February 10, Friday, Day 127

Buccaneer SP, Waveband, MS

It is easy to feel like a foreigner as a Yankee in the south. On her drive around the neighborhood, Penny found Kent and Sue’s Quick Stop nearby and hurried home to tell me of the deli coolers full of southern delicacies. She wanted us to go to lunch there; I agreed we needed some down home cooking to get the full flavor of the area. Boy, did we!

Not a typical convenience store; it did sell gas, smokes, chewing tobacco, beer, pop, and all the standard fare. But, it also had a large kitchen in back with many deli cases, as well as booths, tables and chairs for customers to dine indoors. By the time we got there, about 12:40, the deli cases were virtually empty!

We did get alligator boudin sausage (very good), southern homemade Mac and Cheese (yum), Thai spiced chicken nuggets (ate too many), and chicken tenders (brought two home). We asked if we could have a beer; the gentlemen said, “We like beer!” and showed me he was enjoying a cold one. He said, “Y’all just go over there to the beer cooler and get a couple or a case”. So, we got a six pack of Fat Tire; we each had one with our lunch while eavesdropping on the help. The lunch crowd was gone. One of the gals was smoking a cigarette while recounting the details of the rowdy party she and the other gal attended last weekend. Interesting!

The store had at least two crucifixes on full display; one on a sign warning potential robbers that the staff was armed and that they “would not hesitate to kill” a robber. While I understand the effort to scare off thieves, I thought it strangely placed under the dying Jesus! Then again, it’s proximity might put the robber in an existential moment; a brilliant psychological move.

It was definitely nap time after gorging myself on tasty food; we also cancelled bike rides. But, we did enjoy the full moon; it was not eclipsed down here. And, clouds rolled in obscuring the green comet that was supposed to be visible in the early morning hours.