News & Commentary

THISISREALMEDIA.COM

January 17, 2014

The Return Of The Real Story

media.com/. After publishing on the web exclusively for just over a year, it became commonplace for people to approach me and my staff, asking if we were ever going to publish a print edition again. Well, the answer is yes. And, here it is. We will be covering local news with an emphasis on local government and politics lifestyles, arts and culture, and community events. When necessary, we will offer commentary on the events that are shaping the region. The paper will be smart, cutting edge and anything but politically correct, but, most of all, we will be a community paper. We intend to serve the citizens of the Golden Triangle. The paper is not meant to replace the online version of Real Media. It is meant to partner with that endeavor. For all of the people who enjoy the daily posts on the website, that tradition will continue. We want to give our readers the best of both worlds. The staff of The Real Story is looking forward to serving our community for years to come. We wish you a belated Happy New Year 2014! And here we go! Joseph B. St. John

The Real Story has heard the public and we are now back as a print edition. Starting with this issue, The Real Story will be available every two weeks. It will be published on Fridays and the best part is that its FREE! Thats right - FREE!

The paper will be a complement to its sister publication, Real Media, which is available online daily at http://thisisreal

To Advertise in The Real Story, please call our Sales Department at 662.352.8090

Perspectives:

Travelling Alone - Courage And Discovery

drawal from the world. There is a common understanding that only by freeing oneself from lifes banalities, temptations, and repetitious activities can spiritual enlightenment be attained. The greatest of the worlds adventurers have gone into uncharted lands alone, either out of a desire for spiritual evolution or to test their mettle against the harshest forces of nature. The solo traveler confronts his fear just like the monk grapples with his own spiritual infirmity or the Indian sadhu fights his way out of confusion to mental purity. Only through the solitary fight to master fear, insecurity and doubt can an individual be truly realized. I have always been in awe of solo adventurers, and have read the accounts of Joshua Slocum, the first man to sail alone around the world in 1895; Francis Chichester, who did it in the frail Gypsy Moth a half- century later; Mungo Park and Rene du Chaillu who explored Africa in the 18th century; C.M. Doughty and Wilfred Theisiger, who explored the Empty Quarter of Arabia; and Sir Richard Francis Burton, who travelled alone to Mecca and explored uncharted areas of Africa. Paul Theroux, in his The Tao of Travel, writes that all solo adventurers have seen a personal or spiritual dimension to their travels. Theroux provides a quote from Albert Camus from his Notebooks (1935-42): What gives value to travel is fear. It is the fact that, at a certain moment, when we are so far from our own countrywe are seized by a vague fear, and the instinctive desire to go back to the protection of old habits. This is the most obvious benefit of travel. At that moment, we are feverish but also porous, so that the slightest touch makes us quiver to the depths of our being. We come across a cascade of light and there is eternity. This is why we should not say that we travel for pleasure. There is no pleasure in travelling. I have spent much time in Africa, most of it alone; but, staying in three-star hotels, and surrounded by American and African colleagues and office staff. Traveling upcountry in an air-conditioned Land Cruiser doesnt count as solo voyaging. I was alone enough, however, to sense some of the fear and apprehension that Theroux and earlier travelers felt, but these feelings quickly passed. No sooner was I lost in an uncharted part of Nairobi, then I was back by the pool at the Norfolk. When two of our three Mercedes 4x4s broke down in the Mauritanian Sahara, we simply piled in the third, returned to Nouakchott, and radioed ahead for help. I am a neophyte, both as a meditative solitary and as a solo adventurer. I tend not to take risks, and have spent far more time by hotel pools than I have in the interior. I am very self-sufficient on long trips, but after a long weekend alone, I am quite happy to get back with colleagues. In other words, I know enough about solitude and adventurous risk to appreciate the sadhus and Mungo Parks of the world, but do not have their courage or discipline. More than anything else, I do not have their goals. I dont feel the need to either prove myself or probe my inner nature. This is perhaps more due to age, more likely due to indifference, and at worst because of a lifelong attachment to a predictable, comfortable life. Nevertheless, Richard Burton, T.E. Lawrence and Ernest Shackleton are my heroes and always will be. They had the courage to discover the world and themselves.

Doing anything alone today is out of fashion. It is social connection that counts, and aloneness means loneliness. We will do anything to avoid time alone, it seems, and yet solitude has always been the first step on the path to enlightenment or spiritual evolution. Jesus fasted alone for forty days and forty nights in the Judean desert, led there by the Holy Spirit to do battle with the Devil. Alone, he faced the temptations of Satan, not only by showing his own moral conviction, but by defying and defeating the forces of evil.

The strictest Catholic monasteries of today practice rituals of prayer, meditation, and fasting which simulate Christs resolve. Their prayer is not a simple incantation or praise, but recognition of their humanity, sin, failings, and temptations; and an attempt to reconcile these with divine purity. The fourth and final phase of a Hindus life is sannyasa, a stage in which the recluse emerges from his isolation and wanders the earth. He has developed vairgya, or a state of dispassion and detachment from material life, renouncing worldly thoughts and desires in order to spend the remainder of his life in spiritual contemplation.

Many, if not most, cultures have some tradition of solitary meditation and with-

Ron Parlato is a writer living in Washington, DC. He has close ties with Columbus, which he visits frequently. His writings on literature, politics and culture, travel, and cooking can be found on his own blog, http://www.uncleguidosfacts.com.

January 17, 2014

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News & Commentary

Posing As An Adult:

Life, A Series Of Adjustments...And Coyotes

tail. I looked in the direction of what appeared to be generating this delight and quickly realized, That is so not a German Shepherd. I have to admit, I dont know how to effectively react to a coyote. I didnt know if I should quickly take Piper back inside or slowly move towards the apartment, not making sudden, prey-like moves. Meanwhile, Piper continued to wag her tail and, in dog etiquette, invite our new friend to come play. The coyote finally moved down the hill, watching us creepily the entire time. I was stunned. Piper was disappointed there would be no play-date. The second time, luckily, Piper did not see her erstwhile playmate. He (Im assuming its a he) was standing in the moonlight, probably sniffing for a Jackhuahua and a clumsy girl who cant walk that great in daylight, much less run from a coyote at 10 p.m. I quietly and slowly re-directed Piper to the back of the apartment complex, hoping I wasnt up against a coyote posse bound on devouring both of us. We made it, and I havent seen it since. Im hoping it was only briefly in town for a week of shopping and beauty at the Summit and has moved on to less-populated climes. The other major adjustments mostly involve becoming accustomed to having neighbors, which means if the Wonderdog decides to go outside at 3 a.m., I cant wear my nightgown (or that would surely be the night I die at the claws of the coyote, and I cant bear the headline). I have upstairs neighbors who apparently walk around with buckets on their feet or need to lose a considerable amount of weight. I woke up, one night, to a group of about six people fighting outside my window, as I tried to decide

This is no real profound statement, but my most recent grand realization is that life is just a continuous series of changes. What makes up that life is how devastating those changes are and how we deal with them. Im marking one month of living in an apartment for the first time in nine years, and that, along with the other life changes Ive experienced this year, has come with a unique set of adjustments. I have now seen a coyote up close and personal. Keep in mind, I live directly behind the Summit in Birmingham. Im a stones throw from Kohls, Toys R Us, etc and apparently Wile E. Coyotes winter home. The first time I saw him, I was walking Piper the Wonderdog, and I saw what I first thought was a giant German Shepherd. Piper, who detests almost all other people besides me, but adores all other dogs, started to wag her

whether to go outside old lady-style, shaking my fist; call the police; or just going back to sleep. I chose going back to sleep, which may have been a lazy and not entirely altruistic attitude, but I selfishly thought my chances of getting shivved or accosted would be much lower if I didnt get involved. As a neighbor, thats always been my general philosophy. My mom thinks thats terrible, but I believe its one of the many bonuses of living in a bigger city. I dont necessarily have to get involved. Thats an adjustment I made the moment I left a small town. So, Piper and I continue on our journey, which will hopefully not culminate in either of us being eaten by a coyote or stabbed by drunken frat boys fighting over a girl. Adjustments, indeed.
Emily Gaither is a former resident of Columbus, who now lives in Birmingham, Ala. Read Emilys blog at http://msdemocrat.blogspot.com/.

Sweet Sorghum Living Short Tales:

Funny Bunny And Spare Time

moving. It has been five years since the little family and I have been settled. The experiences and the adventures have been wonderful, and we wouldnt trade them for anything. However, we would like to feel settled - to feel like it is home, not a project. Not simply a place where we sleep. Sure, the old saying is Home is where the heart is, but the heart likes to feel settled. Yes, I realize that I am overusing the word settled. I could certainly use a thesaurus to find a similar term, but none of those will explain the desire that I have to be settled. Not settled down - that is something entirely different. I am totally settled down, but I am not settled. There are still over a dozen moving boxes that we never unpacked. To be perfectly honest, three of those have never been unpacked, since the first move we made five years ago. They contain family trinkets and memories - little items that will be displayed one day when the little family and I are settled. Until then, they will remain packed up and safe from all the moving and renovation madness. I love those little trinkets. They are not valuable - at least not monetarily. Those little objects represent the past and the beginning of who I am, where I came from, and the love that I feel for my parents and grandparents. I have a stuffed bunny named Funny Bunny that my Grandmother Plymon gave to me many moons ago. Funny Bunny reminds me of large, family birthday gatherings because my uncle, my grandmother, and I have birthdays which are mere days apart. I still have my Curious George doll. He has traveled a million miles and has been with me through thick and thin. Theres my Holly Hobby doll, Wonder Woman watch, paper-doll collection, and the books that my Aunt Judy gave me. I love books - especially those. Why those over all the other hundreds of books? They remind me of an innocent and simpler time, of family vacations to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to visit my Aunt Judy and Uncle Norris. He told some of the best stories. Sadly, he passed away not too long ago. I didnt attend his funeral. Dont judge me. I couldnt - not because of home renovations or moving, but because I just couldnt go to the funeral home. I hate funeral homes. I know that I should have gone to the funeral to show my love and support, but that is a topic for another day. Today is a day of remembering and rejoicing, not addressing why I cannot step foot inside a funeral home. Do yall want to know what I am going to do this afternoon? I am going to put on a pot of coffee, go down to the basement and bring up my childhood trinket box. Then, I am going to unpack it, sit a spell with a good cup of Joe, reminisce, and pretend I am settled.

Now that the hubby and I have completed the home renovation, I have no idea what to do with my spare time. We have spent so many hours in the past few years moving and remodeling that we have lost touch with normal activities. Just last night, we realized that we could go to bed at a decent hour, and that we were not physically exhausted when our heads hit the pillow. It was a strange, but good, feeling - a feeling that we were just normal homeowners with no massive project list hanging over our heads. So now, the question is what do we do while we wait for our house to sell? Do we catch up on all the TV shows that we have heard of, but have never had the chance to watch? Do we plan a dinner-and-movie date-night? How nice that would be! A relaxing sit-down dinner, in dressy clothes. Perhaps, we should book a mini-vacation or go antiquing. The possibilities are limitless.

I have no idea how to have a conversation that doesnt involve house projects or

Chasidy Fulcher Hathorn is an up-cycler, junk lover, blogger, mom, and wife who enjoys creating unique pieces of art, tearing up houses and putting them back together, and lazy walks on the beach (ok, TV she enjoys watching TV). She can be reached at chasidy.hathorn@gmail.com.

Events Calendar

THISISREALMEDIA.COM

January 17, 2014

January 17, 2014

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Events Calendar

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January 17, 2014

MUWs Gordy Honors College Forum Series Announces Spring Schedule

From the coach who inspired the movie Remember the Titans to an Olympian swimmer, the Gordy Honors College Forum series at Mississippi University for Women will present a spring of outstanding public lectures, film and undergraduate research. Were pleased that the Forum Series continues to be one of the premier lecture series in the state, said Dr. Thomas G. Velek, director of the Gordy Honors College. Velek will open the series on Jan. 23 with a presentation entitled Lessons from an Obsession: Athletics and the Life Well Lived. His will be the first in a Forum Series whose theme is tied to MUWs potential return to intercollegiate athletics and explores the importance of athletics for the individual and American society. us? I am fascinated by our cultures obsession with sports and like investigating the roots of that obsession, Velek commented. On Feb. 6, the series begins a two-part examination of race in American sports. The film Remember the Titans will be screened that evening at 6 p.m. in Nissan Auditorium. The screening will be followed by a discussion of the film. The series will welcome special guest Coach Herman Boone Feb. 13. Boone was appointed head football coach at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va., at the time the school district integrated its schools. His appointment over the popular white coach, Bill Yoast, caused dissension within the community. The story of how Boone and Yoast overcame those differences and led T.C. Williams to the state championship was the inspiration for the Film "Remember the Titans." Boones presentation is titled Remembering the Titan, Coaching Success. The 6 p.m. presentation will be held in the Limbert Assembly Room in Cochran Hall. The Forum Series continues on March 6 with Dr. Katharine Kittredges presentation, "My So-Called Sporting Life: What Women Can Gain (and Lose) from Playing Sports." Dr. Kittredge, a professor of English, will travel from Ithaca College in New York to present at MUW. Kittredge describes herself as a pre-Title IX athlete who had to fight for a chance to play sports in college. Her 6 p.m. presentation will be held in Poindexter Hall. On March 24, the series presents the second annual Nell Wolfe Peel Lecture when it welcomes Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard to Columbus. Beard is a three-time Olympian and seven-time medal winner. She is a former world-record holder in the 200-meter breaststroke (long course). Beard's success has earned her the American Swimmer of the Year Award twice. Since retiring from competitive swimming, Beard has worked extensively in modeling, advertising and authored the book In the Water They Can Not See You Cry. Her presentation, titled "Striving for Excellence; Olympic Success and Real Life Challenges," will be presented in Cochran Hall. The final lecture in the series is April 3 in Nissan Auditorium. MUWs Dr. Dorothy Berglund will present "Ice Flow: Positive Psychology in Coaching and Training Athletes." Velek said, We are thrilled by the quality, stature and variety of speakers in the series this semester. It is great to end with a fascinating presentation by a W faculty member. The Forum Series concludes April 24 and May 1 with the Honors Colleges Spring Research Symposia. The events showcase the undergraduate research of MUW seniors who are working on honors research projects. A poster session will be presented by students midway through projects and final research presentations will be made. It is exciting that we have so many students doing undergraduate research and that the quality of the work done at MUW is so high, noted Dr. Velek. All presentations are free and open to the public. All speakers are available after presentations to meet and greet members of the audience. For further information or to reserve group seating, contact Dr. Thomas G. Velek at tvelek@as.muw.edu, (662) 2416850 or visit http://web2.muw.edu/index. php/en/main-honors/. Special to The Real Story

Veleks 6 p.m. presentation in Parkinson Halls Nissan Auditorium will reflect on the role sports has had in his life - from little league baseball to college wrestling - a journey that has led him to coaching and being honored in 2013 as National Boys Soccer Coach of the Year by US Soccer.

In addition, the presentation asks the question, Why are sports so important to

Plantation Pointe Retirement Community Impressive In Every Regard

modern assisted living community; Philwood Suites, a State of Mississippi-registered Alzheimers and Dementia care wing; Bedford Suites, a 24-hour memory loss care wing; and The Estates, a beautiful community of senior garden homes. With this broad range of dignified services and care options for assisted living, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, outpatient and short-term inpatient occupational, physical, and speech therapy, and Alzheimers/ Dementia care, Plantation Pointe has options to meet the needs of most anyone. However, Plantation Pointe is so much more than those medical specialties important though they are. It is a community, in the truest sense of the word, for seniors who enjoy life and want to live it well. The facility is locally owned and operated, and features a modern campus of senior services where everyday life is enriched and celebrated. Residents enjoy tasty southern cooking, friendly faces, meaningful activities, and personal care, all of which are professionally administered in a compassionate environment that is squeaky clean, bright, and modern. The staff is continually working to schedule activities that are not only enjoyable and beneficial to the residents, but are also themed to the season. Past events have celebrated Black History Month, St. Patricks Day, and much more. There are picnics, fishing outings, and programs where local school children visit to read to the residents. Life at Plantation Pointe is not dull! Still, if your preference is for a more relaxed, restful pace, participation in the various activities is strictly voluntary. Sitting down with Ken Phillips, the administrator of The Arrington who is, at once, both attentive and easy-going it is easy to see why everyone is so happy. He is comfortable juggling a variety of responsibilities, all with the goal of ensuring that the residents are as happy as possible. With all of its amenities and services, one might imagine that life at Plantation

Whatever preconceived ideas you have about what an assisted living facility is like, toss them aside as you enter The Arrington, one of the six facilities that make up the Plantation Pointe retirement community. You are about to be impressed.

Pointe comes with a large price tag. Assuming that would be a mistake, as Phillips assures us that the facility is more affordable than people might think. He invites any interested individuals to contact them by calling (662) 241-0001. Perhaps the combination of a beautiful campus, a highly trained staff, and affordable pricing are what keep the facilitys occupancy at 85% or higher. However, one should not miss out on this incredible experience by assuming there are no vacancies. Individuals are instead invited to contact Jan, at (662) 241-0001, to determine availability.

The first thing that you notice is that the place is bright and cheery theres nothing dull or antiseptic about this place. As you cross through the foyer, you approach the front desk, where you will encounter some of the cheeriest people you will ever meet. If youre lucky, you will be greeted by Jan, who personifies the word friendly. Whatever your reason for visiting the lush community: a visit with a family member or friend, a tour of the facility, or a delivery for one of the residents Jan and her colleagues will attend to you with no delay. As mentioned earlier, Plantation Pointe consists of six facilities: The Windsor Place skilled nursing center; Windsor Place Rehab outpatient and short-term licensed and certified therapy services; The Arrington, a

Phillips states that their company-wide motto is This is your life. Live it well. The staff of this magnificent facility demonstrates their commitment to that philosophy every day, in everything that they do.

Dont just take our word for it, though. Schedule a tour and see it for yourself. Sponsored Post

January 17, 2014

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Arts & Culture

Abby In The City:

A Little Girls Dream

fell in love with it - just like dance. A few years later, I wondered what it would be like to venture into the world of film. My love of movies is nothing new. I have always been a little obsessed with old Hollywood stars and films, such as Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot and Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, but I was curious to learn whether I have what it takes to actually be an actress. So, when the opportunity came to be an extra in an independent film here in Birmingham, I took it. Soon after that, I had the opportunity to audition for a supporting role in an upcoming independent film, and I got the part! We are currently filming, so I have to keep the details on the down-low. *wink* Now, I am sure you are wondering what all of this has to do with the questions I asked at the beginning. Well, one day, I was Googling ways to expand my experience and learn more about the show and business aspects of showbiz, when I stumbled upon an ad for an acting workshop being taught by actor and director Kevin Wayne at the Shelby County Arts Council in Alabama. Excited about the opportunity, I signed up and attended the workshop. At the beginning, I was nervous - super nervous but, by the end of the workshop, I felt more relaxed and confident. Kevin Wayne gave me fabulous advice on auditioning, engaging with other actors on camera, and so much more! I had a lot of fun getting to learn about the film industry from someone who lives it every day. I give Kevin Waynes acting workshop five stars and two thumbs up! For any of you looking to expand into the acting industry, I totally recommend Kevin Waynes acting workshop! It is such a fabulous opportunity - how can you turn it down? *wink* To learn more about Kevin Waynes acting workshops, please visit www.shelbycountyartscouncil.com. Stay Fabulous!

Hello, fabulouses! Have you ever wondered what it takes to be an actor/actress? Have you ever dreamed of becoming super famous? I know I have - and still do! For 13 years, dance was a huge part of my life! I had dreams of becoming a well-known prima ballerina, like Anna Pavlova. I can remember going to dance practice several hours a day, six days a week, and traveling most weekends to dance competitions, and the toll it took on other aspects of my life. However, I was totally in love with the art and my parents were extremely supportive of that dream. So, why did I stop taking dance classes? Long story short: between all of the moving and my newfound passion for fashion and writing, I did not have the time to commit. As I was looking for something new to do, I started my blog, Vintage Inspired Passionista (VIP for short), and the more I wrote, the more I

Abby Hathorn is a freelance writer, fashion stylist, and blogger. Her blog, www.vintageinspiredpassionista.com, is a platform to showcase her love of vintage and modern apparel, fashion tips and trends, DIYs, community events, and anything else that strikes her fancy.

Tennessee Williams Tribute Stages Kingdom Of Earth Locally As Prep For MTA Competition
As practice for the requirements of the festival, the Kingdom of Earth cast and crew assembled an elaborate and full set in less than 10 minutes. The cast then staged an abbreviated performance of the play, in order to meet the competitions requirement that the performance last no more than one hour. After the performance, the group then struck the set within the specified 10 minutes. The set-up and strike was a sight to behold, as the cast and crew moved about the stage in a highly choreographed fashion, precisely positioning (and later removing) numerous props, including a sofa, five chairs, a raised platform, a staircase, a screen, and a bookshelf, among other items. In actuality, they completed the set-up and take-down in just over five minutes each. The production itself was very welldone, with impressive performances by David Trotter as Chicken, Cheri Golden as Mrs. Lot (Myrtle) Ravenstock, and Kris Lee as Lot Ravenstock. M.J. Etua, a former president of MTA, is the director of the production, with Brenda Caradine as the producer for TWT. The crew includes: Melissa Duncan as Propsmistress, Heather Box as Lighting Director, Brad Moreland as Sound Technician, and Madeline Golden as Stage Assistant. In addition, Keith Gaskin, Jerry Fortenberry and Sid Caradine of Columbus, as well as Christopher Blank of Memphis, were instrumental in the construction and transport of the set, which will be loaded into a U-Haul and driven to Vicksburg by Fortenberry and Sid Caradine for the competition. Marthalie Porter also played a key role as Box Office Treasurer. Claude Simpson, Darren Leach and Kenneth McFarland supported the production by assisting with set logistics and storage. Brenda Caradine was profuse in her gratitude for everyone involved, and especially for Etua, Lee, Box, Moreland, and Madeline Golden all of whom are active members of Starkville Community Theatre for their selfless dedication to regional community theatre.

The Tennessee Williams Tribute Inc. staged three performances of Williams Kingdom of Earth on Sunday, Jan. 12, in Columbus, in preparation for their participation in the Mississippi Theatre Associations 2014 Festival competition for one-act plays by community theatre groups. This years MTA one-act competition for community theatre groups, which is but one aspect of the annual festival that is being held in Vicksburg Jan. 17-19, will feature six groups from throughout the state.

This past Sundays three performances at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. were held at Mississippi University for Womens Rent Auditorium.

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