Vicksburg, Mississippi

November 14th
The Military Park at Vicksburg is an incredible area where the battlefield was carefully marked with monuments commemorating those who fought for the Union.  Many of the Union soldiers were from Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin.  Interesting that Wisconsin had only been a state for 20 years at that time. The Military Park was a beautiful setting to remember the siege that was held here.
Mark had remembered his history a bit differently than what actually happened. He knew that Grant had won the battle, however, he had imagined that it was in some heroic fight that led the Union troops to victory.  Actually, the battles lasted for 47 days and with supplies cut off to the Confederate Army, Pemberton’s army was dying of malaria and starvation.  Also The Union owes a great deal of gratitude to the black men who fought for the Union.  The black soldiers fought heroically and with such determination that 200,000 black soldiers joined the Union Army after the battle at Vicksburg.   With his Conferderate Army dying of starvation and dysentery, Pemberton surrendered!

We continued our drive to Natchez on the Natchez Trace and arrived in time to have lunch in town and set up the RV in daylight.  We have learned our lesson about daylight setups.
Lunch was a delightful surprise of a spinach salad with fried oysters on top and a spicy hot sauce for dipping.  Mark had an oyster PoBo.  Both were delicious.

We settled into the Riverview RV park in Vidalia, MS across the Mississippi River from Natchez. We can see Natchez from our camp site.  I love looking across the River to see the lights of the city.  The manager of the RV Park is named Cappy and his daughter lives in Yarmouth, Maine.  Could the world get any smaller.  He even offered us a free night to stay here tomorrow because of the Yarmouth connection.  First the Elmira connection, then Yarmouth.  Wow!!

I have become more used to the space we are living in.  I am aware of putting everything we have in its own space. Mainly because it makes it easier for us to find things but there is a constant reminder that we can get along with less.  And with less we can appreciate more.  Constantly filling up our spaces hinders our ability to see what is already here.  Before we left Maine, I bought a collection of canisters that I had neatly packed into the RV.  We don’t need them so I gave them away.  Food comes in its own packaging and is easily stored that way. We don’t buy a lot of food at a time so we have plenty of room without those damn canisters. I have also given away some pieces of clothing which I found to be just too much. Not needed, not wanted.
Metaphorically, space provides a vast opening in my mind for me to think clearly without all of the interruptions and clutter that occupies a busy mind. There is a sense of calm that is very welcoming.