After a less than brutal cull, we have arrived at a clean, tidy pantry, with nearly 24 feet of empty shelf space.

Lyman took over the arrangement of foodstuffs. He cooks as much or more than I do and I adjust to change better than he does. I don't think much of horoscopes, but he is a Virgo and I am an Aquarian -- when it comes to organizing things, he takes the lead. He can also become testy when things are out of place.

It was an interesting way to mark the 11 years that I have lived in this part of the country. I drove to Natchez, MS, from Dallas, TX, with the intention of living and working here on this day in 1993.