Reflecting on Georgia

My faithful readers (both of you) realize I'm cheating on this one by backdating it. Got pretty busy with school, then forgot my password for Blogger.

I'm really glad I went. I'm actually writing this nearly two months afterward, and I remember several things very vividly:

• I had thought that my visit with Joel and family (both going and return) would be a freeloading quick stop (and I was embarrassed to impose that way). Joel and Heidi did it up right. They took me for fireworks and a minor league baseball game. Fed me great Italian food and even espresso after church on Sunday. It was great.


• In Valdosta, Jon was (of course) quite busy putting the plays on, but we did get to talk really well a couple of times. I still think it's funny that he's pleased with his new police cruiser. As usual, he loves the stagecraft and is delighted to explain it. Some might think that's tedious. I don't. He's a true lover. He loves his craft, and when he talks about it, I fall in love too.


• The plays in Valdosta were A Year With Frog and Toad and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Jon wished I could have stayed for Cabaret, but I don't feel cheated. I loved Frog And Toad. We had the snail that delivers the mail ("I put the go in escargot"). Flowers popped up mysteriously from the stage. Wonderful. And I'm not sure I'll ever really recover from the Chinese guys singing an old Al Jolsen hit, "Mammy," in Chinese, with subtitles (Millie). So much to talk about. So much to remember. Office girls typing and tap dancing while someone pushes them around the stage in wheeled desks. Jon's elaborate art deco lamp. Lots of stuff.


• I sort of fell in love with Valdosta too. Apparently it's the town in Fried Green Tomatoes (which I haven't seen). Columbus may have its Short North, but Valdosta has its Really Short South—about a block long, complete with antique stores, classy restaurants, bars, and a great Episcopalian book store. I'd go back.