There’s a hole in my visor. Well, not really, but it could happen, because of an endearing tradition up here on the mountain.

The following explains:

When it’s time to enter or leave the campus, visitors are told to be sure to tap their visors as they drive through the stone pillars, which earmark the boundaries of the 10,000 acre campus.

The old story goes that when people enter ‘The Domain’ their guardian angels leave for a little bit because one isn’t needed here. Some people say the guardian angels all hang out together at an angels’ pub somewhere on the mountain and enjoy a little down time. So when people drive out, they touch their visors to summon their guardian angels back to duty.

Silly as it seems, people do just that.

I can remember when my eldest attended Sewanee, and I’d visit as often as possible, and he introduced me to this ritual.

Someday, there will be a hole in my visor – I believe in guardian angels. :)

This is some additional interesting information about Sewanee:

The playwright Tennessee Williams did not attend the university, but his family has deep roots in the area, and he made Sewanee repository for his papers, owner of the publishing rights of all he wrote and recipient of half his estate. That built the Tennessee Williams Center for the performing arts. Theatrical performances and orchestra concerts happen almost weekly, and there is an annual Writers’ Conference, which brings in the biggest names in literature and poetry.

The Writers’ Conference is highly esteemed, with some of my favorite authors in attendance. Below is an overview for the 2007 conference:

From July 17 through 29, 2007, the University of the South will host the eighteenth session of the Sewanee Writers’ Conference. Supported by the Walter E. Dakin Memorial Fund established through the estate of the late Tennessee Williams, the Conference will gather a distinguished faculty to provide instruction and criticism through workshops and craft lectures in fiction, poetry, and playwriting. The faculty will include fiction writers Richard Bausch, John Casey, Tony Earley, Diane Johnson, Randall Kenan, Alison Lurie, Jill McCorkle, and Claire Messud; and poets Brad Leithauser, Charles Martin, Mary Jo Salter, Alan Shapiro, Mark Strand, and Greg Williamson. Lee Blessing and Melanie Marnich will work with playwriting participants. In addition, a group of distinguished writers, critics, agents, and visitors will take part. Those who will discuss writing from the point of view of editing or publishing are David Barber (Atlantic Monthly), Georges and Anne Borchardt (Georges Borchardt Literary Agency), Gary Fisketjon (Alfred A. Knopf), Mary Flinn (Blackbird, New Virginia Review), Gail Hochman (Brandt & Hochman Literary Agency), Edward Hower, David Lynn (Kenyon Review), Jon Meacham (Newsweek), Elisabeth Schmitz (Grove/Atlantic), Willard Spiegelman (Southwest Review), Deborah Treisman (New Yorker), Robert Wilson (American Scholar), and David Yezzi (New Criterion). New Dramatists’ Emily Morse, director of artistic development, will visit to meet with playwrights. Poets Daniel Anderson, Andrew Hudgins, Mark Jarman, Wyatt Prunty, and Dave Smith will give readings, as will fiction writer Barry Hannah; literary critic James Wood will present a lecture.

Humbly, my writing isn’t good enough to fully participate, but as a resident here, I am entitled to attend the readings and lectures free. *w00t*

Okay. Off and running to retake the typing test required for University employment. I flunked it the first time, which I am told isn’t unusual. I was short by four words. *Ugh*

Oh, and yesterday I officially ended my cookbook career. A delightful gift shop owner in town bought my remaining copies. *w00t*

And then, I drove down the mountain to a small town called Cowan, which has experienced a renaissance of sorts with shops and galleries and restaurants. I lugged down fifteen paintings – thinking the owner would select a few – and she took them all! She’s putting a notice in the local paper and planning a reception on my behalf. I ain’t good at that sort of stuff – center of attention sort of stuff – but I gotta do it – and am mighty grateful for her validation of my efforts.

I am also working madly with rewrites on my novel.

Life is satisfying at the moment. In fact, very satisfying.