Song of the South

Joel and I went to a house music party this spring and an artist from Tennessee named Kate Campbell was the musician. It was an amazing experience. Her songs hit on my experiences in the South on so many levels. I missed Georgia so much after leaving the concert - I think it is one of the reasons I am here today.

One of her songs is called "See Rock City." Rock City and Ruby Falls are tourist traps on Lookout Mountain (which I visited yesterday - or drove by is more accurate). Rock City, Ruby Falls... there are people standing in the middle of the road directing you into the parking lot, like there is no other place to go. Kate Campbell explained all of the before she sang her song - but I experienced it yesterday.

Georgia is a place where I feel like I grew a lot, and the people around me were supportive beyond measure through the good and the bad - professionally and personally. I feel like I came to Georgia one person, and left the person I am today. I am grateful for all of that. For that reason, the Kate Campbell song below means a lot to me - then and now.




Lyrics to See Rock City :

She put a map and a tube of lipstick
In an old Winn Dixie sack
She pulled her Firebird out of the driveway
Without ever looking back

By the time she got to Georgia
It was nearly half past eight
She bought a ninety-nine cent breakfast
At the Stuckey’s by the interstate

And she don’t know where she’s going
And she’s really not sure why
But she’s got to try and find a way
To live before she dies

She might see Rock City
She might see Ruby Falls
She might change her name to Marilyn
And drop her southern drawl
She wants to climb Lookout Mountain
And see all seven states
She wants to feel the wind through her hair again
Before it gets too late to see Rock City

Well she stopped in Chattanooga
And called her mama’s beauty shop
She said I won’t be home for supper
Give my love to Bo and Pop

And her mama knew the reasons
Without even asking why
A woman’s got to try and find a way
To live before she dies

She might see Rock City
Oh she might buy a souvenir plate
She wants to feel the wind through her hair again
Before it gets too late to see Rock City

Afoot and Light-Hearted

I know that words in stories and poetry can hold different meanings with the passage of time, but I have been stunned by this little poem by Walt Whitman. I have read it many time in the last 2 years - and many times in the last month especially. It is like a crystal. It changes colors depending on the light.

The poem was given to me by a friend as I trained for the breast cancer walk in Denver. Walking was my life at that time. Walking was how I spent all of my spare time. As I was training the poem provided inspiring words about walking and enjoying nature. Its meaning was clear. It was a walking poem.

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.

About a month ago I was packing up my office. I was hurriedly filling boxes with my professional files and photographs I had had around my desk. The library was closed and I was the only one in the building. In the silence I took a moment to pick up the poem and read it. I was deeply sad and thinking about the chaos of the last few months at the College. The poem took on a wistful tone with a forward motion march.

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.

The friend who originally gave me the poem placed it on my desk a few weeks ago right before she had surgery. I was afraid to read the poem because I thought it was about being healthy and free. But I read the poem again. It made me realize how walking in the present moment is all we really have, and how even in deep sorrow my heart could feel a special kind of lightness, even in the midst of fear.

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.

I read the poem last week thinking about the hope I have for my uncertain future and the uncertain future of so many people I care about. The poem was no longer about walking at all, it was about shedding all that is unimportant and choosing to make life good despite the difficult times.

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.

I read the poem again today, celebrating my friend's news of a clear bill of health. With such relief I read the poem knowing that we are healthy and free and so fortunate to have both good health and freedom.

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.

Career Sketch

Walking Life Review

I found this review of the Walking Life exhibit on torontoist.com. Kind of exciting!

On Sunday, as an unofficial kickoff to the Walk21 pedestrian conference coming to Toronto next month, the Walking Life exhibit opened at the Gladstone Hotel.

The exhibit is an eclectic mix of paintings, maps, architectural drawings, collages and video. It represents images of urban walking from many different viewpoints, from the casual rambler to the urban planner.

Highlights of the show include Adam Krawesky’s “Clockwork,” a digital composite showing pedestrians crossing to all four corners of a street; “Walking Maps,” a collection of paintings based on Marlena Zuber’s strolls with the Toronto Psychogeography Society, and Val Nye’s stark and stunning photograph entitled “Open Road.”

A stroll through Walking Life is free. It will be on the third floor of the Gladstone until October 4, and is open daily from noon to 5:00pm.

Photo: detail from "Oakwood-Vaughn: Walking II" by Karen Cantello

Conference Lessons

I am thinking... Attending a conference you learn valuable things about your job and excelling your skills. Running a conference you learn valuable lessons about life - at least I did last week. Thanks to my fellow conference planners and friends I think I learned a life lesson that may stay with me my whole life. The lesson is that you can't control people or circumstances - but you can control your reaction to them. A positive, helpful, open reaction is not always easy, but it is a worthy goal. Beyond your own reaction.... other people also have the opportunity to control their reactions to circumstances. People may choose to react with a mean spirit, but this should not remove your worthy goal of remaining calm and kind.

Third Year Review

This is my third year review for tenure at the College. My tenure committee brought me back a cupcake after their meeting. It was almost too pretty to eat - but Joel and I ate it anyway.

Off to Toronto

The picture of Joel goes off to Toronto tomorrow. It will be part of the Walking Life exhibit opening on September 9th on the 3rd floor of the Gladstone Hotel. The exhbit will run through October 5th. The exhibit is being held in conjunction with Walking 21, a Toronto conference on walking.