That creeping storm front finally caught up with us in the middle of the night and began to wane as we prepared to hit the road again. But not before feeding The Breakfast Club, who waddled along just in time to catch a morning nibble or three.

We had barely made it out of the park before running across Beersheeba Cemetery, which we explored for a while before moving on.

Many people have asked about the interest in graveyards and its mainly due to Jae's enthusiasm as a tapophile, which translates into "cemetery enthusiast" or "tombstone tourist." A rich history can be divulged by simply reading the inscriptions on grave markers, so tapophiles are part folklorist, anthropologist and history buff. I find it very interesting as well, so we both enjoy seeking out markers and then calling each other over to see unusual markings, symbols, etchings and more. Sure, it freaks a few people out, but many more folks find it to be a pretty cool side-hobby.

In a spiritual way, it's also deeply fulfilling to recognize and honor the lives of those who have gone before, to empathize with their earthly struggles and wish them well on their otherworldly journeys. Seeing the tragic dates of a newborn death or the triumphant span of time afforded a decorated war veteran can really shed new light on the people of different regions and cultures. Many older cemeteries are located in extremely interesting parts of towns, and that's where one of my favorite interests can be found: abandoned buildings.

King of the Gypsies - Rose Hill Cemetery - Meridian, MS

We moved on and made our way down to a second graveyard stop in Meridian, MS - this time at Rose Hill Cemetery where the King and Queen of the Gypsies are buried. This was the main draw for us, but this was also a really neat graveyard with all kinds of Confederate graves and really interesting marker designs.

A quick happy hour break in Laurel propelled us forward into Biloxi, where we drove Highway 90 and decided to actually camp at the Boomtown Casino RV Park. After going inside and grabbing some dinner, we played some video machines, had a few laughs and then retired to Lucky after a long day of traveling and exploring. Tomorrow, we'd be back in Florida and traveling along the Gulf Coast bend toward home. Even as we continued to live in the moment, the Now, we also began to make plans for our return. So much to do, so much going on.

We didn't win big, but we did win. (I think.)

Jae and I have been together for 14 years and one of the things that I love about us is how we can simply chill out and exist in each other's company. Whether we're tooling down the road watching the scenery scroll by or walking down a beach town avenue while window-shopping, we're there together, enjoying those moments that often get overlooked, absorbing the energy of spaces and interacting with people in an attitude of love and acceptance. After five months of being away from her, this driveabout has been a wonderful way to reconnect and enjoy each other before we both plug back into our busy, busy careers.

But not for another week - we got some more exploring to do.

Driveabout: Day 15