Tell Me About Biloxi (live in, land, teach)

[jhadorn]

Originally Posted by dwashington

Yes but what did that have to do with this thread? This person never even said anything about the good old days.. You did..

Did you hear me say the OP said anything about the good old days? It was a comment based on the OP's recollection of times in Biloxi during the 1960's, a time which many people would consider part of the good old days.

[the_little_truth_writer]

Originally Posted by jhadorn

Did you hear me say the OP said anything about the good old days? It was a comment based on the OP's recollection of times in Biloxi during the 1960's, a time which many people would consider part of the good old days.

Point of clarification: I lived through the 1960s; I do not consider that period to be the "good old days." For starters, the country was wracked by deep problems both abroad and at home, e.g. the assassination of a president, a civll rights leader and icon, and a presidential candidate. The country was embroiled in conflict abroad and at home including the long, long war in Vietnam. At home there was tremendous civil unrest including, to name just a few, race riots, high unemployment, and the apparent demise of marriage as a cherished institution, so if you had asked me if I thought those were the good old days, I would have said, no I did not.

I was merely recalling a nice little vacation I once had many years ago in Biloxi, Mississippi and wondering what the town is like now. Why? Well, because although I love my home and enjoy the town in which I have lived for many years now, I fear gentrification of my neighbourhood and the concomitant pushing out of older, less affluent people such as myself who will have to find another place to live. It is not a pleasant thought, but every year I see a few more old, small houses in my area sold and then knocked down and brand new, much more expensive homes built in their place. I fear one day that will happen to the home in which I live, and then what will I do? I thought about where I could go to essentially die, really, as my life is close to its denouement. I recalled a blissful little vacation I once had many years ago in the bucolic town of Biloxi, and I wondered if I might end up there if the cost of living, crime, etc., were all "do-able." I now feel a bit like Logan Mountstuart at the end of his life facing "the dog food years" and hoping for a few pleasant last days in a small, bucolic French village. I wondered if for me that village might be Biloxi. That is the long and the short of it, kid.

If this conversation had developed like a "normal" conversation, I may have related all of this, but I think it is ridiculous to have to relate all of this "up front" just to clarify why I asked what is Biloxi like these days compared to how I remembered it. No, the 1960s were not the good old days for me, and I really cannot claim to know anyone who would claim the 1960s were the good old days for him or her, either. Neither were the 1970s the good old days. The last possible candidate for the good old days for me were the 1980s. I have not seen very many good old days since then.

I am happy to hear whatever else you may have to say, but please knock the chip off your shoulder first, okay?

[jhadorn]

Originally Posted by the_little_truth_writer

Point of clarification: I lived through the 1960s; I do not consider that period to be the "good old days." For starters, the country was wracked by deep problems both abroad and at home, e.g. the assassination of a president, a civll rights leader and icon, and a presidential candidate. The country was embroiled in conflict abroad and at home including the long, long war in Vietnam. At home there was tremendous civil unrest including race riots, high unemployment, and the apparent demise of marriage as a cherished institution, so if you had asked me if I thought those were the good old days, I would have said, no I did not.

I was merely recalling a nice little vacation I once had many years ago in Biloxi, Mississippi and wondering what the town was like now. Why? Well, because although I love my home and enjoy the town in which I have lived for many years now, I fear gentrification of my neighbourhood and the concomitant pushing out of older, less affluent people such as myself who will have to find another place to live. It is not a pleasant thought, but every year I see a few more old, small houses in my area sold and then knocked down and brand new, much more expensive homes built in their place. I fear one day that will happen to the home in which I live, and then what will I do? I thought about where I could go to essentially die, really, as my life is close to its denouement. I recalled a blissful little vacation I once had many years ago in the bucolic town of Biloxi, and I wondered if I might end up there if the cost of living, crime, etc., were all "do-able."

If this conversation had developed like a "normal" conversation, I could have related all of this, but I think it is ridiculous to have to relate all of this "up front" just to clarify why I asked what is Biloxi like these days compared to how I remembered it. No, the 1960s were not the good old days. Neither were the 1970s the good old days. The last possible candidate for the good old days for me were the 1980s. I have not seen very many good old days since then.

I would love to hear whatever else you have to say, but please knock the chip off your shoulder first, okay?

No chip on my shoulder or anywhere else. Did you really want to hear that Biloxi was a paradise in 1960 or were you interested in knowing how it really was. I did not say your experience wasn't valid, but I did give you a different perspective. Take it or leave it.

[the_little_truth_writer]

Originally Posted by jhadorn

No chip on my shoulder or anywhere else. Did you really want to hear that Biloxi was a paradise in 1960 or were you interested in knowing how it really was. I did not say your experience wasn't valid, but I did give you a different perspective. Take it or leave it.

Next!

[jhadorn]

Originally Posted by the_little_truth_writer

Next!

Next! to you too.

[the_little_truth_writer]

Originally Posted by buildings_and_bridges

I'm too young to remember anything like what you're described being anywhere, OP, but there are places along the MS Gulf Coast that have the appeal of a small town and very friendly Southerners. Bay St. Louis and Ocean Springs come to mind.

Bay St. Louis! Wow, a blast from the past. I visited Bay St. Louis once many years ago, too, and I very much liked it. Thank you for reminding me of it.

[the_little_truth_writer]

Originally Posted by rjf1958

I visited Biloxi and New Orleans in January of this year. Biloxi has been severely damaged by the hurricane and there are many vacant lots in the waterfront area. There's not really a town center any more, I guess the hub is the Beau Rivage casino and ballpark area. People were very pleasant and they really downplay the state flag (only place we saw one on the coastline was at the Elks club, where they had US and state flags interspersed in front of their building).

My wife loved the Half Shell Oyster House if you like seafood. My take on the whole MS coast is that Biloxi and Gulfport are really declining, Ocean Springs is a pleasant town, and Bay St. Louis is nice as well. The weather has hurt this part of the country very badly.

Yes, I knew that Katrina must have ravaged the town. I read just yesterday that Biloxi was the third largest town in the state before Katrina. After Katrina, it became the fifth largest. I fondly recall Bay St. Louis. Never been to Ocean Springs. I may have to look into it. Thanks.

[the_little_truth_writer]

Originally Posted by Lizap

Biloxi is NOTHING like it was back then. I grew up during this time and we visited the area often. We still live near here. Many of the local businesses have been replaced by casinos. IMHO, the Mississippi Gulf Coast has changed and NOT for the better.

Yes, I was afraid that the aftermath of Katrina alone would have made the town largely unrecognisable to me. It is true that one "can never go home again," other than in one's memories. Thanks for your reply.

[Southern man]

Originally Posted by the_little_truth_writer

Yes, I was afraid that the aftermath of Katrina alone would have made the town largely unrecognisable to me. It is true that one "can never go home again," other than in one's memories. Thanks for your reply.

I think you should visit Biloxi, Bay St Louis and especially Ocean Spings. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.

[the_little_truth_writer]

Originally Posted by Southern man

I think you should visit Biloxi, Bay St Louis and especially Ocean Spings. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.

Really? Thanks. Perhaps I can arrange to do that in the Autumn some time once things cool off a good bit. It would be nice (I hope) to see the area again after all of these years.