Random sharing

The week after next is called "Reading Week," during which no classes are held at the seminary. The purpose is twofold: we are supposed to get caught up on our unfinished reading and it gives us time to complete major assignments in each class. I appreciate having the time and I'm sure that I will be both catching up and also completing my major papers that will be due the week we get back. When I first saw that Reading Week was on the schedule I figured that a few people would use it to get caught up and that most would use it for time off and travel. I was wrong. Almost no one leaves during the week and there is probably more work getting done than at any other time during the term.

This past weekend has been Sewanee's homecoming for the undergrads. The school has a very scientific approach to managing their alumni relations and it has paid off significantly in terms of both school spirit and incredible monetary donations to the school. I have yet to meet a alum of the University of the South who does not love the school and the time they spent here. The homecoming events run on five year cycles, so this year the classes of 2004, 1999, 1994, 1989, etc going back to 1959 were celebrating their anniversaries. There were parties all over campus and at the large homes that dot the mountainsides within a five mile drive of the school. The seminarians, because we are older and hopefully more responsible than the current 18-22 year old undergrads, are called on to serve as bartenders, valets, and shuttle drivers for the weekend. I personally worked three events and met some really great people from the classes of 1969, 1974, and 1999. Since I come from Jacksonville, I am used to seeing incredible school spirit in the form of Gators, Seminoles, and Dawgs; but these are all very large universities. Sewanee has 1,500 current students and for much of it's history was much smaller. It was amazing to see that 25-50% of each class is still coming to their reunions (the class of 1969 had like 80 graduates and I met 30 of them).

Our life here is finally starting to fall into comfortable patterns. The fog and mist have settled in and the seminarians who have been here for a year or two basically told me to say goodbye to the sun for the next five months. Our bookstore sells "Fog Happens" t-shirts! On the plus side, it is always cool outside, the last several days have had highs in the sixties. Today Marti and I walked to one of the dozens of small waterfalls that dot the landscape and it was gorgeous. The hikes are strenuous, but not daunting, just tough enough to make you appreciate getting back to the house. The dog rolled in some deer poop (why do dogs do this?) and had to have a bath, but otherwise it was a great day on the Mountain. Aidan's birthday is next week and Marti's parents will be flying in to visit us for four days, so that all promises to be very fun and busy.

blessings,

Jon