Waveland, Ms. (Pop. 6,990)

Sometimes, life throws you surprises, leaving you reeling in shock or disbelief. Other times, you find yourself thinking that the most random event was so extremely special, you’re left wondering if it really happened.

I mentioned that Dana met Heidi Jackson, and we were then invited to her place for dinner with her family. We had such a great time chatting and meeting their boys—rather more like giants than boys.

I asked Heidi if I could record a conversation with her so she could share her story with us. We met at a wonderful coffee shop/bookstore (Cat Island Coffee) for some coffee and breakfast. We were graciously offered a table, where I pulled out all the equipment and set up for the conversation. She brought along her 16-year-old son for the chat. As we started, I noticed several other customers in the background watching us. I could tell they were curious. It was a delightful conversation, and I am eager to share it with all of you.

As we were wrapping up, the computer suddenly stopped recording. For a moment, I was afraid I had lost everything. After some serious panic, I was relieved to confirm that it had all been saved—except for the last few minutes. There was so much more to discuss, but we ended it there. As I was packing up the equipment, several of the baristas asked what we were doing and were fascinated by the project. Hopefully, they were inspired to do something creative themselves.

Sometimes, you meet people, and you think, "That was good." This time, I felt like we met lifelong friends for the first time. We are both so grateful for this random encounter.

Tomorrow morning, I’ll be heading out again and hope to reach the northeastern edge of New Orleans. That should be around 55 miles, but my legs have had a day off, so they should be up for it. It was very windy and chilly today, and several times, I found myself glad I took the day off. Tomorrow, the temperature will still be cool, but the wind should be mild, making it great riding weather.

Be well, my friends, and keep doing good.Read more