The Grass is Always Greener

Friday, March 18

We woke up this morning torn between our smiles of service and our heavy hearts, for we knew that this would be our last day serving in Greenville.  After our usual hearty breakfast of cereal and Nutri-Grain Bars we loaded into the van and departed to our final service site.  


Once again we were serving with the  Greater Greenville Housing and Revitalization Association, to help beautify and clean up the yards of some of their affordable housing complexes.  We traveled to three different locations.  The first we both planted flowers and mulched the planting areas with pine straw.  The second location was a very short one in which only a few plantings were needed.  At the third location we weeded around the shrubbery and mulched the new pristine shrub regions with only the finest of straw.

As quickly as it began, our final act of service was completed.  But wait!  That was not the end of our group's journey.  The dirty shoes were shed and the fancy clothes were grabbed as the group set on their way to a fun night out!  

The first stop was to once again see our old pal Mayor Simmons.  We met him at the Simmons and Simmons law office for a wonderful meal of the world famous Greenville hot tamales.  One member of our group had this to say about the hot tamales: "They were an experience."  We were also treated with catfish, chicken, and for the vegetarian in our group, spinach dip.

The second stop was at Dockery Farms, better known as the birthplace of the blues.  We heard all about the history of the blues and were allowed to explore the grounds of the farm entrance.  As we sat upon the same stage that Charlie Patton once began a genre, we heard his voice echo from the speakers around us.  

The third and final stop for the evening was more than an hour away from our home at fire station one.  This wonderful land of great food and even better blues was the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi.  Even though we arrived and left too early to hear the live music, the food was described by one member of the group as, "The greatest fish sandwich I have ever had in the history of time."

The ride back to the station was filled with songs and laughter as we made every moment of our last night count.  Upon returning to the fire station and changing into a more casual attire, games of mafia and heads up took place well into the early morning.  As we drifted to sleep the thoughts of those we had touched, and more importantly those who had touched us, crossed through every mind in that station.

They say the grass is greener
When on the other side
But where the grass is withered thin
The Greenies shall reside

A group of souls so selfless
I never thought I'd see
And after but a week of time
They formed a family

No wind, nor flood, nor fire
Could ever tear apart
The work we've done from station one
And that was just the start

For now our journey finds its end
And as our hearts adjust
We hope that we changed Greenville
As much as it changed us

-Ethan Riley
Freshman