This is a story about family, faith, autism, and art. There was a sweet young African American girl who grew up in a nice family. Read this story to discover how she grew to embrace those who have obsessions. Find out how and why this became her obsession.
Her dad was in the military and they moved around often, living overseas and in several states. They moved to Tallahassee, Florida when he retired. She and her sister would each find unique and beautiful ways to express their creativity.
BETTY
The girl, Betty, was very smart and determined. She was not exactly sure what she would do with her life, but she knew it would involve helping others. She studied hard and eventually earned a master’s degree in Social Work at Florida State University.
NIJAH
Right after college she had a vision. In it she was helping young people, many with developmental disorders on the autism spectrum. Then she gave birth to a darling daughter whom she named Nijah. Difficulties in socializing and communicating led to Nijah being diagnosed with autism. Betty had a strong faith and did a lot of praying. She knew that this was totally a God thing, and that He would guide her in knowing what to do.
Betty and Nijah have been through a lot while learning about autism, about one another, and about life. A common component of autism is intense obsessing on only one topic. Betty wants to inform people that obsession does not have to be an obstacle. It can be reframed and reimagined to become a clear path that can pave the way to a career. Nijah is obsessed with art, so Betty is showing her how to translate her passion and skills into a livelihood.
Everyone can create and have fun at Obsessions.
OBSESSIONS
About four years ago, Betty opened a business named Obsessions. It is part gift shop, part arts and crafts, and part educational experience. According to this amazing owner, Betty Proctor, Obsessions is “a joyful place where young and old can socialize and create items like paintings and greeting cards”.
Find arts, crafts, gifts, and new friends.
MPAC
Obsessions is operated hand in hand with Betty’s nonprofit organization MPAC, which stands for Motivating People through Arts and Crafts. Through these two joint ventures, Betty Proctor promotes art, entrepreneurship, and opportunities to enhance life skills and leadership. Betty says it is so rewarding to help those with autism to learn, grow, and have fun.
Interviewing her was incredibly inspiring and heartwarming. Since I am primarily a travel writer, I just had to ask a few travel questions. She reports that one of her favorite beach spots is Destin, Florida, and that she would love to go back for more travel in San Francisco and in Germany. She would love to encourage visitors to choose Tallahassee as a great destination for dining, shopping, and fabulous photo opportunities.
Betty Proctor is impressive and inspiring.
THE MESSAGE
I asked her what makes her an exuberant person and what message might she wish to share with the world. Here is her reply, “What I do now is a faith walk in which God is with me and leads the right people to me. It is all for the good and has given me confidence. I’m driven to show that every human being is valuable and has so much to offer. No one should ever be discounted just because they have a label.”
Betty Proctor and her daughter Nijah invite you to visit Obsessions at 681 Industrial Drive in Tallahassee, Florida. It is in the Railroad Square Arts District. You can contact them here: https://www.facebook.com/obsessionsgifts
So now you know the story about Betty, the lady who embraces obsessions. Her story is impressive and admirable. She has turned adversity into advantage. She has turned sadness into joy. She thrives on matters of family, faith, autism, and art. This world needs many more folks like Betty Proctor.
My recent road trip in parts of Mississippi and Alabama was such a mixed bag of highs and lows, of expected and unexpected, of delights and dilemmas. I currently live in Florida, so y’all should certainly understand that I am NOT accustomed to driving (or walking) in snow.
TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI
Tupelo, MS had the worst snowfall in about 24 years, or so I was told. When it is fresh it is a joy to behold. Truth be told, I’d rather just see it on television or a travel website from here on out. I did manage to get nice photos, but sloshing around in the slush was cold, dirty, and probably more than a bit dangerous for an old broad like me who must sometimes use a cane. A cane, a purse, three cameras…I was quite the comical sight and so happy to escape unscathed.
While the snow and other complications of mixing Covid craziness with a writer’s conference did present brief moments of closures and confusion, our bunch braved weather together and managed to learn a lot and laugh a lot. Kudos to shuttle driver Chiquita Bobo who is a true road warrior! She earned my deepest admiration. Kudos to organizers Melody and Taylor who smiled through their tears and showed true determination. Their travel writing can be seen at Wherever I May Roam Blog.
Melody and I got to know one another at #STETupelo.
Although the Elvis birthplace was closed, I did slosh around and manage to get lots of pictures.
Can’t you see young Elvis learning to play guitar on this porch?
And less than a mile away I came upon this this most beautiful and breathtaking view that is simply too pretty to put into words.
Tranquility beyond words.
COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI
The next stop was the adorable small town of Columbus, Mississippi. Every single person there is a profusion of sweet Southern charm. Their accents and attitudes are alluring. Many of them are characters who deserve to be celebrated. “Mother Goose” has been advocating literacy for over 35 years. Her friend Barbara Bigelow heads Columbus Main Street and is the epitome of a Southern lady.
“Mother Goose” and Barbara Bigelow are keeping Columbus exciting and vibrant.
There is a very large historic district filled with lovely antebellum and Victorian homes that includes the birthplace of playwright Tennessee Williams.
Colorful details on the Tennessee Williams home.This architecture abounds in Columbus, Mississippi.
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA
The next stop was Tuscaloosa, Alabama…where you should expect to hear “Roll Tide”, often. What you may not expect is the great variety of food and attractions. While there I enjoyed Mexican and Italian dishes.
Antipasto plate at DePalma’s in Tuscaloosa, Alabama…. yum.
Two of the biggest surprise discoveries that I happened upon were Hurricane Creek Park and Capitol Park.
Hurricane Creek Park. Capitol Park (completed 1829, burned down 1923).
Driving back toward Florida I stopped many times to photograph old abandoned buildings and other roadside oddities.
The bizarre beauty of abandoned buildings.
This is what makes road trips so much fun. They combine the joy of going at your own pace, letting down the windows, and singing as loud as you like along with the radio. You just never know what wonderful sights and delights await you on your next road trip. This was a trip full of delights and dilemmas. Now my only dilemma is…when can I start my next adventure?!?!
Please follow along with me here at Embrace Southern States. I will keep you informed about upcoming travel articles, food, art, interviews, and so much more. Also you can find more on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/embracesouthernstates .
If you enjoyed any of these photos, please take a moment to let me know. Thank you.
The happy musician played his accordion while I pondered the true meaning of the word “lagniappe” and devoured my fried alligator. The goal of this journey was two-fold: to interview locals, and to learn why the idea of lagniappe (that little something extra) is preciously prevalent in this region. My toes tapped as I ordered the bread pudding, knowing most would end up in a to-go box.
Jimmy LaGrange is the man with the most melodic Cajun accent and General Manager of Randol’s Restaurant https://www.facebook.com/RandolsRestaurant/ who answered my many questions about this famous restaurant and the band. I asked patrons about local beliefs and customs. We talked about lagniappe, art, food, the nutria, the Rougarou, Mardi Gras, and things I should see while in town. Watching couples dancing on that old wooden floor, I couldn’t help smiling and feeling incredibly happy. After all this is Lafayette, the heart of all things Cajun in Louisiana. Many say it is the happiest city in America. I tend to agree.
Jimmy LaGrange at Randol’s has a great accent!
This prearranged interview with Jimmy was one of several during my four days in Lafayette. He explained the difference between Zydeco and Cajun music; Zydeco is faster and includes a scrub board while Cajun always includes an accordion and fiddle and is much better for dancing. His list of Cajun bests includes food, fun, music, art, and beautiful scenery. He suggested I see nearby Lake Martin. Later I asked Julia, the server, to bring my check. She laughed and said simply, “Lagniappe, love, per Jimmy’s orders it’s on the house!”
Sunrise the next morning found me standing alone in a sizeable sugarcane field. I felt gratitude as I took photographs in perfect light. Then I headed to Lake Martin, a magnificent expanse of over 760 acres of cypress-tupelo swamp that serves as a rookery for herons, egrets, and other significant nesting water birds. This ecosystem also supports alligators, amphibians, and nutria.
The nutria is an invasive species rodent resembling a beaver. Humans trap them, eat them, or harvest their fur, yet they a destructive nuisance in the wetlands. Seeing a live nutria casually going about its daily routine was a first for me. Again, I said a quick thank you to God for allowing me to see that special something extra. Apparently, my Higher Power was providing a little lagniappe of His own that morning.
My early morning solitude over, I sought out a cup of strong coffee. That led to a pleasant conversation with a local named Diane who said the Cajun people are proud of their family and genealogy and welcome new friends into their hearts and homes. She spoke of the wedding custom of pinning money to the bride’s veil before asking her to dance. The custom and the sharing both seemed like gestures of lagniappe. She suggested that I go see the beautiful architecture of the historic downtown area, so I did.
While walking along Vermilion Street, a fabulous old hardware store caught my attention. I stepped closer to read the for-sale sign on the door at the same moment the owner opened it from inside. When he offered to give me a tour of the building even after I had told him I was not in the market to buy, I’m sure my jaw hit the floor. He covered every inch and lovingly explained each detail. The two-story Italianate style was built in 1890 of wood, pressed tin, corrugated metal, and cast iron. Ornate designs in the columns included ribbons and fleur-de-lis. The beauty of the craftsmanship just about made me cry. I thanked him profusely and told him that his kind and caring spirit was a perfect example of lagniappe.
The following morning, I interviewed Cully Firmin, https://www.facebook.com/cully.firmin whose versatility is astounding. Scientifically, Cully designs geothermal sensory devices for computers and cameras. He gave me a shop tour, explaining how his work relates to photography and drilling oil wells. Quite honestly, most of it was way too technical for me.
Cully is a scientist and an artist.
Artistically, Cully and his wife Angela are award-winning instructors in photography, lighting, modeling, figure drawing, and body painting. We had stimulating discussions about food, art, and entertainment. I met their adorable son Edgar and their dog Lenore. The first lagniappe here was my favorite quote from Cully, “Pursue what you love, but never too much of any one thing.” The second was a cup of hot chai tea with cinnamon.
My next stop was to meet Bonnie Camos, https://www.facebook.com/bonnie.camos a native Lafayette artist and educator. She gave me a hands-on demonstration in her art studio of creating with encaustic wax; the lagniappe was two pieces of art to take home with me. She shared her views on faith, family, food, and fun. Her husband is descended from Joseph Beausolei Broussard one of the first Acadians to reach Louisiana in 1765. Bonnie claims every person has the potential to be an artist and that sometimes “you just have to tease it out of them”. She talked about the wedding veil custom and about sucking crawfish heads. Bonnie said some local artists use the large orange teeth of the nutria in creating jewelry.
Bonnie Camos is so friendly and talented.
She took me on a whirlwind tour of several top shops, markets, and galleries. We discussed the idea of food as art while studying, and then eating, a piece of quiche. I was thrilled and slightly star-struck when she casually introduced me to her friend Dusty, whom I had read about and immediately recognized as the “Cajun Picasso” https://www.facebook.com/TheCajunPicasso/ . He combines Cubism and Folk Art into what he calls “colk art” often incorporating found or recycled objects. Dusty has eaten nutria and does suck crawfish heads. He says strange Rougarou creatures similar to werewolves could exist out in those Louisiana swamps and bayous. Meeting him felt like an extra benefit or a free prize, which is just one more way to define lagniappe.
Meeting the “Cajun Picasso” was a thrill.
As we were about to leave, Dusty mentioned that he and several other local artists had painted decorative frogs all over the tiny town of Rayne, about sixteen miles away. Later that same day I drove around viewing those adorable frogs. In a small thrift store there, I spoke with the lady named Lena at the cash register. That brought back wonderful memories of my grandmother, also named Lena. When I told her that Dusty had suggested this town, she put a discount on my purchase and said, “Every little act of lagniappe makes a big difference.”
My last interview in Lafayette was with Clint Hebert, a burly bear of a man with great facial hair and a love of good conversation. His family includes makers and artisans of luxury goods using alligator leather at Mark Staton https://markstatonllc.com/about-us/ . I mean, really, just stop and think about this for a minute. Louisiana, swamps, alligators, and artistry! They produce exceptional exotic items using the world’s most valuable reptile skins in a multitude of colors.
Clint explains how alligators become artistry!
Clint is quite passionate about being a good steward of those skins and local natural resources. He is also keenly interested in food, art, and travel. He would love to someday visit Paris. Clint reports that his French-Canadian ancestors have been traced as far back as 1522. Oh, and that nutria tastes like dark turkey meat. His tip about where to find the best tasting and most artistic food in town was a lagniappe. So was the free tour of the shop. So was the nice discount when I decided to splurge on some alligator skin items.
As my tremendous trip was nearing its end, I reflected on my original goals. I had interviewed all four of my prescheduled contacts and ten others as well. We had the expected conversations about art, customs, food, music, nature, and travel. Additionally, there had been those very unexpected topics including architecture, genealogy, and science. Each interaction had been entertaining and joyful on such a deep level that I will always treasure them in my heart.
What did I learn about lagniappe? The many cultures of Louisiana have blended to form a most fascinating and fun-loving mix. When they take a strong liking to anyone, that lucky person is quite often given special gifts called lagniappe to show affection, appreciation, and a cherished “little something extra”. Lagniappe is gestures of generosity and acts of kindness. It is born of a loving spirit with an inclination to give more, do more, and be more.
Lagniappe is deeper relationships and caring connections. It is a sweet and simple concept that makes a grand and glorious difference; it is thrilling and transformational. Living with the love of lagniappe and choosing to let it loose results in an uncensored and unencumbered freedom. It leads to a fuller awareness that an open heart and open mind can change the world for the better. I learned to embrace my own power of lagniappe and then to exuberantly let it loose upon the planet.
((***Author Note: In this year 2021 many of us who love Mardi Gras are saddened that parades will not roll on as usual. Our thoughts and prayers are with places that have taken a huge blow to travel and tourism. We look forward to happier travels and lagniappe in the future.
Memories are precious and evoke deep emotions. The widest variety of things can call to mind a memory. While some can be sad, I choose to SHARE and focus on the good!
If I ask you about your favorite movie, you might be able to recall and SHARE amazing details about what year you saw it, who you were with, and how it made you feel. If I ask about your favorite football team, you might go on about the first time you saw them in person or how you celebrated their last big win.
What’s YOUR best GOOD memory from the listed TOWNS?
So HERE is a little mental memory magic for you. I’m about to take just five Southern States and list just seven Towns from each one. I want YOU to ponder each one individually. Have you ever been there? Did you experience any special and spectacular events there?
Swirl it around in your brain. Allow all sorts of memories to swim around until a couple of your favorites float to the top and start waving at you. Now, can you pick just ONE amazing memory to SHARE? (Pretty please!!) Dang, y’all…this will be SO fascinating!!!
To how many of these places have you been? (Let me brag for just one moment, I’ve been to ALL of them & will SHARE many of those memories over the next year.) Which ones brought back your most immediate and vivid memories?
She finds great joy in helping to feed her community. She finds a feasible framework for informative conversations about hunger. She finds flexibility is an important approach to both her life and her work. She finds wonderful ways to feed her body, mind, and spirit. She finds respect in helping others reach their full potential.
I help feed the hungry.
What is the nature of your job?
My title is Director of Communications at Second Harvest of the Big Bend. I help inform and engage stakeholders regarding issues on food insecurity. I get to help our food bank make a tangible difference for vulnerable and underserved citizens. I get to show people how they can generously help their neighbors. I get to know that, in my own small way, I help feed hungry families and children. All of us work as a team, inspiring each other, toward our mission to supply healthy and nutritious food.
What makes your town a great travel destination?
Tallahassee has so many wonderful events and attractions. Parks, greenways, restaurants, museums, festivals, concerts…the list goes on forever. People should enjoy places like Cascades Park, Goodwood Museum, Mission San Luis, and the fantastic local libraries. Of course, we have great sports events here, too. I had a blast attending FSU’s first national championship game.
Don’t you have some background in travel?
Yes, before working with nonprofits I traveled many places in destination marketing. I love Maine, California, Colorado, as well as the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. Places high on my bucket list include Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, and the Greek Isles. I plan to return to Scotland to explore my Scottish heritage. Oh, and eating my way through Tuscany was a particularly fun adventure.
Be intentional in your kindness.
Which are you more passionate about: art, food, or music?
That’s a hard choice! I grow my own herbs. I love to cook and develop my own unique dishes. I’m not artistic but do appreciate all forms of art. Collecting art from my travels is a great way to remember an experience. I love live music. My first-ever arena concert was Bruce Springsteen on the “Born in the U.S.A.” tour. Recently I took my teenage son to his first concert, Imagine Dragons. What an amazing time that I know we’ll both remember forever!
What relaxing activities do you most enjoy?
Walking a trail by a “cathedral of trees” is great exercise and where I get my best ideas. Being alone in nature clears the mind and leaves me calm. I also very much enjoy reading. Spending time with my chosen family of smart and supportive friends is dear to me. So is my faithful companion, a miniature Australian Shepherd named Rudy Lu Wigglebottom.
What makes you an exuberant person?
Anticipation! Looking forward to a grand adventure or a sweet conversation with friends. I try to listen respectfully with an open heart and mind. To find common ground and understand others is so important.
What is your key message for the world?
Be intentional in your kindness toward others. You will never regret a kindness.
— — — —
Dang y’all, Shari Hubbard is a sparkling ray of sunshine in Tallahassee. She brings a deep sense of value and purpose to her role of helping feed the hungry with Second Harvest. She is smart, kind, and could have a meaningful conversation with anyone.
I truly urge YOU, dear reader, to leave your comments.
