Ever since I came to this new, unfamiliar place, I have devoted many thoughts to my old haunts (meaning places I like to be). If I had to pick just one to spend the rest of my life, it would be the northern Gulf Coast (known in many circles as the "Redneck Riviera"). I love the beach. I love the gritty feel of the soft quartz sand between my toes. I love the tang of the salty air and the sound of breakers hitting the shore. I love the way the trees lean inward from being blown by hurricane-force winds. The one thing I would change is progress. I would get rid of all the high rise condos. The beach is no place for sky scrapers. I would remove the "upscale" planned communities (they are just too perfect) and put back the cheap motels and cinder-block cottages. I would put back the dunes knocked down by hurricanes and developers. I would insist that Gulf states protect their beaches from pollution. I would keep the fishing piers. I love to visit them late at night when the serious fishermen are angling. I have gotten some great tips for catching red fish and blue crabs and met some real characters.
No beach visit is complete without lots of fresh Gulf seafood. Those characters on the piers have steered me toward the best hole-in-the-wall dives on the coast. When checking out a seafood joint, take a look at the tables. There should be a roll of paper towels, bottles of ketchup, Tabasco, Lea and Perrin's Worchestershire, and a jar of horseradish. For the unitiated, this is for making your own seafood sauce. There are good places that provide it ready-made, but not many. It helps if the furniture is mismatched. If the wait staff is wearing cutesy little outfits and start off by saying, "Hi, my name is Brittany and I'll be your server this evening", get up and leave. You have entered the "tourist trap zone". You want the kind of place where you have to specify you want Dr. Pepper or other non-alcoholic drink when the gum-smacking waitress asks what kind of beer you want. There should be a jukebox that only plays twangy country and Jimmy Buffet. Okay--maybe the Allman Brothers and Lynard Skynard, too. After all, ambience is everything! After your meal, you should be so full, you have no room left for dessert. Some may feel the need to visit a honky tonk afterward, but me, I just want a walk on the beach, and then to sit on my balcony until midnight. If I'm lucky, there will be thunderstorm several miles off shore, with "heat lightening", some of mother nature's most colorful pyrotechnics--better than fireworks! Can you think of a better ending to a perfect day? Or a better way to end this little essay? Neither can I. Yours, Fannie Ryan

When I started this blog thing, I meant to be faithful and write an entry at least once a week.
But here I am over a month later and I have only written two entries. There are lots of things I could write about that are work related, but due to confidentiality regulations, legally, I can't share much. But if I could...it would curl your hair! One thing about working in a psychiatric facility--never a dull moment. So instead, I will write about this little town I find myself in.
M. is a college town, and rather provincial. The folks are quite friendly, though, and take pride in their town and it's history. Many buildings pre-date the Civil War, and a few are over 200 years old. Antebellum homes abound. A literary icon called this berg home, and her farm is a few miles from the outskirts.
M. also boasts a vibrant downtown, and for a place this small, a fair amount of nightlife. Several bars and restaurants showcase live music. There is a movie plex with six screens, and a small mall. Of course, there is a Super Wal Mart. There are two nearby lakes for those who enjoy the water. I look forward to autumn, which is a very pleasant season in the deep south. I plan to take advantage of some of the outdoor activities that this area offers.
I am comfortable with a variety of Christian traditions and have gotten involved in the Nazarene church here. They are like the Methodists used to be, and as a Methodist with a holiness background, I am very at home there. I enjoy the vibrant worship and sound, biblical teaching and preaching. The folks there have taken me in and made me one of their own. I also appreciate more liturgical worship, and have been attending the Saturday evening Eucharist at the 170 year old Episcopal church. The tradition and beauty behind the liturgy are like an oasis for my soul.
If one appreciates traditional Southern/Soul food, the best in the world can be found right here. (And I DO so love it!). Fried chicken, catfish, greens served with deep fried fatback (it really is good!) , corn bread biscuits, and peach cobbler make the world go 'round.
I haven't explored as much as I would like. Waiting for the dog days to pass, I suppose. A few people have asked me if I plan to stay here when I finish my internship. I honestly can't say. I do know this: I miss the green hills and valleys of home. And I can almost hear my Celtic anscestors calling me to a place with hills and mountain streams. That place could be the place I was raised, or it may be Ireland. I will know it when I find it, and I will know that I am home.