Calling Vicksburg

2024-07-17 “Calling Vicksburg” by Emma

Well, we are in New York! Brooklyn, to be exact. Me, Jenn, an’ Merritt and 8 million other folk. I ain’t meet ‘em all, yet.

That was a joke, just in case you thought I was gonna try and meet 8 million people.

So, this morning, me an’ Merritt figured out some things about the 2024 me.

Back on July 4, 1880, I hopped a train to Memphis on account of not wanting to marry a man named Shamus. I fell asleep in the train and woke up in a semi-truck almost to Omaha on July 4, 2024. Me an’ my belongings all time-shifted.

Well, in the picture, I’m talking to my 2024 daddy, and I learned some things. I had to play along a lot. And he got confused by my questions an’ kept saying “Baby, are you OK?”

Daddy is a tenant farmer down Vicksburg way. Momma worked in a nursing home doing basic care stuff. 

Now two years ago, I quit school an’ took a test called the State of Mississippi High School Equivalency Diploma, then I got a job doing up dishes at a casino in Vicksburg to help with the bills.

But, in March, momma got COVID at work and died. When she died, me and Daddy lost health insurance.

After a while, Daddy said, "Honey, you might as well go it on your own. You're welcome to stay here, but that Shane boy down the road—he seems to be about as good as anyone. He's got a good job with the county highway department. Marry him and get on his insurance. I'll be okay on my own."

Now, seems I wudn't fond of Shane, and told Daddy I’d go to Memphis and find a job. He said I only had enough money for bus fair to Walls, an’ I tol’ him I’d hitch hike the rest of the way and find the Salvation Army shelter for a few days. 

While we was talking, it came to me what happened next.

I was real tired when the woman trucker picked me up. "Where are you going?"

"North… wherever you can take me…" I thought it would be somewhere in Memphis.

So now I remember falling asleep in the boxcar, and also falling asleep in the semi truck. I woke up in Omaha, and that gets back to my first post on July 4.

So, I guess I know a little more about how I got here in 2024 according to the 2024 version of me. It's a lot to take in, but I'm glad you are taking it in with me!