As a child growing up in Mississippi, home meant unbelievably hot summers spent by the pool, close proximity to New Orleans, homegrown tomatoes served on white bread with a bit of mayonnaise, thick Southern accents, and a strict emphasis placed on understanding the importance of good manners and practicing them. Mississippi is, after all, the Hospitality state. Adults were addressed as "ma'am" or "sir," and "y'all" was one of the most commonly used words.

Once I started school and was exposed to a bit of history, I came to realize that my home state had a controversial past. It also became apparent to me that Mississippi was a poor state, which was something I did not experience first-hand when attending private schools.

Being lucky enough to travel a good bit during the summers, and even luckier to be an outgoing girl who easily attracted attention, it struck me as odd that other kids, upon finding out where I was from, asked me if we had running water or wore shoes.

Quickly, I began to laugh that off and use Southern charm and wit to somehow come out shining like a rose, becoming all the more endearing. Yet, I was often bothered by the negative perception and misunderstandings people seemed to have about my home state.

Years later, when in a public speaking class at a college in Mississippi, I chose to address some of the challenges of my home state, and how it was tough for Mississippi to retain its talent. At the time I delivered this speech, I already had plans to attend graduate school out of state and felt I would never return as I wanted bigger and more eclectic.

Those things became reality, and I now have been gone from home for almost 20 years. I still easily meet people and have become close to people from all over the country, as well as all over the world.

Through many exciting and memorable experiences, I changed a bit, and not always for the best. Only when the whirlwind of my life slowed down a bit did I realize a nagging homesickness for Mississippi and my roots, and a slight sense of guilt when people asked me what had happened to my beautiful Southern accent. Did I shake it on purpose, or was it a natural consequence of being away for so long? Had I forgotten the many wonderful people I had known back home?

All of this led me to think about Mississippi and reclaim my pride in this complex yet simple place. Mississippi endured many contrasts through the years: great wealth and great poverty, well-informed and ignorant, black and white, pride and shame, defeat and survival. I am convinced that Mississippi, due to its richness of texture and to its complexity, has produced many talented and now famous musicians, writers, athletes, and actors. Some of those are listed below.

Most are hugely talented; but even better, they did not seem to forget where they came from, as is often evidenced in their humanness.

A LIST OF FAMOUS MISSISSIPPIANS (not comprehensive)

B.B. King

Beth Henley

Archie Manning

Brett Farve

Jerry Price

Jerious Norwood

Walter Payton

Dana Andrews