Old Memory Found

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had something published when I was just a young boy. That's true, and it was a letter I had written to the local newspaper inquiring about an Arts Festival that was to take place in my hometown of Jackson, Mississippi.

This festival would go on to become an annual event, and at the time of my writing to the Amusement Editor of the Jackson Daily News, the Mississippi Arts Festival was beginning its second year.

Growing up in a musical family, I was always interested in anything pertaining to the performance of music or its composition. I was most eager to know all about this festival since it was being talked about everywhere--even in school--and I knew relatively little about it. I was constantly bombarding my poor mother with question after question, some of which she could answer, many of which she could not. If I remember correctly, it was she who suggested I write a letter and include in it all I wanted to know. That's exactly what I set out to do, and we (my family) were all quite astonished to see my letter published shortly thereafter, published mind you, in my own handwriting! That was a real surprise. Maybe they liked my cursive script, but I never knew why it was printed that way. It certainly stood out on the page, and I suspect it was read by many more people than my nine-year-old mind could imagine.

Of course, copies were clipped out and saved. Then, about a month ago as I was rummaging through an old suitcase looking for scrapbook items, this old and yellowed clipping tumbled into my lap. I hadn't seen it or even given it a thought in over forty-four years. That's a long time, and had I not found it, I probably would never have even remembered writing it. At first I had to think back on when and why I wrote it, and finally I was able to recall some long-forgotten memories of that time in my life. In any case, just for the record, here's the transcription of my one and only published piece, not seen in print since April 29, 1965.



Dear Mr. Hains,
My mother has been telling me about the Mississippi Arts Festival at the Coliseum. She says our family is going and that we will have a lot of fun. I think we will because I like to go to the Coliseum to see most anything. There are some questions however that have been bugging me, and I thought maybe you could answer since you wrote all that stuff in the newspaper. If it lasts from Friday till Monday where will we sleep? There are seven of us and we don't even have a sleeping bag. Should we bring the peanut butter since I know my daddy will get tired of buying peanuts and cotton candy before the first intermission? How much will they charge to park our car for all that time?

Your friend,
Dan Thompson
4315 Oak Hill Dr.
Jackson, Miss.


P.S. They don't have bathtubs at the coliseum, do they? I have never seen any there. I know we will enjoy the Arts Festival.


Oh boy!...that was my inquiring mind, always wanting to know everything and always asking too many questions, as my mother used to say. At least this time I let her off the hook!