Being Old in the South
On my visit to Mississippi, strangers were deferential, everybody called me “sir”. When I approached stairs, someone would gently put their hand on my back to ensure I didn't fall. I was so glad to get back to Minnesota where everyone ignores you and I can feel young again.
Jonathan Odell is the author of three novels, The View from Delphi (Macadam Cage 2004) The Healing, (Random House 2012) Miss Hazel (Maiden Lane Press 2015). His essays, short stories, and poetry have appeared in The New York Times, Commonweal, Publishers Weekly, etc. He lives in Minneapolis with his husband. JonathanOdell.com
See more of his work in 11.2 and 11.2