After we checked out of our hotel, we headed up I-24 toward Nashville. Livy worked on a math workbook, and I listened to Eclipse. Yes, I am one of those Twilight people. We spent several hours in Sewanee, TN, where I went to college. It is a gorgeous small town with a gorgeous small university that dominates its culture. I know several of my college friends are reading this blog, so I am going to go into some detail that the rest of you might wish I had deleted.
When we drove onto the domain, I explained the legend of the Sewanee angels to Livy, and we tapped the roof of the car like a good Sewanee person should. (I also wouldn't let her walk on the seal, just in case she ever wants to go to Sewanee, but I did tell her it wouldn't really keep her from graduating. Not true, but still fun.) We went to All Saints Chapel, of course, which she was super interested in, partly cause it is so pretty and partly cause she hasn't been in many churches. She was fascinated by the bishop's chairs, and I am pretty sure she now thinks Sewanee has 27 kings, while the rest of us only get senators and representatives. Here are a couple of pictures from the chapel. The first one is Livy in front of the high altar. The decorations are still up from Lessons and Carols, and the whole place was just resplendent.
The next one is me holding the hymnal in my old choir stall. I sang a little and listened to the reverberations from the high ceiling, but my voice is not as good as it used to be. It could get back there, but I was practicing so much. I really miss singing compline, and I wish I could be in Sewanee during the week sometime to go an hear it.
The next picture is Livy standing in front of the doors to the chapel, and I like it mostly because the fog is so very typical.
It was so foggy that, though we went to The Cross and to Green's View, we couldn't see a thing. I think Livy would have really enjoyed the overlooks. We drove past the house David and I lived in when Livy was a baby, and I told her about all the things she did there and what we did together in town. Seeing that house on Mississippi Avenue made me revisit (for about the millionth time) what kind of a weird hold Sewanee has on me. I mean really, I graduated from college and then moved away. But then I came back. I left again for many reasons (some having to do with the place, but not most of them), but even now, the second I get onto the domain, I'm thinking of how I want to live there again. It's a weird magic spell, and it got cast the second I went there for my scholarship interview. After taking the tour and having my interview, I called a friend back home and told him that this place was otherworldly and perfect for me. I turned down a more than full scholarship just to get a half scholarship and a chance at a full one at Sewanee (luckily some girl went to Yale, and I got hers, yippee!). It's like I just can't ever get away from there; like Sewanee exerts some kind of gravitational pull on me. I still feel that, even knowing all its faults.Anyway, we also went to the equestrian fields and petted some horses. We walked through the Shakespeare garden across the street from Warren McCready's house. We went through the cemetary, which is my second favorite cemetary in the world and was my favorite picnic lunch spot for years. I visited the grave of an old professor who I was very close to, Dr. Bonds. Melinda and Carolyn, I know this may seem crazy, since none of us are particularly mystical, but I thought of you two and how he loved us all and I just told him right out loud how well you two were doing, how happy you were with your families and your passions. This is one of the only times I ever missed Sarah Downey and that weird girl who spoke Latin and Lander Dunbar; it just seemed right that all of us should commune there, have a cigarette, and criticize the Spanish department.
After we left Sewanee, we drove on to Nashville - more math, more Eclipse. Our next stop was the Parthenon! Yes, folks, we visted the Parthanon. Well, a full size replica. Cool, huh? We only got to see the outside, so we are planning to go back on Tuesday and see the statue of Athena. Pictures so you will believe me that this cool thing exists. The last one is of Livy by a column, so that you can get a feel for the scale.
We found another cheap, but not so bad, motel, moved our stuff in, had a huge fight in which she shirked work and I yelled (not either of our most shining moment), resolved our fight and cuddled, and then went out to dinner. After dinner, we went to see the Christmas decorations at the Opryland Hotel, and I am telling you people, everyone needs to do that. And I mean even the people in New Zealand and China and California. Here's what it has: 2 million lights, an inside river (yes, seriously), conservatories, walking paths, a boat you can ride, carriage rides through the grounds, waterfalls. I'm reading back over that and it just doesn't sound as great as it was. You'll just have to take my word for it. Go. Now. Oh, and I forgot the camera, so I have no proof.
Livy fell asleep the second we got back to the motel, and I am not far behind. Nashville rocks!!! By the way, I won't be able to post any more pictures, cause I got the fake SD card stuck upside down in the laptop. (Aaron, don't freak. It will be easy to get out with plyers or tweezers, neither of which I have.)
