says this about her teenager, Olly: “Life is 'more meaningful and happy' since the teenager's birth.” 'There’s a load of positives with having Down's syndrome and a load of wisdoms about being a human being and a load of huge bonds and blessing for families.’ Sally worked on a documentary in 2016. “A world without Down syndrome”. She was seeking answers to these questions: What kind of society do we want to live in? And who do we think should be allowed to live in it? As I think of my answers to these hard questions, I know I want a world where people can say all these wonderful things about people they love dearly, no matter if they have an extra chromosome or not. A world where we encourage those who face challenges with the understanding that we will gain way more from them than they will gain from us. People who make the world better should be the easiest answer we have. My son makes the world better; my world and others benefit because he was born. I could quote easily another 1000 momma’s I have met on our journey. The message is the same. They all love this life. They see their child with an extra chromosome as a gift. They feel like better versions of themselves because of this gift. Our Supreme Court Justice, Amy Coney Barrett, said this about her son, Benjamin: “He is the unanimous FAVORITE of the family!” In our family, I mean to imply our entire Down syndrome family, this is a common description used to describe those born with Down syndrome: The Unanimous Favorite! Being so worldly common, it has to be true… The EXTRA family favorite! I would love for you to write below on this post if you love someone with Down syndrome. Please share with us. It’s how we bring needed change, together.

The Mississippi Children's Museum's (MCM) will host a special Noon Year's Eve celebration on Saturday, Dec. 31st from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Festivities will include countdowns at 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. and a grand finale at noon with confetti cannons, a traditional style countdown, and a balloon drop. Dance along to festive tunes with DJ AJC. Create your own noisemaker and countdown clock, add your New Year's wishes to our Wishing Wall, make a New Year's hat, and so much more! Noon Year's Eve is included with $10 general admission and free with museum membership. Museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. MCM will be open for Magic Mondays on Dec. 19 & 26. Journey to the North Pole, MCM's holiday exhibit will be open until Jan. 8. The museum will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Journey to the North Pole features: 45-foot Snowflake Slide (Must be 36" to ride) Reindeer Rink sock skating (Must bring socks for this experience) Magical train cars, a child-sized post office, letters to Santa, holiday train table with toy trains and village elements Santa's Stocking Stories, inspired by Eudora Welty's living room More information on Journey to the North Pole: https://mschildrensmuseum.org/seasonal_exhibits/journey-to-the-north-pole/

Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney hopes everyone will take precautions when shooting fireworks. “Fireworks cause thousands of injuries in the U.S. every year,” said Chaney. “Children are especially at risk for injury. Teach your child not to point or throw fireworks at people, animals, or buildings. Show children how to put fireworks in buckets of water and dispose of them properly so as not to start a fire.” The Mississippi State Fire Marshal recommends these additional safety tips: Observe local laws. Those wishing to purchase and use fireworks should first check with their fire protection officials to make sure that local laws are being followed. Some municipalities prohibit fireworks from being used within city limits. Use common sense: always read and follow the directions on each firework. Never point or throw fireworks at another person. Buy from reliable fireworks sellers. Store them in a cool, dry place. Always have an adult present when shooting fireworks. Put used fireworks in a bucket of water and have a hose ready. Only use fireworks outdoors, away from homes, dry grass, and trees. Light only one item at a time and keep a safe distance. Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks. Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks. Never give fireworks to small children. Never carry fireworks in your pocket. Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.