On certain occasions, I’ve thought about becoming a pirate. If I weren’t so prone to seasickness, I would love to spend my days on the high seas searching for buried treasure on deserted islands.
However, since dry land seems to suit me, I often search for treasures in my own backyard.
When I first started at the Item, I had only visited Picayune and Poplarville during festivals.
Throughout my time working here, I have come to discover the many wonderful things and people this community has to offer.
My husband and I, though married for almost two years, have been together for more than nine.
Every year for my birthday, he purchases a piece of Mignon Faget jewelry for me. Almost every Southern woman I know has either heard of the brand or owns many pieces of her silver jewelry either in the shape of a turtle, sand dollar, Fleur de Lis or something else southern themed.
Usually, we travel to her boutique in New Orleans to pick out a new piece, but this year we will visit a boutique in Picayune to purchase a ring from her the fall collection. Not only can I shop there for clothing, but now I can peruse the Mignon Faget selection and also share a laugh with the owner.
Since my dad works at NASA, he often travels to Picayune to enjoy the culinary delights during his lunch hour.
Last week, I finally got to savor a cheeseburger at a classic Picayune restaurant when he treated me to lunch. I loved the atmosphere and the fact that the food was served fresh and cooked almost in front of my eyes.
This year was my first year covering the Blueberry Festival in Poplarville. Since my mom is a fan of the event, I took her to work with me. Afterward, we were hungry and stopped in at a local restaurant in town. We were not disappointed. The chicken practically melted in my mouth and left me wanting more.
Since I’m a shopaholic, I love visiting the boutiques in Poplarville. I can find a wide array of Ole Miss merchandise as well as cute clothes. When I went to see Phantom of the Opera last year, I wore a dress I purchased from one of the stores.
One of my greatest finds in this county is the people. One of those is local videographer Bill Edwards. I had the honor of writing a story about the many contributions he makes to this county, such as his YouTube videos and Facebook page Picayune, MS Community Events. He and his wife, Sally, are a delight and I’m always pleased to see them about town.
Then there’s Jack Spiers, volunteer at McNeill Cemetery. He knows something about almost every person buried there. He is a fascinating man whom I was glad to meet.
I could go on and on about all the wonderful artists, writers and people I’ve met here, but that would take more space than I have.
It’s nice to visit other places and we should all broaden our cultural and social horizons every once in awhile.
But, sometimes, there’s nothing better than being around homefolk. That’s how I’ve come to feel about the people here.
This county has so much to offer and seems to be growing every day. The shops are awesome, the local food is great and I enjoy capturing these moments. You don’t have to go far to find treasures in Pearl River County.