Jackson Free Press

Knowing that I am a soon-to-be true Jacksonian and Fondrenite is truly a dream come true. The excitement and anticipation running through my veins has been like a shot of espresso chased by a Red Bull and followed by a 12-pack of Pixie Stix! What a rush! As you may know, I was a fool and tried to keep up with the Jones' and the Naysayers until recently. My change in scenery is a dream I did not realize I wanted at all. But, education makes boys into men and the ignorant (that was me) wise.

Well, the excitement and anticipation was matched today. Actually, that does not justify it. I was overcome with amazement once again by my fellow Jacksonians at the Mal's St. Paddy's Day Parade.

Although the theme this year was "It's not easy being green," that was so not the color of the day. The color today was the one seen inside the big ass box (bab) of Crayolas. You know the one with the plastic "sharpener" in the back. When a child opens it each time and commences to imagine what she will stroke on the paper, one color is focused upon. And yes, that color is pulled from its tight compartment and used. However, at the next coloring event when the box is opened the toddler's eye becomes focused on a different color than the last time. There is no favorite in that box. In that box there are too many colors to have one favorite. The innocence of a child is what, we, as adults, need to have, everyday. One color is not the best. It's just not.

It was evident today that the innocence exists. As I marched down the parade route, fellow JFP "creatives" by my side, I could do nothing but smile. Grin. Laugh. The crowd stood as tightly as they could against the barriers, and I saw the colors of green, red, orange, blue, black, purple, brown, white, yellow, and silver. It truly mirrored that box. And the best part about it was that everyone saw every color. And the color scheme was grand! All were jam packed, in one happy place, tight compartment and all, just like the Crayolas. That is where they were supposed to be.

I saw colors dancing with each other, high-fiving, booty bumping and, yes, even kissing.

As we made our way through the mob it became apparent that this is Jackson. This is hospitality. This is unity. For this moment it was "fighting" over beads, Frisbees, flowers and the occasional Moon Pie. It was the fighting we should be doing. This fighting was part of the process of knowing each other. Let's drop our blinders and continue to move forward to make Jackson better. Pack the local joints and have lunch with a different color from the bab. Think green. Green can give you a rush of adrenaline. It can make your anticipation rise like it has mine. And most of all green was golden today. It blended us. May Jackson always be green!