VOL. 19 NO. 9 -- APRIL 29, 2024

Our Stories and Features

COLUMNISTS

Reflections/Jonathan Gramling

Jonathan Gramling

Homegoing Part 3

As we left the hotel to meet Jennifer and her family in the early evening, my body was going in two different directions. I had hardly slept for what seemed like an eternity and I was getting strong signals to call it a day. On the other hand, my adrenaline was leading me on to see Jennifer and the kids, pumping away

We went to a seafood restaurant that sat on the Ross Barnett Reservoir. They had dammed the Pearl River north of Jackson for flood control when the heavy rains hit Jackson. The restaurant sat on the embankment with no other buildings around it. As we walked towards the entrance, I saw a group of people walking towards the entrance as well. It was hard to discern who was who in the twilight and then I recognized Jennifer. Her two daughters were taller than she was and the oldest had a young son who was as old as Jennifer’s young son.

Jennifer and I hugged and I think she called me Dad. Her oldest daughter vaguely remembered me from when my friend Anna and I took a care package of diapers, baby food and other things to Jennifer when Adrienne was very young. I was meeting the other kids for the first time.