On Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:02:27 GMT, "Michael \"Dog3\""
> wrote:

>What a charming essay. I very much enjoyed and thank you for sharing.
>It comes at a good time for me, having spent the past week dealing with
>"Southerners" from Alabama.

Michael, I'm from Alabama and I'm sad that you met with some
unpleasant people. I'm so proud of my home state and I want everyone
to feel welcomed by Alabama and her people.

Edna Lewis' essay was very moving. I grew up in a very rural
environment in Appalachian Alabama. This part of the essay was
lovely:

"Living in a rural setting is inspiring: Birds, the quiet, flowers,
trees, gardens, fields, music, love, sunshine, rain, and the smells of
the earth all play a part in the world of creativity."

Southern food and cooking has so much to do with family, history,
sharing, and connections to the land.

Tara