Life’s Marathon: Training for the long run

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Marshall Ramsey

Mother has been gone for a little over a year. Dad, a little over a year and a half. Their house is sold and my sisters are wrapping up the estate. A few possessions remain in a storage warehouse. And many questions have been answered (with a few that we’ll never truly understand.) I can’t speak for my sisters but it has left me exhausted, a little broken and questioning much of what is real and what isn’t. As my feet get back up under me, I am moving toward gratitude. I am who I am because of my parents. For that, I am thankful — warts and all. Their illness and eventual passing was a marathon — one that left us exhausted. The cloak of grief is beginning to lift as I linger at the finish line.

Many of you are nodding your head. It’s part of life. Even C.S. Lewis, a man of immense faith, shook his fist at the sky when his wife died (his book on grief is powerful, I recommend it). I know I have questioned so much of my life, how I’ve lived and how I will choose to live it. Like heat forging iron, that self-reflection has left me stronger — but I knew I needed a spark to pull myself out of that whirlpool of navel gazing.

My friend Doug provided that spark. We were doing the Paul Lacoste bootcamp together and after a particularly competitive 300-meter sprint, he said, “Come run a marathon with us.”

I should of laughed. But I didn’t. I stopped and listened to what he had to say.

I ran a marathon in 2010. It was the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. and I ran it as a fundraiser for the Melanoma Research Foundation. Very generous donors gave $13,000. At mile 20, I developed leg cramps (I didn’t train well) but I finished. It was one of the most rewarding days of my life.

Then I came home to find my job had been cut to part-time and my dog had died. I was thrown into a panic and never really felt like I got to enjoy the race. I said, “I’ll run another marathon when pigs fly.”

On May 6th, I will run the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati with Doug and several of his friends. He, his friend Mike (who is now my friend) and I have run many, many miles on the Ridgeland trails together. Sometimes our group is bigger. Sometimes it is just us. And while I should say the fitness and the goal setting has been what has pulled me out of my funk, I’d say it is more that I am running with some of the finest men I know (and Liz on occasion — and she transferred me her entry, so she is my hero).

In the last few weeks, I’ve run 16, 18, 20, 20 and 15 miles. I’ll be fine. My friends will pull me through the 26.2 mile run. Yes, it will be painful — but it is good pain. Pain that makes you spiritually, emotionally and physically stronger.

One percent of the World’s population has run a marathon. That means that 99% are smarter than I am. But this isn’t about logic. It’s about me running to be a better father, husband and friend. It’s a challenge that is bigger than me. And that is how I want to live the rest of my life.

Hopefully when I get home everything will be fine (I don’t want Pip to croak.) I know, though, I will be trained and ready for any other marathon life throws at me.

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The Zen of a 20-Mile Run

Posted on April 8, 2018 by Marshall Ramsey
Wind gusts were starting to pick up. It was 40-something degrees and raw. Spring had taken a siesta and wind-blown drizzle hit my face like cold needles. My running group started our long run along the Ridgeland Multipurpose path then took a different route and cut through some neighborhoods. Mike had already completed 10 miles by himself (he got up well before dawn), me and several other runners were just starting our journey. For the record, running with other people is the way to go. The conversation makes the time go faster.
 
I watched my watch — the miles were starting to pile up.
 
At mile 10, Mike finished his 20 miles and the other runners peeled off and went home. I had 10 more miles to go — by myself. I reset my watch (it was a psychological move — I’d rather see single digits pile up instead of double digits). A tree had fallen over the north end of the trail, so we had avoided it earlier. I made a beeline for it. I didn’t want to cover the same ground I had run on the previous two hours. In less than a mile, I came to the fallen tree, found a way over it and continued my run. My marathon is in less than a month. I needed to get this run done.
 
A fallen tree wouldn’t stop me.
 
When I train by myself, I don’t run a set route. I just watch my watch and go where my imagination takes me.I listened to a book and on a whim, took a right instead of a left. That had me traveling up Old Canton Road by the Madison Airport. Unprotected from the wind, rain stung my face. Passing cars whizzed by me. I could almost hear the drivers muttering “dumbass.”
 
But I plodded on through the slop. Soon I was back on the trail again and came to a section that was flooded. Brown water flowed across the trail — It was no time for a swim. I turned around and headed back toward a particularly hilly section of trail. I ate a Cliff Bar at mile 17 (nutrition is an important part of long runs) and made the last push up the big hill over Rice Road. At a water fountain near Reservoir Park, I refilled my water bottle and headed back toward my car. The last mile was uphill (and I had to climb over the downed tree again). At the tree, I helped a cyclist get his bike over it. Then I sprinted the remaining half mile — I finished at 20.44 miles.
 
I drove to get a smoothie and went home to take a hot shower.
 
I have one more long run to do before the marathon. I’ve loved the time with my running partners. I’ve enjoyed the beauty of the trail. And I look forward to the adventure on the streets of Cincinnati.
 
I’m tired today but not that sore. The sense of accomplishment is natural ibuprofen. Yesterday’s run was a confidence builder — a reminder I can do just about anything I put my mind to — or what it doesn’t want to do.
 
“Running is nothing more than a series of arguments between the part of your brain that wants to stop and the part that wants to keep going.”
— Unknown
 
That is why I run. It’s my training for those days when my brain is like that tree blocking the path and I need to find a way around it. 
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Dad brag

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Marshall Ramsey

My son’s 9th-grade track season ended last night with his team winning the Little Six Conference. Needless to say, the boys were very excited (I have some great photos of them posing with the trophy). They’re good kids who worked hard. It was fun seeing them get their moment.

And while I try not to talk about my kids much on Facebook (they hate it), I am going to give a dad-brag shout-out to my son. He came into the season with a hip injury. He struggled with some early practices but I saw something click around the second week. He told me that he was no longer going to worry about what was next in practice but would focus on what he was doing at the moment and give 100% while doing it. He listened to his coaches and relied on his teammates to push him. They also were pushed by him (one young man, who excels both athletically and academically, pushed him in particular. My son has serious respect for him — and he should. He had a great season, too. They have a great future running together).

The hard work paid off. He ran the 1600 meters (mile) and the 800 meters this season. He competed in 10 individual races total and won 10. (His team also ran a relay yesterday and they came in a close second). In process he broke the 9th grade record for both events. He ran one mile under five minutes and ran several right at 5 with winds up to 20 mph (the weather was weird this year). He’s a strong kid and an excellent runner.

He now moves up to Varsity where he’ll face some tough competition. It will make him better. Competition always does.

I’ve already bragged more than he will — and I love that about him. He’s driven by faith and his love of his sport (and he is competitive as Heck, too). Like his brothers, his attitude and effort are impressive.

Yeah, I’m happy that he won. But I’m more happy that he has skills that’ll help him survive in the wild. His mother and I are very, very proud.

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The Artful Evolution of Hal & Mal’s

Posted on April 3, 2018 by Marshall Ramsey
I interviewed Malcolm White for both my radio show and my television show yesterday. I enjoyed both opportunities to sit down with him and talk about his new book “The Artful Evolution of Hal & Mals.” It’s a great memoir of a restaurant, a history book of Mississippi’s culinary and arts scenes and a love letter to a lost brother (Hal). And it’s beautifully illustrated by the talented Ginger Williams Cook. I particularly enjoyed the stories about Willie Morris (he had his own table with a phone jack so he could make prank calls), Doug Marlette (the Pulitizer winning cartoonist who unfortunately died in a wreck in Marshall county), Elvis (he supposedly made deliveries to the building when it was a warehouse for a food company) and John Grisham’s first book signing (it was held at Hal & Mal’s because it was thought it would draw some legislators if it happened at a place that sold alcohol). I heard tales about old coworkers that filled in the gaps from some of the tales they used to tell. It was a different time. The book also shows the lasting power of the restaurant, now being run by another generation after Hal’s premature and tragic death. According to Malcolm, 59% of new restaurants close within the first three years. Hal & Mal’s is close to 35 years old. He also told the story about the first Mal’s St. Paddy’s Parade (now Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade.) and how it was held on a Thursday during rush hour traffic. Needless to say, it wasn’t received warmly by frustrated drivers. The next year moved to Saturday and the rest is history.
 
I don’t eat at Hal & Mal’s as often as I used to (I don’t eat anywhere that often because of my schedule) but I always love getting the Red Beans and Rice when I do. It, the soups and the gumbo are like Hal’s spirit living on.
 
As I closed out the TV interview, I thanked Malcolm for all he has done to improve the quality of life in this state. I can rattle off a list of people who have done that — they make living here better. He and Hal were wise enough to marry music, food, writing and art together in their restaurant. That’s what we do well here in Mississippi. Like Hal’s gumbo, it’s a recipe for success.
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Thirty Thought on London and Scotland

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Marshall Ramsey
1. Seeing the northern English and Scottish countryside makes me realize why so many from that area settled in the Appalachians.
 
2. When you see a wall built 2,000 years ago and a castle built in 1066, you get a different perspective on history. There were pubs in London older than our country.
 
3. Talking to cab drivers was an unexpected joy. The one that picked us up from the Chelsea game was with the fire service by day and a cab driver by night. He has two twin infant daughters. We talked about their futures and the futures of our two counties. People are people and we’re all trying to get by. Some just have a better attitude towards it than others. My son and I enjoyed our time with him.
 
4. If you see traffic moving quickly through London in a movie, that’s B.S.
 
5. We were near the Queen at Westminster Abbey (they had a celebration the Monday for Commonwealth Day) and at Windsor the day before. She did not invite us over for tea. I have respect for her though — her toughness and knowledge will be missed by Great Britain will miss her when she is gone.
 
6. Visiting the Churchill War Rooms made The Darkest Hour that much better. They captured it brilliantly in the film. I just got my masters in English and Scottish history this week.
 
7. Scotland is unbelievably gorgeous. We explored several castles in some of the nastiest weather I can remember (high wind, 33 degrees F and driving rain) and didn’t care. We saw the William Wallace monument from Stirling Castle and kept hearing, “FREEDOM!” Edinburgh Castle was magnificent and the Royal Mile (the city and shops around it) was too. 
 
8. Stonehenge was awe inspiring. Yeah, it’s a pile of rocks — but what a backstory! And as a bonus, there is a secret RAF airfield nearby that does Area 51 kind of stuff. 
 
9. I felt safe in London. We rode the Tube and walked around at night with no problem.
 
10. Transportation in London is expensive. The Tube ended up being our go-to mode of getting around. Getting and Oyster card (their pass) is a wise investment.
 
11. Yes, the food lives up to its reputation. But we did find some good restaurants in London and the “English Breakfast” we had every morning was pretty good. Beans and mushrooms aren’t my normal breakfast fare, but the pastries were the best I’ve had.
 
12. You learn to do Pounds to Dollars conversions in your head quickly. I bought a toboggan in Scotland for nine pounds, which was a rip-off, but it saved me from the howling wind and rain at Stirling Castle. Our driver Nick made fun of it, but you will see me wearing it around here. Nine pounds is cheaper than a hospital bill for pneumonia.
 
13. To stand at a castle used by knights, kings and Monty Python was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We also saw castles used in the TV shows Outlander and Frontier.
 
14. My son and I sat at a Chelsea v. Crystal Palace soccer match (football over there) right near the pitch (field). We kept saying to each other, “I can’t believe we are here.”
 
15. You could see Tower Bridge and the Tower of London from our hotel room. I’d wake up and think, “I can’t believe we are here.”
 
16. We met a couple of the people we tweet with who own Border Terriers (like Pip) and had tea with them in Hyde Park (like New York’s Central Park). They were so kind and friendly.
 
17. Big Ben is silent and the tower it’s in (Elizabeth Tower) is in scaffolding. Guard rails now protect pedestrians where the terror attack happened on the nearby bridge. Riding the London Eye was touristy but the view was brilliant — just not like the post cards you see.
 
18. Sitting in a fish restaurant on the coast of the North Sea with angry surf in front of us and a castle ruins to our left was a breathtaking experience.
 
19. Britain has embraced windmills and Scotland make enough electricity the day we were there to light half the planet! I did see solar panels and had to chuckle a bit. We didn’t see much sun when we were there. Gas is 1.22 pounds a liter there. Cars pay taxes to drive in London. Most of the cars were the small cars we see here. Lots of Mercedes and we saw dozens of exotic (Ferraris and Aston Martins for example) in London. I saw seven pickup trucks (like our small ones here) the whole week I was there. Seven.
 
20. We stayed in the Ramsay Castle (Dalhousie) while in Scotland. It was in the family for 800 years and is where the Ramsey/Ramsay family started.
 
21. We stood in the field where the Magna Carta was signed. The Magna freaking Carta.
 
22. The restoration of the fire damage in Windsor Castle was done really well. That fire changed how the Queen functioned (she pays taxes now and her castles are open for tourists to pay the freight). Windsor Castle is a must-trip. The little town that surrounds it is like a first-class Gatlinburg. We rode the train back that night.
 
23. We did an Evensong service in St. George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor. IT was the single-most beautiful church service I’ve been to. I think God Himself was in the choir that day.
 
24. I sat in the middle row going and coming in the plane. And while I appreciated all the free movies to watch, I felt trapped. Seeing first and business class travelers in their pods made me jealous. But with five people, we had invested enough in plane tickets. Customs was an interesting experience.
 
25. We rode the train to and from Scotland (and got on near Platform 9 3/4 in Kings Cross). I really enjoyed train travel! The Tube was good too. I kept trying to get in on the driver’s side of our driver’s van in Scotland. He refused to let me drive. Riding as we drove on the “wrong” side took some getting used to.
 
26. The British have great words: Rubbish = Trash. Lift = elevator. Bugger and Prat were useful in rush hour traffic. They have so many things to admire. But I think we still have them on food and electric plugs.
 
27. British road signs are great. I loved the one for Elderly People ahead for some weird reason. 
 
28. Watching the BBC coverage of the Russian poisoning scandal made me realize how bad some of our broadcast and cable news can be.
 
29. I tried not to keep up with the news but I was drawn to their newspapers. Great reading!
 
30. The time change never bothered me. I had to be careful not to text anyone at three in the morning over here but otherwise, I got along fine. We saw and did so much we hit the bed exhausted everyday. I hope my kids appreciated the trip as much as I did.
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The miracle pills

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Marshall Ramsey

“What drug scares you the most?”

I asked then Director of Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Marshall Fisher, (who is now the Commissioner for the Department of Public Safety), that question when he was a guest on my afternoon radio show.  He looked me in the eye and answered without even hesitating, “Prescription medication.”

I think I scoffed. “Really? You’re kidding. You sure you don’t mean something more like meth or crack?”

He shook his head, “Prescription medication scares the hell out of me. It’s my department’s biggest challenge.”

Being naive, I wondered aloud, “how could something that a doctor prescribes be dangerous? ”

He went on to explain how heroin was becoming more and more popular in the state and how patients were abusing the prescriptions. He worried that some doctors were prescribing it inappropriately. He then told me he had a personal fear of it as well.  He had surgery and quit taking the medication as soon as he could to avoid addiction.

That was probably 2011.  Here we are seven years later and Marshall Fisher’s worst nightmare has come true.

The coverage in recent editions of the Clarion Ledger has been powerful. Looking at the problem from every angle, it shows us that there are no easy answers to this kudzu vine that is choking us. Prescription painkillers are like the devil and an angel on a person’s shoulder.  For someone who is dealing with chronic pain, they are a Godsend. For someone fighting addiction, they are the devil incarnate.

Seventeen years ago, I had melanoma surgery. My doctor carved a malignant melanoma out of my back, leaving a five-inch scar and a 100-mile long dose of pain. The first day after my surgery, I swam in a narcotic-fueled haze.  I was one happy camper.  The stuff worked (it was oxycontin).  With each pill, my mind and pain floated away, leaving me comfortable and relaxed.  Then on the third day, I noticed something that alarmed me: I was taking the pills to forget that I had cancer.

I disposed of the pills immediately and started eating Aleve like Tic-Tacs. But I bit the bullet and stomached the pain.  My fear of addiction scared me worst that any possible discomfort.

My friend Stacey Spiehler, who was recently named Jackson’s top server and whose story was featured in the Clarion Ledger, tweeted the truth about addition, “Everyone thinks it will never happen to them. Every single person.”

Stacey knows. It happened to her.  I’m happy to say, she is eight months sober and rebuilding her life one day at a time. But she confirmed my fear.

Neil Woodall is one of the most positive people I’ve ever met. A fitness trainer, husband and father, he is one of the most inspirational coaches you’ll encounter. He also has wrestled with the opioid devil. A hunting accident left him with painful wounds from a 12-guage shotgun blast to his chest and the face. The miracle pills left him with even more painful internal scars. From an earlier interview in the Clarion Ledger, Neil said, “from the very first time I took the medication, I knew how much I enjoyed the way it made me feel. It wasn’t just the relief it provided from physical pain — the pain pills were the least of my worries. It was the relief from life in general.”

Stacey and Neil both had the courage to reach out for help.

Neil added, “I grew up believing that asking for help was a sign of weakness. The reality is that the moment I admitted I had a problem and asked for help was undoubtedly the strongest thing I’ve done in my life. There is nothing too big for God.”

Anyone who is familiar with the 12-steps of recovery recognizes what he is talking about.

So what is the answer? More legislation? Enforcement? Legal action? Cracking down on doctors? Limiting availability of the pills? A combination of all of the above?  I’m going to say something that no columnist should ever say, “I don’t know.”

But what I do know that this epidemic is as much about mental pain as it is about physical pain.  And I know that it can be overcome. My friends are living proof of that. But more powerful drugs like Fentanyl make the pursuit of the high even deadlier. If you know someone who is wrestling with addiction, remember they are most likely trying to fill a hole in their soul. And they need your help and support.

Seven years later, I agree with Marshall Fisher. Opioids, a great tool for managing terrible pain, scare the hell out of me, too.

 

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Winning Mississippi’s Marathon

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Marshall Ramsey

This weekend, runners will come to Mississippi from every state in the union and nine countries around the world. They’ll be chasing a dream, a goal, a mission and a medal. They’ll run up and down hills and dodge potholes. Blues musicians will serenade them as they pass.

The Mississippi Blues Marathon will once again take over the streets of Jackson.

It’s no small miracle that it’s happening, either. Last year, Mother Nature nearly dealt the race a fatal blow. Ice covered the streets of Jackson and as you could imagine, runners can’t run on ice. The event was canceled and runners were left with no race to run. Water was dumped and medals went unearned. Then it lost its title sponsor — the race’s existence was held in the balance for much of last year. But like a frosty phoenix, it rose up from the ice. Saturday, it gets a new a sponsor (Continental Tire) and new chance at life.

I say “yay!”

Not just because I enjoy the race — and running insanely long distances. I love it because it is an event that showcases our state’s strengths. Yes, you get to see so many people who have worked hard to make their dreams come true. That’s really inspiring.  But what makes the race truly special are the people.  Every time I have run the race, I have had crowds along the way cheering me on. But more magically, the race volunteers repeatedly said these golden words, “Thank you for running the race today.”  If you go to race sites and look at the reviews, the golden thread that runs through all of them is this, “I’ve never experienced hospitality like I did at the Mississippi Blues Marathon.”

Hospitality is our superpower. And a race like the Mississippi Blues Marathon shows that off.

Ever wonder what it takes to run a half or whole marathon? It’s not something you do on a lark. You definitely don’t wake up on race day and say, “I think I’ll run 26.2 miles!”  It’s a feat that requires commitment, planning, hard work, training, execution and sticking to a plan. You have to keep pushing even when you are in pain. Toe nails fall off? You keep going. Do you have a leg cramp? You keep going. Because your goal is bigger than any pain you might feel.  And when you get to end, you realize the true victory isn’t just crossing the finish line. It’s all benefits that have come from your journey. You learn how to plan. You lose weight. Your heart is healthier. You might even get off various medications.  You eat a better diet because suddenly food becomes fuel. You learn that it’s easier to conquer a goal when you do with with friends. You learn resiliency when things go wrong. You seek out a good coach. And when it is over, you’re filled with the confidence of knowing that you’ve accomplished something that only .5% of Americans have done. What was once seemingly impossible to do is achievable.  All because you had the courage to chase long-term success instead of short-term gratification.

That’s a good metaphor for life — and how we can approach solving many of our state’s problems.

Poverty, education issues, the opioid crisis and other health issues (and other seemingly insurmountable issues that keep us low on the good rankings and high on the bad ones) are our state’s marathon. Even thinking about how to solve them is hard and overwhelming. But with the same kind of planning, hard work, training, execution, sticking to a plan and even more commitment, it’s a race we can win. While I don’t think our toenails will fall off, chances are we’ll experience exhaustion. It’ll require the courage to start. To get off the couch. To get moving. It will also requires focus. Because it’s much easier to chase after the instant gratification of complaining about the small things and ignoring the big ones. But the worthy goals are the hard ones. The ones that require faith, a plan and a lot of hard work. If we take those on, we all get stronger. And so do our kids. Because seeing a Mississippi kid succeed is medal worthy.

It’s winning Mississippi’s marathon.

In meantime, I’ll be chasing another half-marathon medal Saturday. I’m ready. I have a goal. A plan is in place. I’ve done the hard work and look forward to seeing my friends.  Thanks to race director John Noblin and all the hardworking staff and volunteers a great race awaits.

So to all the runners, break a leg.

Um, never mind. Just have a good race.

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Thoughts from the couch

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Marshall Ramsey

In 1973, Atlanta was crippled by a record ice storm (very similar to the epic 1994 North Mississippi storm). Pine trees snapped like twigs as families huddled in their cold, dark homes. It was at that moment I discovered being an adult wasn’t much fun.  I’d watch every morning as my dad slid up the street to work. I had the week off. He had to risk his neck to get into the office. I vowed to never grow up.

Forty-five years later, I’ve succeeded at my mission. I’m sitting in my home office working thanks to the wonderful invention of the Internet and laptops. (Adulting has gotten much easier in the 21st century.) The kids still get snow days — but I can work anywhere when Mississippi freezes over. And I can offer you insights and observations from my couch.

The school funding rewrite advances to the full House.  Twenty years ago, the Mississippi Legislature (who were Democrats) came up with the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP). Not the Mississippi Amazing Education Program. Or even then Mississippi Awesome Education Program  It was a complex formula designed to provide C-level funding to all schools districts, no matter what their current local funding level.  And in typical Mississippi Legislature fashion, they only funded it fully twice in 20 years. Then the Mississippi Supreme Court said they didn’t have to follow their own law. So basically, our state won’t even support adequate  Someone once said, “You can’t fix education by throwing money at it.” I’m not sure Mississippi has ever tried it.

Today we have new legislators (Republicans now) who want to rewrite how education is funded (or not really funded as the case might be). The 354-page bill is speeding through the process as I type.  Education spending is a huge chunk of the state budget.  If I were an legislator (you think Mississippi has frozen over now), I’d want to have more control over how that chunk of money is spent, too. But I’m not. I’m just a parent who worries about how my kids’ schools (which are thankfully very good) are funded.  I, like many parents who care deeply about their kids’ educations, will be watching this closely as the session progresses.

Pro tip: The best way to lobby someone is not to sexually harass them. Lobbyist Scott Levanway made shockingly inappropriate comments to Harrison County Supervisor Beverly Martin at a social gathering last week. When her husband called him, he initially said it was “a joke.” What were the comments? You’ll have to Google them. But not since Bill and Monica, have parents been pushed into THAT conversation with their kids. Martin, to her credit, called Levanway out. He then (correctly) apologized. But too often, comments like that are excused as just “boys being being boys.”  Maybe boys talk like that, but men don’t.  There’s a statue in front of the Capitol honoring the mothers, daughters and sisters of the state.  If you are in power, the next time you walk past it, ask yourself this: Would I want my mother, daughter, wife, sister, coworker or friend to be spoken to like that? I bet your answer is no.

Officials increase access to autism therapy. This is the best story I’ve read all week. With the increasing rates of children with autism, so many kids need to learn in different ways. And any parent who has a child on the spectrum can tell you, that education can be difficult to find and expensive.  Hats off to the state officials who brokered the agreement with BlueCross BlueShield, Magnolia Health and United Health care to remove the age cap on autism services coverage.  It used to be 8. As parents of these loving kids know, their child’s minds don’t stop growing at 8.

BP money should go to the Coast. I’m always amazed at the stories about lottery winners who go broke within five years. But after watching our legislature over the past couple of decades, it’s easy to see how it happens. You get a chunk of money (tobacco settlement for example) and say it will go for one thing. Then you use that money to cover spending shortfalls (or excesses) in other areas. Before you know it, it has disappeared like shrimp on an all-you-can-eat buffet. I agree with the Senate: This windfall should go for what it is intended: Restoring one of our state’s Crown Jewels.

Trump’s Health. The president’s medical exam revealed he is in tip-top mental and physical shape.  I’m not sure I totally believe that, but OK.  One humorous moment came was when Eric Trump said the media was out of shape compared to his father.  OK, Eric, I’ll take that bet. Your dad is welcome to run a marathon with me in May.  It’ll only take the amount of time of a round of golf and some light Tweeting.

And finally, thankfulness.  As the temperature struggles to get out of the teens, I’m thankful I have a house, a couch, electricity and natural gas and a heater that burns it.  And I’m also thankful I live in a city that is 12 one day and 70 by the weekend. It’s the gift of living in Mississippi.


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Running toward insight

Posted on January 11, 2018 by Marshall Ramsey
I ran four miles this morning in the dark mist. Potholes and pine combs threatened my footing. Hills burned my lungs. A couple of insights about life popped into my head — answers to questions I have sought for a couple of years. Somewhere around my third mile I understood why I am the way I am. That gave me another ten minutes to chew on that before my day started (which does as soon as I head back into the door).
 
I don’t recommend running for everyone. And I understand when people say they hate it. There are days when I hate it, too. But the drug that keeps me coming back is the insight that comes from my time thinking. (Well, the endorphins rock as well).
 
As I was driving to work, I noticed the clouds off to the east of I-55. There was one hole of sunlight peeking its way through the gloom. That’s what this morning’s run gave me.
 
I’m humbled. I flawed. I’m a slow runner. But more than anything, I am grateful. Moses had his burning bush. I have awkward and painful runs.
 
Thanks be to God.
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The State of the State

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Marshall Ramsey

Public speaking is Governor Phil Bryant’s superpower. He has a folksy gift of putting on his boots, jumping on the stump and delivering a homespun speech.  This year’s State of the State was classic Phil.  But as I listened, I wondered, “What would I say if I were governor?”  Well first of all, there is NO danger of me EVER being governor. While living in a museum, having a state plane and big SUV at my disposal (and having smart-aleck cartoonists draw me) is inviting, I am terrible at raising money and can’t remember names. So no fear: RAMSEY 4 GUV ain’t happened. But still, to have that platform to shape policy is a siren’s song (that would drag me into rocks, of course) for anyone who loves Mississippi and wants to see it get better.   So here’s my version of the State of the State. You’ll discover very quickly why I’d never be elected. Neither party would have me.

Thank you, Lt. Governor, for that warm introduction and for not calling me what you call me behind closed doors. (pause for laughter) Your leadership is appreciated — seriously. And good luck running for my seat.  Next to me is a woman who has put up with my BS for the past 25 years.  She doesn’t like crowds but is here anyway. For that, I am in her debt. To the legislators in the chamber, thanks for showing up. I know free coffee is a lure but I still appreciate you being here. And your leadership.  We have a lots of work to do together. I enjoy working with you.

The good news? Employment is high. People in Mississippi are working! Right now the unemployment rate is hovering just below 5%. That is good. Very good. But my job, as your governor is to work to bring better jobs into the state. I’m also working with business leaders and educators to improve our workforce.  And I don’t just mean just training, although our community colleges do a great job at that. No, I want our students to have the ability to think for themselves. That’s required in 21st century businesses.  And while many Mississippians are working they are having to work two and three jobs to make ends meet.  Better paying jobs and opportunities will improve that.  If people have more time to be with their families instead of scraping by, imagine how that will make all aspects of society better.

Mississippi is a gem.  Authors, writers, business people, athletes, musicians — you name it, we produce leaders in every field. My task as governor is to make sure that our children have the opportunities to become leaders HERE. For too long, our best and the brightest have felt like they’ve had to leave our state to make their dreams come true. Technology now allows people to work anywhere. So let’s make it Mississippi.  As a government, we need to make sure we are providing the services that make our state enticing for people who want to get away from crowded cities and polluted states. Mississippi is a natural paradise. Our job is to invest in our infrastructure to make it world-class. Just like you’d spend money fixing your leaking roof instead of buying a jet ski.

Now, I know that government is a bad word. I’ve even bashed it to get elected. But the irony is not lost on me. I AM the government. And you, the people of Mississippi, elect a government that mirrors who you are. If your local school or government isn’t working, that’s a sign you need to get involved.  I don’t believe the government is the answer to all our problems. But I also know you can’t burn the village to save it.  I want students to know that they have to get involved. No longer can we just whine on Facebook about our problems. We all need to get busy.

And let me address topic of the media for a second.  Yes, I am slightly biased because I used to a member of the Fourth Estate. But if someone came by your house and told you it was on fire, would you yell at her and tell her that only positive house is spoken here? Or scream “Fake Fire!”? Don’t get me wrong. I hate seeing my name drug through the news cycle. But I am a leader and I know that is part of leadership. I appreciate everyone who loves this state enough to work hard to reveal what we need to fix. That’s their job. Mine and your’s is to make that happen.

So much is going right in Mississippi. Our new history and civil rights museums tell a story that isn’t always sunshine and rainbows but is a powerful reminder: When we don’t hate each other, there is no mountain we can’t climb. We have some things to fix – together. I know that. You know that. Now, let’s go have dinner and then get busy.

God bless you. And God bless Mississippi.

 

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