Throughout my career, I have had the luxury of living in a number of great communities throughout the Southeast; from Gulf Shores, Ala. to Suffolk, Va., from Selma, Ala. to Dallas and now Vicksburg.
With each move, I have always been amazed at the perception many have about the place they call home.
There are those who will speak poorly of certain places or establishments. There are those who will talk down about things to do, shops to visit or restaurants to enjoy.
Again, it comes back to perception.
In just a few weeks of living in Vicksburg, my family and I have been overwhelmed with not only the welcoming spirit of the people we have met, but have been thrilled with the amenities made available.
Now while we have not had the chance to enjoy an afternoon of walking through downtown, or playing in the splash pad, for all the unpacking we have remaining, we have already started booking our calendar for upcoming events, places to visit and things to do.
Just this weekend, with my in-laws in town to help with our move, we came across the outdoor movie on Washington Street.
The place was filled with people enjoying an early fall night outdoors and watching the movie “Princess Bride.” There was even a popcorn vendor on hand, making for the perfect movie experience.
And the list of those types of events goes on and on. It is this type of event, and the many like it, that make for a strong and vibrant community, such as Vicksburg.
I’ve wasted hours driving throughout the city and county, mostly getting lost thanks to the advice of Siri, and have marveled at the gorgeous homes, tree-lined streets and beautiful views from the bridges over the Mississippi to the cotton fields in the Delta.
But these are just part of the overall impression my family and I have of Vicksburg.
Vicksburg is known for many things, but what makes it the great place to call home and the great place to work and play, is the people.
In just our short time here, we have been blessed to meet some great folks, who have further validated the decision we made to move here. Our perception of Vicksburg that we developed during a few visits to town over the summer has only been strengthened.
As we continue to settle in our home, and the children get further acclimated to their new schools, we look forward to becoming more involved and active in all that Vicksburg has to offer.
Perception is not always reality. And in the case of Vicksburg, that’s true. It’s better.
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Tim Reeves is publisher of The Vicksburg Post and can be reached by email at tim.reeves@vicksburgpost.com or by phone at 601-636-4545 ext. 122.