Hello All

I hope everyone is ready for the new school year to start. I took summer classes and for those of you who were in the same boat will understand when I say that it feels like classes never ended. Especially when I don't think that there has not been a week this month that I was not on the Macon campus. Anyway, I am just here to announce that I have started my "Volunteering in Memphis" blog again and would love for all my fellow Honors members to start reading and contributing to my blog. Thank you and I hope to see you all around campus. Ciao!

http://mymemphisvolunteeringproject.blogspot.com/

Farewell Friends!

Not really! It won't be that easy to get rid of me! I feel like I have made real friends through this class that have helped enrich my Honors Inquiry experience and ultimately my life. Awww. Mushy moment!

This class took me from someone who really disliked Memphis to someone who can finally appreciate it for its rich history and bubbling potential. When I signed up for the class, I definitely wasn't expecting that. Nor was I expecting to enjoy the people in the class nearly as much as I did.

Aaron - Let me start with you since I saw you the most often! Two classes with you! What was I thinking?! Just kidding. You have been such a help and an inspiration. It was truly a pleasure to see someone who was as dedicted to your education and the overall life-learning experience as you. You inspired me to be better and more diligent when it came to my own work. In fact, you became a motivator for me. I wasn't content to just sit back and do my essays the same way I always did. I wanted to take chances, push my creativity to its limits, and do better because you thought I could. You are really a true friend, and I am so thankful that I got to meet you and Sarah. You have to keep in touch!!

Erin - My singing partner! Rocking out in Sun Studios with you was probably the highlight of the semester! The fact that Aaron got it on video dampers the enthusiasm a bit, though. Blackmail! I really enjoyed getting to know you this past semester. Again, an inspiration! I've never met someone who was involved in so much and doing so much with their college experience. You really made me want to get more involved. I think that your ideas about the Student Ambassadors for the Honors Academy is a phenominal idea. Hopefully when we both transfer to the University of Memphis, we'll be able to see each other!

Irene - I didn't get to see you as much as I did Erin and Aaron. That is truly a shame. You have been so supportive and enthusiastic throughout the semester. I really enjoyed talking with you. Your advice has been very helpful. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

Doug - Last but not least! I have never met a professor who was an involved with and as caring towards his students as you are. It made class so much better to be taught by someone who cared enough to learn my name instead of me being just another body at a desk whose papers you had to grade. You made both classes so enjoyable. I've learned a lot about myself as a writer by reading your critiques of my work. I really wish that my schedule allowed for me to take you for my literature classes over the next couple of semesters. I truly believe I would get more out of them. With everything that you did with the Honors Inquiry class, I am surprised that there aren't more students interested in taking it. If it's okay with you, I would like to write an extra article about the Honors Inquiry class that you can use in the school newspaper or the Honors Academy paper, whichever would be best. More students really need to be made aware of the class and the Academy.

I'm not sure that anyone else reads this blog anymore, so I won't go into anything else. I'm already pretty sad that the semester is over. I almost wish that some classes were year long classes like they are in high school. I hope you all have a wonderful summer!!! Please please please keep in touch. I'm on Facebook, and my personal email address is peachroses82@yahoo.com

Giving the Class the Respect It Deserves...

I know that throughout the last part of the semester, I have been behind a great deal in the blog. I have had some personal conflicts going on at home that really took my mind off of school. I don't want to go into detail, but I just wanted to apologize that I didn't put more of an effort into writing on everyone's blogs and giving my own feedback. We ALL know that I am very opinionated, to say the least. I probably could have started some really great debates. It's the end of the semester, and I just wanted to post a final class discussion blog to catch up on everything that I have missed. This class was amazing to me, and I really wanted to show it some respect.

For some reason, "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" came to mind when I said that, thus the movie Hustle and Flow. I might say that had it not been for this class, I would have never watched this movie on my own. I was actually surprised by the number of actors and actresses that I was familiar with who played in the movie. It wasn't anything like I expected. I was expecting it to be like that gawdy pimp movie where the guy is walking around on platform shoes with goldfish in the glass soles and ends up breaking them.

Terrence Howard is actually one of my favorite actors. However, I'm used to seeing him play very clean-cut schoolboy roles. This was a very dramatic change in his acting style for me. That is why I would liek to touch on what A.O. Scott said about his character being incoherent. I don't really agree with this. Without the complexity of DJay's character, the movie would have been sub-par. He is the ultimate contradiction, a pimp with morals. He may turn woman out for tricks and cash. He may manipulate and abuse them. However, to him it isn't personal. It's a business deal, and once the "work day" is over, he treats the women much like family. He supports them and makes sure they are taken care of. He is presented throughout the movie as having a monogamous suedo relationship with one fo the woman, not a womanizer. DJay doesn't rob or steal. I don't even remember him lying throughout the movie. Yes, he violently assaulted a guy in a public bathroom, not one of his better days. But it was a human reaction to someone you revere stomping on a dream that means the world to you. We have all been there and felt on it, just none had the courage to act on it until DJay. He is what each of us wants to be, a decent man who may have gone down the wrong path in life but used it as motivation to reach his dreams.

This takes me to the stories that we were supposed to read from the packet Doug handed out. I was not able to attend the discussion at Doug's house, but I wanted to comment about my favorite of the two, A Friend and Protector. I know that this is probably incorrect, but it seemed to me that the relationship between Aunt Maragret and Jesse was very strange. To me it seemed like maybe they had either had a love affair, or they loved each other in secret. I'm not sure if this was brought up in the discussion. If so, I would love to hear what was said.

I did enjoy the walk in the Elmwood Cemetary, though! This was probably my favorite trip of the entire semester. It was too bad that I had to cut it short. I could have spent all afternoon there. Before everyone got there, I was able to walk around on the main road that goes through the center. There were a lot of babies' graves along that route. I got a picture of one particular gravestone that touched my heart. It was a little girl who was only 16 days old. Her name was Little Angel. Later on after we started the tour, the thing that intrigued me the most were the military graves. I was intrigued by the number of military burials there, especially the number of unknown soldiers.

I did some research about this and found out that the military area in Elmwood Cemetary is called Confederate Soldiers Rest. There are approximately 1,000 Confederate soldiers and veterans buried in that area, and many buried elsewhere in the cemetary. The first Confederate soldier to be buried there was William Thomas Gallagher on June 17, 1861 and the last was John Frank Gunter on April 1, 1940. Among the buried are James Patton Anderson who was a former US Congressman, Thomas Battle Turley who was a US Senator from Tennessee, and William Graham Swan who was a Confederate congressman and mayor of Knoxville. There were Union soldiers also buried at Elmwood in the 1860s, but they were all removed in 1868 and put in the Memphis National Cemetary. Two Union Generals still remain bured at Elmwood. I wonder if they are resting in peace among thousands of their "enemies."

I was pleased to find that that there are new efforts being made to find the identification of the 97 unknown soldiers buried in Confederate Soldiers Rest. That is why some of the plain markers were slowly being given the nicer military headstones. Those were evidently soldiers that they discovered they could not identify. They are still working on the rest.

An Invitation

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Poor Forrest

I have a Saturday class and the exam was today. I finished this exam fairly quickly and decided to wait for a classmate that I had "un-officially" tutored through the semester. I walked over to Office Depot to buy some candy, (needed a gummie-bear fix) and with some time on hand strolled around the building. Adjacent to Office Depot is a UT building or at least it looks like the buildings across the street. It has elaborate brick work and great stone facades around the doors and window. At the end of this alley, hanging from the south entrance is an elaborate street sign marked 822 Beale Street. (there's absolutely no street there today) I peeked in as many windows as possible, peeling plaster, debris and yard equipment is all I could see. BUT....when I looked north, Forrest was starring right at me. Mounted on his majestic horse, guarding the resting place of he and his bride, a symbol of southern history is now looking directly at an old alley surrounded by chain-linked fences hooded with barb-wire starring at the ass-end of a Motel 6. As a rule, I do not like change. Personally, I believe the UT/Southwest area needs a green space, even if no one uses it. I was against moving Forrest for this simple reason. Today, I changed my mind, even Forrest doesn't deserve this. Poor city planning has left an important part of Memphis/Southern history out of the loop with little respect. After our visit to Elmwood Cemetery this past semester, I have a greater appreciation for the people who died for "their-cause." Forrest should be with them, people who gain any or all of their knowledge about this time in American history should experience Forrest too. He's sorely overlooked on Union Avenue, and that's not fair!

Honored to Know You

The inquiry experience has been wonderful. It has been a treat to get to spend time with all of you and to learn so much about the city we live in. Before this class, I had been to Beale St., Main St., and East Memphis. Now, I have been all over the city of Memphis. Seeing all the ins and outs of this town has given me a greater appreciation of Memphis as a whole. I enjoyed learning about the history and the people. I have a deeper understanding of her inner workings and how Memphis came to be the way she is today.

The presentations on Monday and Tuesday were wonderful. I am going to read the book Lindsey is saving! I wish Irene all the best on the pet cooperative and hope Aaron and his little have more great times to share. It was interesting seeing all the Honors II presentations also. I have to admit that I am glad that they are over and I can go another few months before presenting again.

As the school year draws to a close, I looked back over the adventures this year has brought. I started in August with my illness, and was not quite sure I was going to be able to maintain a full time schedule. I managed to struggle through and get all the way to May. I have had wonderful adventures, seen amazing theater, music and art performances, attended two Honors Conferences, and made new and lasting friends. Being in the Honors Academy and taking this class has given me new insight into myself, my interests, and my friendships. I have truly been honored to know all of you and hope that we all stay in close contact for a good, long time.

A Strange Change

As I was getting ready for Tuesday's presentation, I was ironing a dress and all I could see was the "IRON CROTCH" from Willie Cole's exhibit. (warrior-like man covered in iron stencil with one big iron forming the crotch) That day at the Brooks is a fond memory. I was remembering the great food, Doug's friends, and Naoimi, our guide for the Old Forrest Trail. Next time any of you venture to Overton Park, please stop at the Golf House. It is charming and must have been the "IT" in its day, maybe one day we can gather and shoot nine, or simply ride around on the golf carts.

What a wonderful semester. I was glad to read Aaron's entry about the Macon Road presentations. Erin did terrifically Tuesday. I, on the other hand, had a "melt-down!" My presentation was pitiful. I beat myself up for two days...I did the second part first, the first part second, and completely forgot the introduction, the thesis, the premise for the whole damn project! My husband and I practiced, he timed me, I knew the opening line.....I blew-it!!! What's sad about the whole mess is that I knew this stuff hands-down.

What keeps me in this place of personal panic? Some of it is each of you; you're all incredibly bright and well-rounded, kind and funny...the kind of company I like to keep! I am sitting at my desk with the working minutes from the city council meeting, a fund-raising invitation for Janis Fullilove, which incidently came the very next day after the council meeting, the Street Dog rescue stuff from our trek on Main St., Sandra's poetry book and the Elmwood "grave-explain" signs. I have much to say about all of these, but my thoughts simply sit as drafts! I am a poor writer in comparison to each of you and I've found it intimidating. I've had these same poor skills for thirty years. I was afraid of writing then and I'm still as flustered with the process today. BUT, I am going to get better. (hard to get worse) My mechanics are terrible, and I've spent a lifetime avoiding improving. Today, I finally want to improve. Strange isn't it that simply being around each of your talented souls has sparked this women to finally step-up and learn some structure and grammar. Thanks.

I want to be able to go to a conference and present something. I have some very strong interests that I'd like to explore and share; granted they are more on the scientific side but neat stuff none-the-less. This class has inspired me. I'll need your help as to not hide from the work, which I do so effortlessly!

I can't wait to read Lakota Women and view Lyndsey's video. I want to hear more about both Aaron's and Erin's volunteer efforts. There's a great opportunity at the Commercial Appeal for citizen editorial writers that I want to share with you. All of you would be great. You sit on the editorial board for four months, and get to help write about Memphis and her issues. I'm with Aaron, let's continue to post and share here. And with a little effort and help, my babbling just might turn into writing.

Keep in touch.

Follow-up on Fellows

I really enjoyed the presentations that were given on Monday at the Macon campus. Unfortunately I did not make the other presentations on Tuesday. It would be nice to know how the other students did and how Erin’s other presentations were. I enjoyed talking about the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis, but I really wanted to present on St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. While I was hoping to have completed some volunteering at St. Jude by now, I did go to my first volunteer orientation last week and will be posting my insights on my volunteering blog next week. So, keep your eyes peeled for weekly posts starting next Tuesday.

As for as the other presentations, I found the one Lyndsey Roland did on Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog fascinating. I had no idea that the Native Americans had their own Civil Rights movement. I did know, however, that some Native Americans took over the island of Alcatraz after it had been abandoned. I got that information while in San Francisco. I will be reading Lakota Woman along with the novel from Lyndsey’s other presentation, Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison. Lyndsey won first place in the Honors English Comp. II presentations (to preserve her book from the clutches of the evil empire that has damned all books to extinction in the year 2211.)

Lyndsey’s other presentation was of recorded footage of her trek through Memphis and her reflections. I would love to get a copy of it. Erin on the other hand did a presentation much like mine. Her class project was entitled “Volunteering Memphis.” She discussed her volunteering and interviews though Volunteer Mid-South, and I really think that it is a great way to get involved in the community if you do not know what you want to do or how to do volunteering. Another bonus is it does not require a long-term commitment, which is good for busy people that still want to stay involved and lend a helping hand.

The presentations were a great way to end the semester and a great way to finish the blog for this school year. But I for one will not be ending my input here. I am hoping that we can still record our insights and experiences on this blog throughout our careers at Southwest. I know that I will continue reading the blogs left and leaving comments for you all as well as the new students that will be taking inquiry next spring.

Have a great summer everyone. And for anyone graduating that is reading our blog, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Well Done!!!!!!!!

I just wanted to put a quick note on the blog and say that everyone did awesome yesterday on their Honors Inquiry presentations! I really enjoyed them.

Trek and Treat

Today was our final trek in honors inquiry. We enjoyed a hot and humid tour of Elmwood Cemetery. It was ironic that the final place that we visited in our class is the final place we all end up in life. It was a beautiful day at the cemetery and our tour was enjoyable except for the fact that I was having allergy issues and I was wearing tight blue jeans in the steamy 90 degree heat. But our trek today is not what I want to focus on, I want to talk about how much I enjoyed this class. I would not have gotten into the class in time if it were not for Doug going with me up to the admissions office on the second week of classes. That is really where my relationship with Doug began. Sure, I met him before through Professor Thad Cockrill during a group photo of the Saluqi bicycle club (which is really an amazing thing if you are into cycling. We usually ride through Shelby Farms) and at Doug’s Winter Solstice “Holidayapalooza.” But I really didn’t start to get to know Doug until we walked to and from the office. Doug, like honors inquiry, goes above and beyond expectations and continues to keep going. (Kind of like the walking today.)

I appreciate the opportunity to take inquiry this semester and get to know not only Doug, but the class. Before I took inquiry, I was obsessed with hating Memphis. I wanted to move from here in the worst way. I wanted to go back to where I belonged, to “Yankeesburg, Northsoftucky.” But after reading Wanda Rushing’s Memphis and the Paradox of Place, and the trips to all the places that the book describes and that we discussed in class-and the Peabody Ducks-I do not want to leave Memphis. I changed my hometown from Beaver, Pennsylvania to Memphis, Tennessee on my Facebook page. Why? Because when I talk to people from there I cannot relate to anything that they are talking about anymore. Now that I have been away from things, my mindset is different. I told Doug during our South Main Trolley night tour, that I was tacky in a lot of ways before I met Sarah and we moved to Memphis. I think what I was trying to say was that I was not cultured in any way. Thanks to the inquiry class and the hard work and effort that Doug puts into it, I have realized how much I do love Memphis. I am happy to be living in and hopefully will remain here long enough that I can say that I am from Memphis, Tennessee, and not think of my true roots so immediately. Thank you Doug for all the great tours this semester. I look forward to a lifelong friendship with you and the Honors Academy. Cheers to you, Doug!

Stax, Some Sun and Fun

It's been a bit since our trip to the Staxx Museum and Sun Studio, but I do have some thoughts. I enjoyed Staxx a bit more than Sun Studio, possibly because it is much more of a "walk-down-memory lane," for me. I'd been to Sun Studio a dozen or so times in the past with my favorite nephew, and just possibly it has grown familiar! Although, the guide was engaging and interesting....and I liked being in 'his' crowd, it was fun. (he needs to work at Staxx)

The learning curve between museums was a bit disappointing for me. I do like pagentry, statues and all that. (parades too) Old Forrest Park, with its lone pair of graves and a bronze soldier on a horse, doesn't quite cut it! The oddity and weirdness of the whole area is: it is the only green space for blocks, settled between two fairly large post-ed schools......yet, there were no students, no staff, no readers, runners, lovers!!! (and it was a sunny day) There was a man, obviously visiting Memphis, who was still sporting his Dixon admission sticker on his chest, who oddly enough was from my old county in Pennsylvania. This man literally lives 20 minutes from my old driveway. He knew everything about old Forrest. He had Confederate family...and was proud; it was 'cute' to listen to him! I wondered if any Memphians, short of the history-world, knew as much. He very much was a walking history lesson with all his biases woven in. I found him charming. I think old Forrest and his bride should stay put. He needs to keep "look-in" south, the park needs to stay, and Memphis needs to come outside and play!
I enjoyed this day and the dinner that followed. This is a special class.

Why Can't We All Just Get Along?

This was a sentiment that we discussed Tuesday night during our class time. The sentiment came out after reading "A Friend and Protector" and "Merry-Go-Sorry." Both stories showed a bit of this feeling. In the first, it was dealing with an African American in the South in the era of rampant racism. The second was showing it through the atypical "trailer trash" and the regular citizens of a small town. Both showed feelings of disdain toward the unaccepted members of society.

As for why we can't all just get along in today's society, there are myriad reasons: ignorance, mistrust passed down through generations, generalizations based on social classes as a whole, and just plain unwillingness to accept your fellow man. I try very hard to base my friendships and relationships on the person and not the outer shell. A friend of mine commented once that "you get along with everyone unless they treat you like crap." Thanks to my mom, I hope that statement is true. I don't care what you wear, look like, who you love, or how you live as long as you respect me for my choices. Each person in this world is unique and if you look hard enough, you can find something good in most of them. If you want my respect and friendship, then I truly believe in the Golden Rule - treat others as you would be treated yourself. If you act like I'm trailer trash or uppity, then I'm going to move on and let you be judgemental. I do admit that I have judged people at first glance, but it was usually based on the situation. If I'm in a seedy part of town (any town) and you look like you mean to harm me, I'm going to move in the other direction. However, I try not to let this run my opinions.

I truly believe that we will never all just get along. There are generations of hate and generalizations that would have to be disproved. I do believe that you can't judge a race of people based on the acts of one, but until the world feels this way, I think we will continue to not get along.

It's Hard Out Here for Everyone

I missed the blog post last week, so this week you get two. First off the movie "Hustle and Flow." I had seen all the reviews of this movie and heard all the accolades, since I am an Oscar buff. When the movie first came out, it didn't look like something that would interest me. I'm not a big fan of rap music in general and wasn't impressed with the content of the songs. The tune is catchy and now, having seen the movie, I get why it was lauded. Terrence Howard played the role of DJay with amazing accuracy. He was able to convey the struggle of a "working" man who wants better for his life. Although he was a pimp, he seemed to genuinely care about his girls (except the idiot who treated him like crap.) All he was doing throughout the movie was trying to improve his life. I can understand why he snapped in the bar at the end, to have your hopes and dreams squashed in an instant is a horrific experience. It can drive the most well-adjusted person to acts of violence. The end was bittersweet in a bizarre way. He finally "made it," only to be incarcerated for murder. When he turns to the guard and repeats the dream line, it seemed to me that he was going to punish the guard for the perceived mistreatment that he had been dealt. He conveyed his bitterness toward no one helping him onto someone else. Some people are able to learn and move forward to help others, some just wallow in their own misery. I realized the movie conveyed a deeper message than I ever gave it credit for. I don't think it was demoralizing to Memphis in any way, I think Memphis was just the setting for this tragic story. There are areas like those in every city and if it had been filmed in NY, Chicago, Detroit, or some other large city, the effect would have been the same. It was nice to see locals like Isaac Hayes in the film and to watch the "props" that Memphis got during the filming and after. The movie was very good and I'm sorry that I dismissed it when it was released.

Family

Last night we had an interesting evening discussing Peter Taylor’s “A Friend and Protector” and Cary Holladay’s “Merry-Go-Sorry.” Our discussion touched on the topic of racial tension. Maybe I still do not totally understand it, being from a town that we all-black and white-hung out together, stayed at each other’s homes overnight, and many of us dated each other’s sisters or brothers. The only uproar was coming from our grandparents and we all just figured it was their old-fashioned style.

Although many grandparents shunned the thought of interracial relationships, my grandmother recently held her great-great grandson who is of part black and part white. Because of a situation that occurred about fifteen years ago, I did not know what to expect from my grandmother when my cousin’s son introduced his son to her. My sister dated a young man during her junior year in high school that caused some family controversy. The young man is African American, but that was not the issue. The issue was that his older half-brother had issues with the law. And when my sister had to testify against him in court because he tried to make her an accomplice in his stealing of money orders, that is when my family and his began to feud.

When things from the case all settled down, I had seen the ugly side of people. Race had become the issue instead of the criminal mistakes of one man. My mother had asked me once, what I thought about the whole situation. I replied, “If two people love each other, it should not matter who they are. She [my sister] is not dating the brother. Her boyfriend is a gentleman from what I know of him.” I still do not understand why I was asked about it because a 19-year-old’s opinion doesn’t amount to much in the eyes of a parent.

Ten years later my family flew in from all over America for a reunion. I think that it was the first time since that incident that the whole family had gotten together. So like I said before, I did not know what to expect when my grandmother was introduced to her great-great grandson. When my grandmother held the precious child to her face and kissed him, I found peace in my grandmother’s acceptance. She held the baby for a long time and posed proudly for pictures with the newest addition to her family.

Whoop That Pimp

A.O. Scott of the New York Times calls the character of DJay incoherent in a review of the movie Hustle & Flow. The character may be complex, but not incoherent. DJay is a backstreet pimp with dreams, feelings, love, and every other emotion that comes with being a human. All because he is making his money the easy way doesn’t make him un-human or subhuman. Instead of working hard, he is trying to make it rich quick by pimping hookers and rapping music.

DJay tries to act tough, but he is really a soft hearted pimp. Pimps are not easy on women. It is a life of “make it or break it” for a hooker. If Lexus (the stripper with the loud mouth and attitude) would have talked to another pimp the way she talked to DJay, she would not have been leaving the house on her two feet but on a stretcher or in a body-bag. Perhaps DJay’s character is too gentle or perhaps not. This may be why he wants out of the game. Many rap artists use the line, “Pimpin’ ain’t easy, but it sure is fun;” maybe DJay isn’t having fun with pimping. Maybe he is tired of it. Or maybe he never liked doing it in the first place. DJay, like everyone else in the world, is just trying to get by.

Though DJay is a rude, egocentric pimp, he does seem a little out of place for being from a rough part of town. He is too polite for a ghetto pimp from the outskirts of Memphis. He never slaps his hoes, or talks down to them. Actually, after watching the film one can tell that he cared about his women. Even when he puts Lexus out on the street, he hesitates and thought about it before doing so. He was gentle and fatherly to her son and even tried to reason with her when she took him away from DJay and the keyboard.

DJay is caught in a place that he wants to get out of. At the end of the film DJay and Key, DJay’s old buddy and partner in the rap business, talk in the prison visiting center about the 11 months that DJay has left to serve and how he is all over the radio thanks to Nola, the skinny white hooker and now DJay’s agent. If the movie would have ended with DJay leaving prison and moving to California, it seems that he would have taken all of his women along with him, excluding Lexus. He may have gone back for her son though.

Stealin and Rhymin: "It's Hard Out Here For a Student" (Parody of "Hard Out Here For a Pimp" by Three 6 Mafia)

I could not sleep last night. Perhaps I had too much Coca-Cola and too many cookies, but it may have fueled my strange inspiration to re-write the song. I hope it inspires you all in your next blog entries. Enjoy!

[Chorus]
You know it's hard out here for a student (you ain't knowin)
When he tryin to get this grade for Doug Branch (you ain't knowin)
For the Enrollment and class money spent (you ain't knowin)
Because a whole lot of students talkin it (you ain't knowin)

You know it's hard out here for a student (you ain't knowin)
When he tryin to get this grade for Doug Branch (you ain't knowin)
For the Enrollment and class money spent (you ain't knowin)
Will have a whole lot of students jumpin ship (you ain't knowin)

[Verse 1]
In my eyes I done studied some crazy thangs in the class
Gotta couple papers in works on the changes ta pass
But I gotta keep my brain prepared like Einstein on MC^2
Students cheatin on a test don't know no better, I know they ain't scared
Done seen students expelled, done seen students fail
Done seen some students workin on their coffins with the nails
School n studyins how I live, but that's just how it is
It might be new to you, but that's every freshman year
It's blood sweat and tears when it come down to the grade
I'm tryin to get rich, so I can pay financial aid
I'm tryin to keep the A's, but it's hard fo' a student
But I'm prayin and I'm hopin to God grades don't slip, yeah
[Chorus]

[Verse 2]
Man it seems like I'm writin for Doug Branch everyday
Students hatin on me cause I down with PTK
But I gotta keep up grades, gotta stay above water
If I don't keep up with my A's, that's when school gets harder
Southwest where I'm from, I'm graduation bound
Where people all the time successful in the jobs they done found
Man Honors Academy think we prove thangs, leave a big head
We cold workin every night, so our grades don't end up bein dead
Wait I taken inquiry, and honors English comp II
I bust out the work for the papers that are due
That's the way ta keep 4.0's, gotta keep em strictly A's
Gotta keep my pencil tight, makin no changes to these grades, yeah
[Chorus]

Urban Pioneers

Little by little this new place, this residence, is resembling a home. I will never forget the first time I met each of you, that fret-filled Tuesday night.....the evening of "MOVE DAY." I had only one continuing-ed class at the Macon Road campus, had no idea where the class was located (never saw the new building before), and worse, had no idea what this class was about!

Over the Christmas holiday, my children had a blast teasing me about once again becoming a college student. They were filled with opinions, challenges and your every-day ribbing exercises. One thing they said in unison was, "You made us do it...you have to do it...it's not fair!" You see, I strongly encouraged all my kids, my three and the niece who lives with us, to participate in their schools' honor programs. In fact, I pretty much insisted on it. So, on a fate-filled night I signed up for the only honors course I could find.

It is two months later, I fought the urge to 'drop' and am still struggling with the fact that my writing skills are poor. BUT...I am enjoying this! I enjoy all of you!

We now live in a gentrifying neighborhood in Cooper-Young. We moved from a street directly across from Overton Park, a beautiful 6500 square foot gem to 1700 square feet of ugly and old. The first order of business was to install the security system and the wireless shebang-stuff that allows us to have television, telephone and internet. Now all of this is fairly common in normal houses, but this old gal had 'knob&tube' electrical wiring. A relic system that my husband thought could be replaced in a week. WRONG! As I watched the electricians work, I was mostly amazed that they were fascinated with this old stuff. They worked patiently side-by-side with the contractors that were moving walls, securing molding, closing windows and opening new doorways. She is still ugly and we have stuff everywhere, but I've come to appreciate this new side of midtown. I have wonderful neighbors, interesting people not very different from my old neighbors. In fact my old neighbors are new neighbors here in this new part of town! Instead of only running through Overton Park, our group now runs south at least one day a week with this new house being a pit-stop, we've picked up two new joggers who live in Central Gardens, and now have a group of fifteen or so on each run.
We've found newspapers dated 1927, hand-made baby toys, an inscribed headstone from 1932 (no body yet), that makes me wonder about the family that last made this a real home. As fascinated as I am at times it never lasts long. When I step onto the porch and look towards the west, I see ghetto. I know this ghetto has been bought by a reputable developer, but it is still ghetto today. This in its own right makes me feel bad, that less that one mile from my old house, folks were/are living this way, and there's no reason for it. (that's another note)
I keep telling myself, this is a great move for us. We have two children completely off the payroll, one graduating this spring from the University of Virginia taking a job in D.C., and a junior at UT Knox. I keep telling myself I'd be dancing a 'jig' if this space were in New York City. We have retired from the bizarre property taxes of Memphis and have an opportunity to put some seriously needed retirement cash aside! I have a new kitchen, small, unfinished, but new. We have a yard and garage. We are living this adventure one day at a time and it's all good!

Reworking the American Poet

For some reason, the title of my post sounds familiar to me. I can't place it, but I like it and it's relevant so I will use it. Last week I had the opportunity to attend a workshop with a visiting poet and former professor of Doug Branch, Ann Fisher-Wirth. I was a little disappointed at the showing for the workshop. Only three students were in attendance. However, what I learned from Fisher-Wirth was well worth missing my Honors Psychology class that day! Stylistically, she and I differ a great deal. She prefers to write a poem, point out the strongest lines that deliver the hardest punch, and then cut out all of the rest as senseless fodder. I, personally, like this fodder and the stream of consciousness it creates within a poem. But I played along for the workshop and the poem that I submitted was reduced from 3 pages double spaced to 10 lines. I must say that this was a very shocking experience for me. There were some points that I felt Fisher-Wirth made that are worth noting here since I know that a few of us are creatively inclined. One important point to consider before you actually begin writing is that your poem must have a speaker. However, it must not be an inanimate object. It must make literal sense. For instance, a chair will not talk to you or life as an entity will not actually talk to you. Therefore, a helpful tool before writing is to create an imaginary character that will act as your speaker. Fisher-Wirth also advised us to watch for modifying phrase placement and voice changes throughout the poem. Fisher-Wirth also suggested some readings for us from another writer named Patricia Smith who had mastered the art of the "imaginary character." Though an African-American woman, Smith has written such works as "In the Voice of A Skinhead" and Blood Dazzler. If any of you have read some of her writing, perhaps you can comment and tell us how effective her style is. I have also included a link to one of Fisher-Wirth's works. http://100dayspoems.blogspot.com/2009/03/day-48-ann-fisher-wirth.html

SRHC or Shrek as the DuckMaster referred to us

This weekend I was able to attend the Southern Regional Honor's Council Conference at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock. There were five students and Doug on this trip. We arrived on Thursday and checked-in, then went and enjoyed lunch at Wasabi's Bar and Grill. Most of the group had sushi and I enjoyed a burger. We then went to the first of the sessions. I attended a session on horticulture therapy and gardening in art. It was interesting to see other presentations and get insight into what interests other Honors students. In the next set of sessions, I attended one by Tracie Burke, the director of Honors at CBU here in Memphis. They gave their students an opportunity for public service. They allowed them to pick the project and then gave them a monetary stipend to help the project move forward. It was very informative and I was the only student at the session. I opted out of the 4:30 session and went and watched the ducks walk on their red carpet to the elevator. I was able to chat with the DuckMaster for a few minutes and got a great story about the Dallas Cowboys trip they took (I will share if you would like to hear it.) From here we attended the President's Reception with food and drink. Heifer International sponsored a "dance" for us with three local rock bands. The music was not my favorite and I was back up in the room around 10 pm.

The next morning we were up bright and early for breakfast at 7. I gave my presentation at 8 am and the technology worked! I was well within my time limit, and I got a compliment from a woman who advises seniors on their thesis projects. She said my video clips were picked well and exactly the right amount of time. That made me feel very proud. I then attended a session about Honors students and Student Government. It was interesting how they use the two to get more policies passed at their college. They pointed out that administration tends to respect members of Honors a little more and tends to listen to their ideas. I then went to the poster presentation in the foyer. These reminded me of a science fair kind of setup, but some of the topics were very intriguing. There was everything from Freedom isn't Free to Dopamine Neuron Activity in the Dorsal Pre-frontal Cortex of Rats. We then attended lunch, where we all met up again. The keynote speaker was Skip Rutheford and he told some great stories about the Presidents and the new Clinton School of Public Service. After lunch, we again went our separate ways. I attended a seminar entitled Honors and Adult Students. Once again I was the only student. This was more about separating the adult Honors and the traditional Honors. I was able to give my input as an adult student and learned some interesting facts about the differences.

At 6, we were supposed to have a reception and tours of the Clinton Library. We boarded the buses and arrived to find that the power grid was out and they could only do the reception. We left around 7 and decided to return to the library on our way home to do the tour. We spent approximately 2 hours in the museum on Saturday morning, went to the gift shop (off site,) and had lunch at the Flying Fish. We then headed back to Memphis. We were all a little tired, but it was a wonderful trip. I got to know 4 of my fellow students better (including Absalom,) and learned a lot. We also met quite a few students from other schools. The only major downside to the weekend for me, was having the three hot guys from the Citadel ask me where I teach...LOL.

Stepping Back in Time: A Sun Studio Trek

Standing close to the "X" that marks the spot where Elvis Presley stood when he first recorded for Sam Phillips, it hit me. I was standing on a piece of history, a moment of time that will forever remain on that same spot whether the old Sun Studio building remains or it becomes a WalMart. It is encapsulated in the threads that bind Memphians to this city. It spreads throughout the world with every tourist that comes in search of the home and history of the King of Rock n' Roll. That "X" is part of who we are. It was then that I made a real connection to my semester project. Trying to force yourself to experience a spiritual awakening by following Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis" is daunting. You wait for it happen, and it scares you when it doesn't. However, when it rains, it pours. Yet if you don't have a course in place for the ensuing avalanche, it is very easy to get lost in the flood. This trip to Sun Studios provided me with the direction I needed. After finding myself saying a couple of times that I had never been or even heard of the places we were visiting, I realized that a huge part of my disconnect from the city of Memphis was my own fear to explore its history. So wrapped up in the stereotypes and presumptions that I was raised with, I could not break myself away. I thought that perhaps I am not the only Memphian who has struggled with this, and that now that my binds are broken, my semester project might be a great vehicle to dispell this. The focus of my semester project has changed. While I am still following Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis," I am no longer attempting a spiritual awakening. It has already happened. I am instead using this project as a way to combine new footage of places described in the lyrics with historical pictures into a montage that will meld the old with the new. My ultimate message of my semester project will be one of hope. I am genuinely excited about how it is forming.

To Beale or Not to Beale

The latest trek took the honors inquiry class to Beale Street and S. Main Street during ‘Trolley Night.” This is a time when the trolleys take patrons up and down Main St. to shop and eat and enjoy open art exhibits. While most of the group headed off to Beale Street I decided to go down S. Main. I never really was down S. Main on a Friday night. The only time I have spent in that neighborhood was at the Civil Rights Museum. I was surprised at how many well dressed, classy looking people there are in Memphis. They all seem to congregate in that area during the weekends. Which brings up the question, where have I been spending my nights?

We visited art gallery after art gallery enjoying the different types of paintings and sculptures, a few of which I did not care for too much for. We also visited the new Hyde Gallery in the Nesin Graduate School, part of the Memphis College of Art, which is very nice. The art on the other hand was rather ordinary. Some of the work that I did find interesting just happened to be by Alex Paulus, my art instructor at Southwest. Paulus was showing his work in an exhibit next door also. We met with him there and discussed his interesting pieces with him. His work is of human bodies with animal heads, done with plaster and acrylic on plywood. My favorite was a zebra-human lounging with its arms behind its head.

We did not visit Beale that night. I have been on Beale (sober) and am not amused. I prefer the refined things in life, and quiet, and room to move. Wine or a good import or microbrew will work good for me, not pounding $1.00 MGD’s all night long. I only drank on Beale once, and it was when I first moved to Memphis five years ago. And even then I only had one cheap beer. I will admit the music on Beale is great; we enjoy going to B. B. King’s during the day when family is in town and stopping in at A. Schwabs to show everyone the world’s largest pair of jeans. I guess I am just too old to party with the college crowd, and I thank the heavens everyday that those years of being young and dumb have passed me by.

I am sure Lyndsey Roland had an enjoyable time on Beale. It was her first time on Beale Street, and she lived in Memphis all her life. She was there doing research for her class project and not pounding beers with the college crowd, or was she?

So whether you like to chug cheap beer and listen to the blues or sip expensive wine and listen to jazz, Memphis has a place for everyone to have a fun on Friday night. After the downtown visit to S. Main Street, Sarah and I headed to Mollie Fontaine’s Lounge on Adams Avenue where we met up with Doug and Erin to enjoy some piano music by the wonderful Diane Price. Thanks go out to Doug, who was an awesome host and tour guide on our trek and for introducing us to such great little places in Memphis like Molly Fontaine’s Lounge and the Local Gastropub.

Runaway Train, Never Going Back...Maybe

Though I am a little late (okay, a LOT late), I wanted to include my feedback on the movie Mystery Train in our blog. One of the questions in our study guide for Mystery Train is whether or not the central image, the train, is working symbolically. I read a few critic's analyses of the movie and their view that the train is nothing more than yet another element tying the three stories together. On the contrary, I believe that it holds much greater significance than that. Trains have historically been viewed as gateways, runaways, and means of escape. In the Old West, trains were viewed as the gateways to the West, a means of a new start and hopefully better prospects. In silent movies, an out-of-control train narrowly misses running over a damsel in distress tied with rope to the tracks. Nineties music such as the popular lyrics from Soul Asylum's "Runaway Train" even depicted trains as an analogy of helplessness and a desire for escape. The train that appears in each of the three stories in Mystery Train is no different. In the "Far From Yokohama" scene, the young Japanese man and woman take a train into Memphis on a voyage of discovery and exploration. Later that same night, the young man stands at the window in an almost melancholy stupor watching the train next to the hotel running along the tracks. In the "A Ghost" scene, the young woman who boards with the stranded Italian woman mirrors this by staring at the same train from a different vantage point. Her situation is entirely different though. She is attempting an escape from her boyfriend. In the "Lost in Space" scene, her boyfriend and his companions are attempting an escape after shooting a store clerk when the train again comes into the picture. In the final scene, the train is taking the young Japanese couple back towards home and takes the young woman from "A Ghost" further away in her escape. In each of the three scenes, the train may be a background fixture instead of in the forefront; however, this does not diminish the impact that it has on the audience. It delivers an insight into what is driving and motiviating each of the characters, what has utlimately brought them to this point and what will eventually set them free. The young Japanese couple is driven by discovery and exploration into the West. The young lady in "The Ghost" is driven by a need to escape a life that is suffocating her, making her a virtual ghost in her world. The young men in "Lost in Space" are out of control, running away and out of touch with reality. In each of these scenes, the human characteristics they portray parallel the traits given to trains throughout creative history, thus making the train a very symbollic fixture in the movie.

Whining Again!

Well for those of you who believe this blog is saved in "NEVER NEVER LAND," please share the secret with me. I am pitifully surrounded by short piles of hand scribbled pages as I feverishly copy "auto-saved" drafts from one old laptop to a new desktop computer. I am convinced I am genetically driven to this state of mass disorganization. Since, I can't find the 'where-with-all' to not edit some of the previous due blog posts, I wanted to be certain that I wish for all of you going to the conference in Little Rock a wonderful time, exciting adventure, and safe travel!

One Needs Wine to Whine...about Mystery Train

After missing class and the viewing of Mystery Train with the group, I was left to my own devices to get a copy and view it. After I spoke with Doug, who had a copy of the film from Black Lodge Video, I ventured there to get their other copy. The film I got was in French, now my French isn't half bad so I figured, "what-the hell!" I get home, to the new little place, only to discover I can't find an independent DVD player! We are hooked-up wireless with everything and the DVD, stereo, I-Dock thing is only set to the new high-definition settings; and true to course, the only thing I know is that I can't operate it! No problem, I'll watch it on my computer....wrong, my computer will not play it because I do not have "real-world video." Well, a few days go by and I make arrangements to view it at a friend's. It just so happens that I'm going to a study group at the Central Library for another class that next Sunday and I'd forgotten that they have a huge video library, so I checked and yes...they had it with English sub-titles, needless to say, I was thrilled. Off I go to watch my video only to discover that I've seen this film! I saw this film on a giant screen one summer night in the parking lot of Studio on the Square. I wasn't impressed with it then, and I'm not anymore thrilled after seeing it a second time. It's a cult film, kind of reminds me of Rocky-Horror Picture Show. It's the kind of film that kids watch over and over again till they know all the words and dress like the characters. It's one redeeming quality is the music and spot-shots of historic Memphis. I am simply not artistic enough to find its true value.

Fine Whines Take Time

I hope this day finds everyone happy and healthy. I am certainly looking forward to our Beale Street Trek tonight. I need to back up a bit and apologize for not getting my hand around this blog sooner. My computer skills are pitiful. I am never signing out of this blog, too fearful I'll loose it!

My class project BUILDING A COMMUNITY PET WATCH COOPERATIVE is shaping up. I have been fortunate to have the help of other pet lovers. There is a babysitting cooperative is Midtown that has provided great guidance and the local churches have placed my "add" in their Sunday bulletins. We now live in the Cooper-Young area and they do have a Lost-pet, Found-pet service notification for the community residents who belong to the neighborhood association. I will be working along with them to develop this cooperative. It is my goal to create and provide a power point presentation that can be used as a demonstration tool not just for my neighborhood but for all neighborhoods who wish to try a cooperative.

I was saddened to learn that the Center for Neighborhoods had been shuttered due to budget cuts. It was this great place down on 7th street below Adams, it had everything neighborhood. This simply demonstrates how necessary each of us need to contribute to our place, our neighborhood, our community. I am having fun with this and look forward to sharing this with the class.

Family Ties That Bind and Gag

This is the title of a book by Erma Bombeck that takes a comedic look inside a "normal" family. I thought about this book Friday night while watching August: Osage County. The play was a tragicomedy based on a completely dysfunctional family. Talking to people during and after the play, it was obvious that there was a little bit of all of us in the characters onstage. Most everyone has skeletons in the closet, be it an alcoholic uncle, a reclusive cousin, or a borderline psychotic niece. It's an eye opener when you see these traits portrayed to an extreme. Erma Bombeck takes it to a laughable place describing toddlers throwing things in the toilet, sisters who have to do the one up thing, and husbands who vegetate in front of the TV for so long the family decorates him for Christmas. The play takes it to the other extreme with a drug addicted mother, alcoholic father, and daughters who do their best to escape the situtations at home. Watching the interaction between the characters was funny in a dark way. They spent a lot of time screaming profanity at each other, pulling hair, and bringing out the secrets in a public way. Although the story is a tragedy, the writing is absolutely hilarious. The script is well written, without being overdone and the actors were able to convey the emotions in an amazing manner. I consider myself lucky to have seen this production and will be taking my mom and sister-in-law to see it before it closes.

Our Blog

Hey, Class--

I'm really following our blog with interest.  Many of you -- and you know who you are -- are consistently writing some very interesting stuff.  But, uh. ....others aren't doing so well.  We're past the midterm now, and obviously some of us aren't going to get as strong as grades as others when I look at blog contributions.  But if your contributions have been scanty, now would be a good time to really begin contributing faithfully.  And for those of you who are really behind, keep in mind that I'll be impressed if I can see that you've maybe done some extra blogs to at least PARTIALLY make up for past lapses.

For those of you who HAVE lapses, think of cool stuff you can do:  whenever you see, do, experience anything new in Memphis, write about it.  New restaurant?  New cultural activity?  New observations?  This is a good place to share that.

I notice, too, that not many of us are responding to what your fellow students are saying.  Please do feel free do to so.

Doug

In Polite Company

This week’s venture was to the city council meeting at city hall in downtown Memphis. I am not going to retell every little thing that happened, because I don’t want to bore anyone. Instead, I will say what I found most interesting and what I liked about the experience. When we first walked through the building’s front doors it reminded me of what the 1950’s or 60’s would have been like minus the cigarette smoke; everything in City Hall’s lobby is square with sharp edges and made of marble, granite, and wood. When entering the room the meeting was held in, we walked down a sloped floor to black leather chairs.

There was a group of cheerleaders in front of us from the Memphis All-Stars cheering squad, they were the first to be introduced and I thought it was nice to see the children being recognized for their accomplishments. The cheerleaders won awards in different age divisions for hip hop dance, and their parents and the city council seemed very proud of them. They were asked to stand and received a mix of a standing and sitting ovation. I admit I did not stand up but did clap. The rest of the meeting was almost all business and unanimous affirmative votes except for the end which turned into a heated discussion over a matter of temporary employment by the city. The city was trying to turn some 900 plus jobs from temporary into permanent part-time employment. The item eventually passed. Basically, everything that the one gentleman was saying was all in vain because he failed to persuade anyone to vote “no” along with his lone vote.

Even though parts of the meeting seemed a little unplanned, I thought that it was handled professionally enough and I do find it important to go to the city council meetings. When I was more actively involved with my electrical job, I attended my union meetings which followed parliamentary procedure similar to the city council meeting. I am almost certain they followed Robert’s Rules of Order, which are the same rules used in most open meetings, whether they be public or private. I probably will not attend another meeting at city hall unless I am involved in an issue or have an issue to be resolved, but I do plan on attending my neighborhood meetings and possible running for office or board of directors once I become an established member of my community. Knowing my neighborhood and neighbors is a priority to me. It gives me an awareness of what current and future events are happening or going to take place in my area. It also allows me to voice my opinion in a legitimate forum; one thing I have always said is, do not complain about issues or policies if you did not vote for them whether they be private, local, or national.

Hiking and Art

On Saturday, we ventured onto the Old Forest Trail in Overton Park. The guide was very knowledgeable and she had some great stories about the trees, foliage and wildlife in the area. The hike was approximately 1.5 miles and was a very enjoyable walk. The group did not race down the paths and everyone seemed genuinely interested in the tour. I would like to return at the end of the month and maybe again in April to see how much the forest changes.
After the hike, we had a lovely brunch at the Brushmark in the Brook's Museum. We learned that there is a fancy french word for a small dill pickle. I had a wonderful corned beef hash and eggs that became the topic of a few photos (the presentation was pretty!) After brunch, we were able to explore three fabulous art exhibits. The first was (Extra)Ordinary: The Story of Documentary Photography and the American South, that dealt with the socioeconomic and cultural life in the South during the late 30's and early 40's. Some of the photos were heart wrenching and there was a wonderful snapshot of Front St. from right here in Memphis. The photos were taken by artists such as Dorthea Lange and Russell Lee and painted a very vivid picture of the South during this era.
The second exhibit was Deep Impressions: Willie Cole Works on Paper. Some of his art was absolutely breathtaking. He uses everyday items such as irons, high heeled shoes, and hair dryers to create wonderful works. One of the most intriguing pieces was a mosaic he did that represented a lace table cloth like the one's his grandmother used to iron. The way he is able to make these pieces come together was fascinating. I highly recommend this exhibit to art lovers.
The third and final exhibit was called Face the Lens: Art for Social Change. The students at local schools were given cameras and asked to photograph things in the area that need to be changed. Some of these photos are very emotional and the stories behind them are amazing. There are quite a few abandoned houses and litter photos. The 20 or so photos in the exhibit are well worth seeing and taking the time to read about.
I hope to take my husband and mom to the hike and the museum and be able to share this experience with them both.

When Nature Calls

Did you know there is an old forest in the middle of Memphis? I, for one, did not. Yesterday the inquiry class was told to go take a hike and we said, “sure!” The Old Forest tour happens only twice a month-every second Saturday and every last Sunday. I had a really nice time, the tour was fantastic, and the guide knew what she was talking about. I will be back next month for the tour when the flowers are in full bloom and the trees are creating a canopy with their leaves.

I lived in Midtown for a year within walking distance of the park and I never ventured into the forest. My reason for never going into the deep wooded area was fear; there was a lot of bad stuff going on in and around my neighborhood at the time and I did not like leaving my yard let alone venturing into Overton Park. I do not like stress, and Memphis stresses me out. I felt good in the company of a large group, but to venture into that part of the park alone without a trusty sidearm, I would have to be crazier than the crazies I am watching out for.

In my time living in Midtown, there had been a major homicide (which made national news) involving several adults and young children only two miles from my house, a drunk next-door neighbor shooting a Desert Eagle 45 at his friend at 2:00 AM, and numerous people coming to my house trying to get some easy money. These sorts of experiences may be some of the reasons that Forbes Magazine named Memphis the most dangerous city last October.

Do not take me wrong, Memphis is a wonderful place and I have grown to like it, but when given a first impression like mine it must create curiosity as to why I stayed. I did stay, but not in Midtown. I moved to Cordova three years ago and my wife and I love it. Our neighbors are great, the neighborhood is well lit, and one does not need to worry about walking at night. We also have a great place for hiking, bicycling, and many other outdoor adventures in nearby Shelby Farms. My wife and I enjoy taking our dog there. Sarah and I enjoy smelling the fresh air while Pepper enjoys smelling the fresh other stuff. There are outdoor spaces available to all Memphians, including the Wolf River, the Green Line, and all the public parks, so if you are bored and sick of sitting in the house try getting out and getting a little dirty.

My Inquiry Project Blog: Scene 23 Take 2

Due to some very strict rules I needed to delete my old blog page and start a new. This blog page is going to discuss my work as a volunteer in general. It will only discuss feelings I had during my time volunteering and how it affects me physically, and emotionally. This blog will include links to volunteer organization available in Memphis. My blog page is under construction, and I will finish it this week. Please take a look now and feel free to visit often and comment on my updates. Thank you.

http://mymemphisvolunteeringproject.blogspot.com/

The Paradox of Place

I have learned a lot about Memphis in Wanda Rushing's book. I will admit that I did find the reading a bit dry and some of the information was so intense I had to read it twice to understand where she was going with it. The book has made me more interested in the city and the history behind it. I am doing an honor's contract on the yellow fever epidemic that is leading me to Elmwood Cemetery. I plan on investigating more about the one day Civil War battle that happened here. I want to learn more about the city itself and the people who founded it.
The book has pushed to me to be more curious about Memphis. I want to find out how the city felt in the aftermath of the Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination and what propelled them forward. All in all, the book was interesting and taught me to look at Memphis in a different light. I also want to find out how to become a Boll Weevil...LOL.
I am a history buff and I enjoy learning about the Civil War era, so the sections of the book on this part of the city were especially intriguing. I know a lot about the Civil War in relation to the East Coast, but haven't spent much time studying this side of the states. I hope to get to Shiloh, Ft. Pillow, and Vicksburg this summer to tour the battlefields. I think this will give me a greater understanding of what happened on this side of the country during this era.
Reading this book gave me a greater insight into why Memphis is the way it is today. Some of it is good, some bad and some is that gray area in-between. This class has opened my eyes to different views of the city and it is neat to discuss the book in class and see the opinions that my classmates have about the city we all call home.

Applied Learning

In the movie Pee Wee’s Big Adventure,  there is a scene when Pee Wee has a meeting about his missing bicycle. Throughout the scene Pee Wee introduces fact after fact until someone finally speaks up, and tells Pee Wee that he has been going on for three hours and yet no one knows what the meeting is all about. The book Memphis and the Paradox of Place: Globalization in the American South by Wanda Rushing first reminded me of this scene because it contains so much information that I did not know what to do with it all or where Rushing was going with everything. Then one day it occurred to me that my mind was filled with the information contained in the book, as if gigabytes of data were instantaneously downloaded into my grey-matter hard drive. I am now a walking encyclopedia on many aspects of Memphis, from the history of Beale St. to the Kemet Jubilee and Carnival Memphis. I can now hold a conversation on local historical events or just understand what others are discussing.

This morning my wife, Sarah, and I were in line for the estate sale at the former home of Shelby Foote, published U.S. Civil War historian and resident of Midtown, and with over an hour to wait in line for the sale to commence we could not help but listen to the conversation going on in front of us. The small group was discussing local history, Foote and the Civil War, and Nathan Bedford Forrest. It was interesting to hear what these biased individuals had to say about Forrest, especially after I read what Rushing had written. I wanted to chime in and let them in on the facts, but I was outnumbered four to one, so I just stood and listened to the remarks they made. I listened to their excuses about why the statue should remain where it is, and how if the city decided to remove it, the one “southern gentleman” remarked how he would like it on his land along with the remains of Nathan and Mary Forrest. I think I made a mighty good choice in keeping my mouth shut. To pass the time, Sarah and I finished our waiting with a discussion on what I read in the final pages of Memphis and the Paradox of Place. We talked about Carnival Memphis and the Kemet Jubilee; how unique the festivals were, and how the Carnival Memphis balls are aimed at commerce locally, nationally, and internationally. Our conversation was put on hold when the doors to Foote’s home opened and the line moved inward. We went inside and enjoyed seeing where Foote spent his life and time writing. We bought some of his effects including some Civil War artifacts, a duck decoy, and I got myself a William Faulkner first edition of The Town. We finished our morning with breakfast at IHOP (not the one on Union) and our discussion on issues of racism, local politics, and Memphis’ future. Sarah enjoyed our conversations and remarked on how we need to talk about these sort of topics more often.

I must admit that this book was not appealing to me when I started reading it, but I will honestly say that now I believe that this must be one of the most informative books ever written on Memphis. It does not matter where I am or where I call home, Memphis and the Paradox of Place: Globalization in the American South will always be found there.

My Full Blown Honor's Week

As I pondered what to share on the blog this week, I took a look back at last week.

On Monday, I was supposed to start tutoring with the Academy Tutoring Project. I drove to MAHS and found out that the students were out of school for President's Day. I then returned home to wait for my appointment at the Memphis Family Shelter for my orientation there. I drove to the shelter and waited for approximately 20 minutes before we were informed that the trainer would not be available and would need to reschedule. I spent the day in and out of the car to go to canceled appointments. It was not fun.

Tuesday was the class trip to Stax and Sun Studios. I thoroughly enjoyed both of these. I am a museum buff, so the Stax Museum was of great interest to me. I read as much of the information as I could and learned a lot of things I did not previously know. I also got to see some of the instruments they recovered from the plane crash that killed Otis Redding. It was chilling to see the saxophone that belonged to one of the musicians lost in the crash. At Sun Studios, we had a good time imitating the scene from Mystery Train. The coolest part was that the guide knew what we were doing and did an impression of the female tour guide from the movie. We have some great pictures of Sun Studios with Emily and Doug at the microphones. There may even be some video of me and Lyndsey singing (until I can get those phones!)

Wednesday was a normal day and I was able to relax a little bit.

Thursday I attended the Volunteer Expo at Oak Court Mall to work on my semester project. I was able to kill two birds with one stone and have contact information for my Theater Honor's Project from Playhouse on the Square. The expo was interesting and I found a lot of volunteer opportunities in the area.

This week has been a fun filled exhausting week with a lot of information and learning around the Memphis area. I have enjoyed working on my project and participating in the Honors Inquiry outing.

My blog detailing my progress on my project is up and running and I invite you all to read and comment. Any feedback will be welcome and appreciated. You can visit my blog at: http://handsonmemphisproject.blogspot.com/
I look forward to seeing you there!

Evening out on the Town

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make all the trips planned on last Tuesday due to my job, however I was able to make it to the Sun Studio and Saigon Le Restuarant. I am so amazed of the knowledged that I gained from this experience. To be honest there's a lot of places that I do want to visit in Memphis but the Sun Studio would not have been one of them. Everyone that works at the Sun Studio actually plays some sort instrument, I learn that while talking to the tour guide before everyone arrived. There were 3 Rules for the tour:

NO Drinks

NO Children under 5

NO flash Photography or filming upstairs

BUT Laughter, Dancing, and A Rocking Good Time Are Allowed. (Erin and Lyndsey must have read the rules lol)
When we arrived to the actual studio everyone loosen up a little by singing along, dancing or by holding the mic that Elvis song from.
The restuarant was different and it was pretty good, and again I would have never went there on my own. One of the many things that I will get from this class is to get out and see what our city has to offer from museums, blues,rock n roll, the Mississippi River, Beale Street and many more.
I did visit the Stax Museum the next day with my kids and they absolutely loved it, I think they were more excited than I was. My kids love music and trying to get them out of there was like trying to take a bone from a dog. When we got to the Soul Train floor, they had me rolling they were doing the robot and all sort of dances it was hilarious.

Park Place

Yesterday was a day for trips to see Stax and Sun Studios, one of many trips we take with the honors inquiry class at Southwest Tennessee Community College. The day was beautiful, the sun was shining and the air was jacket-weather cool. Between trips to Stax and Sun, our class had a few minutes to glance at the Nathan Bedford Forrest statue and its surrounding park. Because of a conflicting schedule I did not make the Stax tour, I did however get to spend a little over an hour at Forrest Park before trekking half a block west to Sun Studios.

Travelling west on Union Avenue I caught my first glimpse of Forrest Park. Turning right onto S. Dunlap Street and driving the perimeter to the opposite side of the park and our parking destination on S. Manassas Street, I noticed the University of Tennessee Medical Center and its student and research facilities are located across the street from the park. The area looks like a fairly clean part of town, businesses are in operation, students and resident doctors are cutting through the park wearing hospital identifications and lab coats. A young man was using the parks walkways for jogging; another was leaning against the Forrest statue and reading a book, while another monetarily-challenged gentleman was taking an afternoon nap on a park bench.

After an awesome job parallel-parking, I emerged from the car and stepped across the park’s sidewalk boundary and into its overgrowth of weeds, grass, and wild onions. The bushes looked sickly and the trees were pruned poorly. As we closed in on the resting place of the remains of the old lieutenant general and his wife, I walked on unkempt grass and along a sidewalk that seemed to have aged as poorly as the rest of the park. The steps leading to the monument were cracked and chunked (larger than chipped) and the statue’s marble pedestal was lightly dissolved, like a sugar cube, from 107 years of harsh Memphis weather. The park features signs describing Forrest, history, and Forrest Park. These signs seemed to be the only thing maintained in the entirety of the area. Another set of signs in the park were for exercise and included a pull-up bar, parallel bars, and a weathered and splintered bench for stretching exercises.

With all the potential this park has, it makes me wonder what happened and why. Was the monument of Forrest the reason for this parks downfall? Forrest’s history is notably tainted with his KKK involvement. When I looked up at the statue and saw the Star Spangled Banner flying high, Yankee or not, I saw progress. I saw honor and not shame. Sure there is a monument of a racist monster in a park of a city with predominantly black citizens, but the flag of freedom flies higher than Forrest’s statue and free black men and women walk above the catacomb of a relic of the old South.

I see a beautiful park that has been neglected. This park should be cleaned up and used to its full potential. If not I think that it would make a great site for a new research facility for UT Medical. The building could be built around Forrest’s tomb. Perhaps it could be named Forrest Park UT Medical Research Center, not in honor of Forrest, but in honor of the beautiful park that was once there.

TCHC in Johnson City

We had a blast at the Honors Conference in Johnson City this past weekend. We arrived on Friday and attended the reception at the Carnegie Hotel. During dinner we sat with one of the professors from East Tennessee State University who used to live in Hollywood and has been on TV and in movies. His name is Pat Cronin and he is a Theater and Drama professor very involved with the Honors College at ETSU. Following the reception we attended A Midsummer Night's Dream by the ETSU Division of Theater and Dance. There were quite a few members of the ETSU Honors College of Fine and Performing Arts in the production. It was a modern adaptation of the play with some interesting aspects: scaffolding for the set, modern dress, and a rousing performance of the Macarena. All in all it was an enjoyable evening.
Saturday morning we got up and went to breakfast at the conference. We were given a brief outline of the day from the President of the Tennessee Collegiate Honors College, Rebecca Pyles, PhD. Following breakfast was the start of the presentation sessions. Helen and I both decided to take the first hour and practice for our own presentations. Helen presented at the 10am session and I followed at 11. Helen's presentation was on the Honor's Inquiry class and how it changed her perceptions and feelings about Memphis. Mine was on the composer and music of the "Quiet Man." We had saved it to her jump drive and the videos did not transfer as hoped, so about 3 minutes into my presentation, I had to adjust to no visual aids. I did manage to present the content of the work, but they missed the music examples. We then attended lunch and heard the keynote speaker, Dr. Paul E. Stanton, Jr., President of East Tennessee State University. He discussed the inception of the Honors College and why it is important to maintain and support Honors programs. His speech was followed by a performance by the "Big Cedar Ramblers" bluegrass band. They performed some very difficult pieces and it was fun to listen to these students.
After the conference itself ended, we went to an early dinner at the German restaurant, Freiberg's, that was recommended by the students at ETSU. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was very cool. The overhead lights were on what looked like antlers and there were little snippets of Germany all over. Saturday night after dinner, we met some students and a teacher from ETSU back at the Carnegie Hotel and they took us to the Carter Family Fold in the mountains of VA. This is a place started by A.P. Carter for old-time, bluegrass, and early country music. (A.P. Carter, Maybelle and Sara made up The Carter Family group and June Carter Cash is Maybelle's daughter.) Here we were treated to a concert by the "Town Branch Bluegrass Band." We enjoyed watching the older crowd get up and dance all night long. One lady even slow danced with her dog! At the intermission we were able to tour the cabin that A.P. was born in and the country store he opened. Aaron and I got to sit in a rocking chair that belonged to Johnny Cash. The store has been turned into a museum and had a lot of very interesting memorabilia from the Carter family.
The trip was a lot of fun and we met a lot of interesting Honors students from across Tennessee. Other than my technology failing me, I was pretty pleased with my presentation and very impressed by the others that I saw. I look forward to attending the one in Little Rock next month.

HIde Your Kids, Hide Your Wife, HIde Your Husbands Too

Memphis has find a way to do it again! Last week Memphis was announced the 6th most dangerous city by the U.S. News and World News. Do race play a part being the top dangerous cities? When taking a look at the danergous cities which are mostly Urban: St. Louis, Atlanta, Birmingham, AL, Orlando, FL, and Detroit, it would be safe to say sad but true. It really has more to do with culture than anything else.

Seventeen and Life to Go

I have moved around a lot, and I can say with all honesty that I regret the fact that I tried to fit in with others by changing my accent and the way I present myself. But I think that is not just a part of moving around, that is a part of growing up. I think the world around us molds us and shapes us, so are people truly unique? Take a moment to ponder that thought. Now think about the fact they maybe each person is unique in the sense that he has tried to fit in and changed many times in order to be accepted throughout his life and has become a hodgepodge of influences brought on by people, places, and experiences. Don Share writes about such an experience in his poem “At Seventeen” while away from his hometown of Memphis to study in New York City.

Share makes a strong statement at the end of his poem. While many years later, reflecting on his past he proclaims that the change he made as a younger man “was not worth the cost.” It does not make a difference if one is a stranger in a different town or in a different social setting, most people change the way they are seen on the outside to fit into their surroundings. If someone is rude to another because he is different, who needs to change? People should change for no one else but themselves.

Humans have evolved since the beginning of time, and individually should continue to develop smarter, healthier, kinder, and more cultured people. Most everyone should evaluate their choices and then ask themselves the question, which of these choices is going to benefit me in the long-run? If someone likes Metallica, instead of buying the bands tee and smoke cigarettes to look cool, learn guitar and be cool by playing guitar cool. People need to worry about what they think about themselves and not what others think. If these individuals want to worry what others are thinking, then they should consider the ones who are thinking about where their next meal is going to come from, or worrying whether their cancer will prove fatal. Whatever happened to the “Golden Rule?” The only way this world is going to come together is by everyone respecting each other.

In this world there are two kinds of people, there are leaders and there are followers. Leaders need to lead their own lives, and followers need to follow their dreams. Perhaps the best thing to do is to try and pursue both.

Tooting My Horn At "Mystery Train"

To me Mystery Train is a take-it-for-what-it-is-worth film. Amusing at times, artistically created, and, my personal favorite, not one of the cookie-cutter films that the world continues to make. Absalom called it out, he said it was like Pulp Fiction. Like Quentin Tarantino’s cult classic Mystery Train takes the story and fragments it. It is told in three different parts and all comes together in the end. A good use of the train and the song Blue Moon ties the time of each story piece together. It jolts the memory, and for an instant it takes one back to a previous scenario. This happens three times, as a matter of fact, when the song plays, when the train rolls by, and the gun fires in the earliness of the morning. Even though these all tie the film together in a time-frame, they each represent something of their own to the film, and perhaps to represent Memphis.

Blue Moon in the style of Elvis Presley being played from the 1950s art deco radios and the old truck radio gives a feeling of romance that Memphis holds, not only in the city but in the music that made the city, or should I say the city that made the music. The director does a good job of adding a beautiful song into what seemed to be three ugly stories set in a rough neighborhood. And through all that had happened in each setting the song brings ease and comfort to everyone, as if for a moment to take everyone’s burden away and let them know everything was going to be alright. As the song plays a train rolls through town and the engineer blows the whistle.

There has always been something about the sound of a train whistle that is mysterious. It pervasively fills the air. It can be heard from miles away, not clearly giving any clue as to where it is, unless of course one is familiar with the layout of the land and where the only railroad runs. But the thing that makes trains mysterious is the nostalgia of riding in passenger cars. Here in America, trains were used less and less when automobiles became more affordable, and a new era and style of transportation began with the baby boomers. Highways were being put in, new technology was at work, and as I see it America had reached its climactic point. Trains were a major means of transportation during the days of the world wars and immediately post World War II. I half expected to see the ghost of Elvis dressed in Army fatigues material in the hotel room. Though he is dressed in the fancy high collar flashy 1970s style “old bloated Elvis” suit, and ironically he was young and thin. The song and the train made me think that either the song and a train rolling by magically makes Elvis appear, or the song came on coincidentally and simultaneously as Elvis’ ghost hops off the “midnight express” and, as the hustler said in the Arcade Restaurant, Elvis was trying to find his way back to Graceland. On a personal note I thought the train plays a good role in tying the story together. Without the train, the emotional setting would be altered.

As for the gunshot in the morning, Erin Mullinax’s blog references to the Fisher King story and how its symbolism is tied into the story line. I’m not going to elaborate too deeply on the Fisher King, please read Erin’s entry entitled The Fisher King/Mystery Train. I did not know the legend of Fisher King, so it did not apply to me much during my viewing. The end starting with the actual gunshot scene was humorous to me. I thought the ending was bitter sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed the film.

Mystery Train

I have different views and angles that I will discuss about the "Mystery Train". I like how the movie told different stories of the nightlife of Memphis and they all concluded with the same ending except the last story which finished the story and movie. A train scene was shown in each story the first story "Far from Yokohama" started and ended at the train station. The second story "A Ghost"showed the Memphis Airport more than a train, but they did show the scene with the railroad track on the bridge down the street from the Arcade Hotel. "Lost in Space" ended the story being by a train track when the train was coming.

"Far from Yokohama"

A Japanese couple traveled to the United States and wanted to stop in Memphis to see Graceland (Mitsuko) and Sun Studio (Jun). The song Train, Train was playing as they travel to Memphis and listened to their walkmans. As there trip was cut short by 2 days by miscalculation on their part their adventure began.Jun, whom portrayed not to like Elvis wore his hair dressed similar to that of Elvis. Jun, was so cool in character that he didn't show facial emotions. Mitsuko, dressed 80's ish and wore a black jacket with Mister Baby on it. Upon arrival to the train station they both made comparison of their home to Memphis. Mitsuko, that it was just beautiful and looked antique, Jun thought it just looked to modern. In this story I picked up on the wasteline which was the car dump and Charlie with a fishing pole outside of his barbershop (Fisher King). As they called it quits for a night they find the Arcade Hotel. While lodging there Mitsuko dicovered how the Middle Eastern Preist, Budda, Madonna and the Statue of Liberty all looked like Elvis or had some sort of connection. Mitsuko last attempt to make Jun looks happy she puts on red lipstick and kiss him which made him look like a clown instead of happy. Mitsuko also made a statement that caught my attention when Jun was telling her to wake up she said"When you dead you will never get to sleep again" but must people say "I'll sleep when I am dead. While visiting the Sun Studio, the tour guide was a fast southern city talker.

"A Ghost"

A Italian lady who just lost her husband was trying to get him back home but their flight was delayed so she had to spend the night in Memphis. One thing that I notice when she was on the phone was her armpit hair, OMG is that a culture thing, not to shave your arms? Just asking.

As her journey began she was hit with every aspect of Memphis life downtown from being hustled to buy things she didn't need, pickup lines, being harrassed, and followed. Luisa is a kind-hearted person, she gave the man that conned her money to leave her alone (money is all he wanted) and the store clerk who kept trying to sell her things she didn't need or want and brought them anyway, shecompliments the bellman on his hat (which his boss made fun of) and she also was kind enough to slit a room with a total stranger. From all the excitement she had that day she saw the ghost of Elvis. The lady from New Jersey talks too much, who was feeing from her boyfriend.

"Lost in Space"

Englishman, Johnny gets drunk at a nightbar after losing his job, shots a store owner and flee to keep from getting caught. In this story is shows the prejudice in Memphis when the store owner made the comment "Niggas got to watch them". One of the funny parts I notice when they were in the truck drinking after each other they all wiped the top of the bottom off before drinking except Will. Upon arrival to the hotel Charlie also is drunk and dropped the bottle of liquior and the hotel clerk that Charlie that he was cursed which gave an indication that something was about to happen to Charlie. Now, I know why there's broken glass all in the streets downtown because that's where the bellman threw the broken glass he swept up (just kidding). When they got to the room Charlie also broke the light. Charlie also learns that Johnny isn't his brother and gets upset because he was drugged into this mess. Johnny tries to commit suicide over the situation with losing his job and girlfriend, when Charlie tries to stop him, he gets shot in the leg.

A funny part in this story which is normal true when own of the guys asked why is there a picture of Elvis hanging up if black people runs it, Will told him people worked there but didn't owned it. Would a white person work in that neigborhood? Not enough the owner would. These 3 men stuck together to get out of a crime that one committed and eventually gets away when they thought the police was after them.

Similiarities in all stories were the Arcade hotel, in the 1st and 2nd story one of the characters stands and looks out the window, the same music is playing because it's all happening at the same time. Elvis is on the wall in every room. All these represent people in Memphis and people who visit Memphis even if it's tourist from other countries to visit landmarks, someone who is just passing through to the people that lives their everyday lives here.