Mississippi . . . what a great state! I think we, as Mississippians, don't realize what we have most of the time. Our state is one big club, but we are so used to defending it, that we sometimes forget how wonderful it truly is. This has been my experience. Or it was until I recently had the chance to see us through some fresh new eyes. Some Washington, D.C., eyes. Who would have thought that two young lawyers from D.C. would have loved seeing part of our great state and spending a weekend in a sleepy little town outside Oxford? Yes, I am a Rebel, through and through. But, our family is a divided family, on both sides. We have Rebels and we have Bulldogs. We even have one bully who literally was THE Bully at MSU, although we don't talk about it much. But it’s always there.

My husband has some cousins who have an old home in Coffeeville, where we will occasionally stay for the weekend while visiting Oxford for a sporting event or other occasion. This home isn't just old, it’s pre Civil War - a true antebellum home with the history to go with it. It was used as a Confederate hospital during the Civil War. It has a couple of window panes with a few signatures scratched in them by Confederate soldiers who were there being treated as patients. When we stay there, I feel like we are truly walking back in time. It’s a white two-story home sitting gracefully up on a hill, tucked between some hundred-year-old live oak and cedar trees spread across several acres. I always think I need some sweet tea when I walk outside, or a mint julep. It is a slice of heaven because of its history and being in the country where it’s so quiet you actually hear. . . nothing. And the stars at night are brilliant because there are no city lights.

These D.C. lawyers are two of the brightest, sharpest men that I've had the pleasure to be around in a long time. Their sense of humor was refreshing. I wasn't sure what to expect since I had never met them before, but knew if my husband thought so highly of them, then they must be pretty great. They exceeded my expectations. But what really made it fun was to watch and hear them as they experienced the routine things to which we have grown accustomed. Here were two of America’s finest, brilliantly educated and in the midst of huge careers that lead them all across our country, coming to Mississippi for a Game Day experience. It was a blast!

Here is a glimpse of what they experienced. We ate Friday night supper on the Square in Oxford, then walked around afterward. Both of these men are younger by several years, and one, Padraic, is married with children. The other one, Jeff, is single. Well, let’s just say I thought Jeff was going to need oxygen when we were strolling around the Square. I lost him in conversation when the co-eds started arriving.

On Saturday, we did “the Grove Scene,” all day and into the night. It started early because of an 11 a.m. kickoff against Tennessee. Ole Miss is known for many things, but few are better than tailgating in the Grove on Game Day. It’s an experience few will ever forget, which brings me back to our D.C. friends. They were blown away by the entire experience - the incredible food, the decorative tents and the masses of people. And did I mention the co-eds? Yes, they noticed the co-eds. And never wanted to leave - ever. Jeff’s a Tennessee fan, and needless to say, was so very happy he was able to witness Dexter’s record breaking game. But I think the festivities in the Grove after the game (did I mention the co-eds) took away the sting of his loss and our gain. We ended the evening visiting with friends at the Alumni House, while feasting on subs from Pizza Den. These two men smiled the entire time.

We started Sunday by visiting Rowan Oak, during which a debate broke out as to who was the better writer; William Faulkner or Flannery O’Connor. Of course, Faulkner always wins that debate, at least when the debate takes place in the midst of Yoknapatawpha County. And last, we ended the weekend with The BBB – Big Bad Breakfast on Sunday morning before our friends headed out to Memphis to catch their flight back to our nation’s capital. These men were strangers to our state before coming here several years ago on work related business, which led them to cross paths with my husband. They came back to Mississippi this special weekend for enjoyment. They loved the food, the small town feel of Oxford with the Square and Ole Miss with “The Grove,” and the sleepy country antebellum home with all the history. Seeing our great state through their eyes was a pleasure for us indeed, and one not to be taken lightly. We have a lot to be thankful for and sometimes strangers turned friends have to remind us of this.

Carole Bailey is a Northisder.