A Leap of Faith

I remember crossing this river into the Promised Land 17 years ago.

Seventeen years ago today I took a massive leap of faith. It was a leap that carried my young wife and I from San Diego to Mississippi.  On paper, it made no sense. I had a great job working with great people. Heck, I lived in paradise. Yet, in my heart, the move seemed right.

I remember crossing the Mississippi River bridge in Vicksburg and seeing the “Welcome to Mississippi” sign for the first time. I was stuck by the beauty of the loess hills and the gorgeous countryside.  I remember the royal blue Clarion-Ledger paper box near our new apartment and feeling a deep sense of pride. It was MY paper box. Because it was MY paper.

Here are 17 ways crossing the Mississippi River changed my life for the better:

1. Amy and I now have three boys. Unlike us, they’re native Mississippians.
2. I’ve watched Amy succeed at all of her teaching jobs. I’m more proud of her (and my boys) than anything I’ve personally accomplished.
3. I’ve been diagnosed with and survived cancer. And thanks to Keith Warren, I’ve  been able to fight back through a great 5K race called The Run from the Sun.
4. I’ve had amazing professional success. I am a two-time Pulitzer Finalist.  I was named a top-100 employee for Gannett. And I’ve been honored by the Mississippi Press Association for my cartoons and my writing.  All my career dreams came true — and then some.
5. I’ve fallen in love with public speaking.
6. A blog and social media have brought a whole new world of friends into my life. The MRBA will always be close to my heart.
7. I’ve had several successful books:  The Clarion-Ledger published two compilations of my editorial cartoons. One sold 5,500 copies. The other over 7,000. I’ve written, illustrated and published two books: Fried Chicken and Wine and Banjo’s Dream. I’ve illustrated several children’s books by my cousin Dave Ramsey — five of which were in Chick-Fil-A kid’s meals. And I’ve illustrated books by Mike Frascogna, Robert St. John and Santa Claus. Yes, Santa.
8. I’ve worked with hundreds of amazing people at The Clarion-Ledger.  I’m particularly very grateful for the time I’ve spent in the editorial department with David Hampton, Sid Salter, Jim Ewing, Joe White, John Hammack and Eric Stringfellow.  I currently have  the privilege of working with and for Brian Tolley. And I had the honor of working for Bill Hunsberger. He taught me that community matters. God bless you, Bill. Your teachings live on in my heart.
9. I’ve had an amazing cast of politicians to cartoon. Gov. Kirk Fordice and Mayor Frank Melton have been my favorite to draw so far. I can’t make some of this stuff up.
10. I’ve been honored by my high school, my university, The Melanoma Research Foundation, The American Cancer Society, Mississippi Blood Services and several other groups.  Not really sure why they chose to honor me, but I’m very humbled and grateful that they did.
11. I turned down a lucrative job at the Tulsa World to be their cartoonist in 2007 . Three years later, I was made part-time at The Clarion-Ledger. That disappointment has led to many blessings.
12. One of those blessings was a highly rated afternoon radio show. When it abruptly ended, I started a great weekly radio show on Mississippi Public Broadcasting. (Monday at 10 a.m.)
13. I’ve traveled to every corner of Mississippi, met the people and learned the history.
14. I’ve walked the battlefield where my great great grandfather fought. I’ve also walked the college campus (Wood Junior College) he co-founded as a Methodist Circuit Rider. The Rev. J.C. Eckles loved Mississippi, too.
15. I saw the Mississippi Gulf Coast a week before hurricane Katrina wiped it out and cherish my memories of grand homes and giant live oaks. After the storm, I proudly helped my fellow Mississippians get back on their feet.  I’m proud of the cartoons from that era. And the ones after 9/11.
16. I’m humbled that some people love what I do.  And I’m proud to live in a community that has given my family so much.
17. I get to wake up and do what I love.

Seventeen years ago, I made a leap of faith when I took The Clarion-Ledger job. And since that leap, Mississippi has shaped me, ground off the rough edges and challenged my beliefs.  I needed to move here. And I’m a better person for it.

So thank you, Mississippi. I don’t know what the future may bring, but thank you for giving my family so much.  I will always be grateful.