Oxford day 5...aka put a fork in me I am done

As happy as I am to be home in Jackson (hi bb!)...I am feeling a verklempt about leaving Oxford. It has been a simply amazing week. The politics...the parties...the passing out. No, the last two are not related, the passing out is definitely from exhaustion.

I was just in awe of the sheer spectacle of the whole thing. From day 1 up until the minute we pulled out of town it has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Even for those few days that it was in question if the debate would even happen it was still exciting. Will he? Won't he? It was akin to when we were waiting with baited breath for word from Brett Favre about staying retired. As it turns out the answer to that one is no...but in reference to McCain the answer is a resounding yes. He will grace Mississippi with his presence tonight for the first Presidential Debate.

I have gotten to the end of this odyssey and I would not be remiss if I did not include some kudos to some peeps. I know you are groaning at my pandering...but it just wouldn't be right if I did not acknowledge at least some of hard work put into this shindig.

First of all, the city of Oxford and Ole Miss...the task you undertook was daunting. Turn a rocking college town into the showplace that it became. Turn the number two party school in the nation (yay us) into the serious college that it is really is. I was just agog at the caliber of professors that populate this institution. I had never even experienced The Grove, except in my mind on those occasions that I ruminate on my life and wished I had graduated from the college of such lore. Bunny attended a private Baptist college in Cleveland, Georgia, so not alot of anything going on other than praying, church and thoughts of eternal damnation.

Governor Haley Barbour must be so proud of his alma mater and his entire state. We have the beauty of the coast, the cosmopolitaness of the capital city, the rich musical heritage of the Delta, and the quaint beauty of this college town with it's lovely squre.

I am proud to be a Mississipian. Proud to be part of this exciting time in history. Proud to shout "Hotty Toddy Gosh Almighty" at the top of my lungs.

And finally...I want to thank the Academy.