Reading Terri Frazier’s story in Friday’s newspaper about the offerings upcoming from the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation made me even more excited about my upcoming move to Vicksburg.

On or about Feb. 1, I will actually have a home here and will be finished with my commute to and from Natchez to come to work at The Vicksburg Post. (And if you happen to know of anyone who is moving to Natchez and needs a house, please ask them to contact me. I have a great house I need to sell!)

In any event, I’m excited about my move — dreading the move itself — but very much looking forward to getting here, finally getting settled.

Sometimes people who have lived in a community for a long time lose sight or take for granted all of the positive things it offers.

I’m here to tell you, Vicksburg has so many positives. On Wednesday, I attended the Vicksburg Warren County Chamber’s annual luncheon and enjoyed hearing Jane Flowers, executive director, and Lynn Foley, incoming president, talk about this community. Their enthusiasm is infectious. If you don’t believe me about all of the great things going on here, just contact either of those ladies.

The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation certainly is a tremendous asset here, and I can’t wait to be here to take advantage of the many classes and the like that it offers. I want to learn to make winter soups or learn the art of Thai cooking. I want to meet and listen to Pulitzer prizewinning photographer Alysia Burton Steele, who will be here on Feb. 25 signing her book, “Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom.”

I am eager to take professional photographer David Rorick’s class on taking better photos with my iPhone, which he offers periodically at the Conservatory of Fine Arts.

I’m excited about finally having a weekend here to explore the Vicksburg National Military Park. I’ve never been. Vicksburg’s Mary Louise Nosser wrote me the most delightful Christmas card and said she would show me around the park, and I intend to take her up on that. She also invited me to the annual Lebanese dinner in February, and I’m looking forward to that, too!

And I can’t wait to shop! Given my three-hour-a-day commute, I haven’t had a lot of time to peruse Vicksburg’s retail stores, and that’s big on my list of to-dos as soon as I’m settled here, as are visiting what I hear are amazing restaurants here.

If you are a long-time Vicksburg resident, I hope you haven’t lost sight of all the many positive things this community offers. If you think you have, why not become a tourist for a weekend right here at home? Reserve a room at one of our bed and breakfasts, like the Bazsinsky House, which is the top-rated B&B in Vicksburg according to Tripadvisor.com, and let David and Andrew pamper you. Get out and about. Take a class offered at the SCHF. Go visit a new church and listen to one of the amazing pastors who are doing great work here and leading in the community. I’m anxious to visit Beth Palmer at Church of the Holy Trinity, Sam Godfrey at Christ Episcopal and Father P.J. “Patrick” Curley at St. Michael Catholic Church. He’s a hoot! Or, go visit a store you haven’t been to in a while.

To blatantly steal a phrase from one of my favorite sportscasters of all time, the late Stuart Scott, Vicksburg is as “cool as the other side of the pillow.” We are so fortunate to get to be here every day.

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Jan Griffey is editor of The Vicksburg Post. You may reach her at jan.griffey@vicksburgpost.com.