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PLEASURES
WE ALL HAVE LITTLE THINGS WE LIKE TO DO THAT GIVE US JOY AND
THAT DON’T HAVE TO COST MUCH, IF ANYTHING.
FIVE SOUTH MISSISSIPPI WRITERS GIVE US A NEW APPRECIATION
FOR LIFE’S SMALL DELIGHTS, FROM PLAYING WITH DOGS TO FINDING
HIDDEN TREASURE IN A JUNK SHOP.
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S CREEN G EMS
Old movies are like comfort food
for me. I’ve been a classic films fan
since childhood, and an aficianado of
all things Warner Bros. since high
school, when I had a big poster of
Humphrey Bogart on the wall of my
bedroom, right next to Peter
Frampton.
I rediscovered the magic of those
old black and white movies seven
years ago, when my mother was
dying of cancer. Getting lost for a
couple of hours in “Casablanca,” or
laughing at the screwball comedy in
“Bringing Up Baby,” took my mind
off my grief for a while. Lucky for
me, Turner Classic Movies obliged
by filling its schedule during those
months with dozens of old favorites
as well as some movies I’d been
wanting to see for years, like “The
Philadelphia Story,” and “The Shop
E YE ON THE S PARROW Around the Corner,” that are now
also must-sees whenever they air.
Even now, I find myself turning to
About a year ago, I decided I was going to read a good old movie when I need a little
through the entire Bible by committing a little time hug and there’s no one around to
each morning to the task. I say task because initially, give it to me. I love to watch new
my approach was more like a student attacking an movies, too, but when times are
assignment instead of a reader seeking joy. Along tough and I need an escape, I can
the way, a little divine intervention occurred. always find it in those flickering
Last summer, my husband installed a tubular black and white images on my TV
birdfeeder just outside our breakfast room window. screen. Bogey, Cary, Kate, the two
A couple of hummingbird feeders were already in Jimmys (Stewart and Cagney), Fred
place. A few days after he filled the feeders with and Ginger and Bette are always
seed and nectar, the birds took notice. As I sat at the there for me.
table reading my designated Bible chapters, God’s - Robyn Jackson
creation began to put on a show! I’ve watched an
assortment of hungry visitors—blue jays, robins, car-
dinals, even an occasional ruby-throated humming-
bird.
My morning Bible study is now a simple pleasure.
I look forward to a cozy ritual of sipping hot coffee,
reading God’s word, and watching the birds. Ethel
Waters made a lovely gospel hymn famous. “His eye
is on the sparrow,” she sang. Every once in a while,
mine is, too.
- Karen Blakeney