I love the fact that Mississippi is trying to get healthy and slim down!

I think it’s time we all try to move Mississippi from the bottom of the “good” lists and from the top of the “bad” lists.

As a matter of fact, my friends and I have taken it to heart. We participated in the first annual Miss-Lou River Bridge Run and we are now preparing to run/walk in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Blues Half-Marathon in Jackson in January of 2012.

Every evening we, along with many other health conscious citizens, can be seen up and down Jefferson Davis Boulevard and in/out of the adjacent neighborhoods.

Some are running, some are walking and some are riding bicycles.

Today, and on several other occasions, we have gotten our heart rates up, not by just exercising, but by near death experiences caused by drivers who refuse to slow down or move over for pedestrians.

Today, one of my co-workers was nearly hit by a driver on Jeff Davis Boulevard that never even seemed to notice!

On another occasion, we had to move up onto the grass by the hospital to avoid a driver pulling out onto the road while texting.

I would love to see more patrol cars there in the evenings between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Speeding down the boulevard is commonplace.

Jefferson Davis Boulevard is a four-lane road. Is it asking too much for drivers to slow down, pay attention, and maybe even move over into the other lane?

After all, we are just trying to Go Walkin’ Mississippi!

Cathy Roboski

Natchez resident