I’ll Miss You, Turning Pages…

Driving into Natchez, MS always feels like I’m stepping back into time. It’s not just the beautiful historic homes and buildings dotting Canal Street, though this grand old lady is a charming and accomplished hostess who knows full well how to whisk her visitors into days gone by. For me, it’s more personal.

Much of my childhood was spent in this city where Mama’s folks always waited to welcome us on a regular basis into a great big family mish-mash of visiting, churching, and fellowshipping here in this idlyic city on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi. I felt much the same spirit of hospitality as I returned to Turning Pages, Mary’s delightful bookstore on Franklin Street where she and her staff greeted us with smiles and, of course– a spread of food. This IS the south, people. 🙂

  

Their warm greeting was repeated by happy book buyers, who fast became new friends.

Mama made this stop, of course, as it IS her old stomping grounds. Here we are with Aunt Marleta (in the middle) and Uncle Stan. (YES, that would be THE Aunt Marleta from all of those stories!)

It just gets better. My publicist had told me that Turning Pages had a “little room” above the store that they offered visiting authors to use for the night, and did I mind staying there? Of course not, I said– and that, dear ones, is before I climbed the stairs to find a bonafide haven! Oh, and the last pic– why, it’s the mascot of Turning Pages. Goodbye, Sugar! See ‘ya next time!