Kelly's SC to CA Road Trip

Tupelo, MS

Update: Please return to Fort Smith, AR for the pictures I added if you’d like. Just as I was posting yesterday evening, a torrential thunderstorm blew in with hail and wind. The internet connection was lost and was still down this morning. I was very concerned about doing Wordle and losing my 367 day streak.

The Fort Smith Hampton Inn breakfast area is very crowded this morning with a lot of sleepy young children eating cereal. I give them a pass on the no pajamas rule.

I decided to skip the public library and head to Little Rock to visit the Clinton Presidential Library – my first presidential library visit, and well worth it. Andrew sold me a ticket ($10), and, when I told him I’m from Charleston, he asked me if I’ve ever heard of a magazine called Southern Living. He read an article about Charleston years ago and has always wanted to visit.

First, there is a short biographical movie about Clinton – his father died 3 months before Bill was born. There’s the famous photo of him at Boys Nation shaking hands with JFK, and I thought about Benjamin going to Boys State when he was a rising high school senior (he hated it). Clinton was the youngest governor in the United States, then the youngest ex-governor.

At the top of the escalator, I’m greeted by Debbie, who also yearns to visit Charleston, and might be going at Christmas this year. So, I invited her to come to St. Matthew’s and she put that in her phone to remember. I suggested she might enjoy staying at The Bennett right across from St. M, and she asked, “Is it expensive?”

Some accomplishments of the Clinton administration that I remember and like: Americorps, increased funding for scientific research (including infectious diseases and how to manage pandemics), expansion of the internet and email. (In 1993, the internet had only 50 sites and email was mostly used by scientists.)

There are also lots of presidential gifts on display including a South African mask and 2 ewers from Morocco. (I only know what an ewer is because we have a new one at St. M.) There are Christmas ornaments and eggs from the annual Egg Roll too. I like the portrait of Socks the cat with a sock.

I had a good lunch at the nearby Cracker Barrel and set out for Tupelo, MS. Along the way, I enjoyed a phone call with Carolyn, and I told her how I haven’t had any English Breakfast tea at these Hampton Inns along the way. Usually the hotel will have Earl Grey and herbal choices, but my go-to and favorite is English Breakfast. Next time I’ll pack my own Tazo Awake. Carolyn is a tea connoisseur and former employee of Twinings.

I also got a call from Benjamin, checking on me and sharing the latest news of his job transition. He’s got some very good options and might be out of the country for a few years. He told Tonje, “My parents dragged me to Tanzania when I was five!”

I finished Jane Eyre (18 hours), and I need to talk about it. Carolyn and I will set a date to discuss it – join us if you love that book, too. I’ll start Homeschooled by Stefan Block (7 hours), a Jenna selection.

Book recommendation by an Arkansas author: True Grit by Charles Portis.

There are binders for each month and year of Clinton’s administration showing the daily schedule.
DNA – of course, this caught my eye in a display of scientific research and its impact during the Clinton administration.
A scale replica of the Oval Office. (Remember what it used to look like?)
A new display celebrating America’s 250th birthday describes the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Two interesting items here are an original red coat from the British army and a 1915 wooden school desk.
“Crystal Tree of Light” by glass sculptor Dave Chihuly.
Clinton Presidential Bridge next to the library – for hikers and bikers.