A Conversation with Elizabeth
1998
Adventures

From:          Elizabeth  
To:            LMixson@PEC.com
Sent:          Monday, March 30, 1998 2:47 PM
Subject:       Adventures
 
When I was out walking this weekend I thought that I had named the cave incorrectly in Gainesville, but from Wilson's I went to Picket's.  I think Warren's is correct.  Our trip was foolhardy in retrospect.  The truth is we actually got semi-trapped in the cave.  Going in was easy, which was going down a sheer drop on a rope, using the sides of the wall.  However, when we went to leave, I believe it was one of the other women who came along who realized she could not get out.  I don't know the proper names for it, but we didn't have the equipment that allows you to climb up a rope.  To do it, we would have had to haul ourselves up with our own strength.  Fortunately, as we were leaving a caving club was arriving and they facilitated our ignoble exit/rescue.  From now on I stick to the commercial caves. We have some very near here which I have yet to visit though. I'm glad your trip went well, however, and I am sure you were "prepared" or is it the girlscouts who foster that motto.  
 
This weekend I was half way listening to NPR when I realized they were interviewing visitors who had gone down to look at the cherry blossoms.  Many persons said they needed a day or two more to be in full bloom, but then the reporter said the last day or two of 85 degree weather took care of that.  The azaleas here are blooming profusely, hardly showing any damage from the fairly recent frost that wiped out the early flowers. And, the weather is "terrible" in that it is suffocating.  Right now it will still get cool in late evening, but later on even that will go. 
 
Again, this morning I was listening to NPR and the discussion was about the Escher exhibit in Washington.  I wonder if you heard it.  Apparently, for the longest time, Escher prints were sold very cheaply and the museum had to virtually "push" them on people.  Now though, prints which were 25 are 6000. 
 
I am on Spring Break from school, but working.  The public schools are also out this week, so many Montgomerians have left as well (GOOD).  There was about a 75% reduction in Boulevard 7:45 a.m. traffic.  I feel sort of "split" however.  I would like to be resting from school, but have to work and be here, as I am not yet eligible for vacation until the end of April.  The library is not very busy though and I have had NO calls. 
 
X-files last night was marginal.  I had spent some time scanning the cable guides for any good movies which might be coming on this week, since I will be home evenings.  Of course, there were few (Murphy's law or some variant).  I had previously decided I would NOT watch Bill Moyer's three night PBS special on addiction, but would probably tape it, but then decided, "Oh Well.  You actually have time to watch it if you want, so do it."  I chose to and am really glad I did.  It was a balance between personal stories of addiction, all I thought well spoken, and the "science" which is being discovered about addiction, which I really enjoyed.  85% of people who go through rehab or recovery relapse.  That is a startling figure, but I could fully understand that after listening to the scientific explanations for addiction.  The term used was the "hijacked" brain.  I won't go on and on, because you might have watched it yourself, but I thought the program was quite good. 
 
I did go out this weekend and get some six packs of impatiens and salvia for my porch.  Also, I got some cilantro, an herb I really like, but I am not certain it will grow in the partial light.  So far, impatiens and salvia seem to do best.  The hummingbirds really like the latter.
 
I recall you mentioned in an earlier letter that eventually you wanted to fix up your "old house."  What house was/is that?  I thought you might mean that house in Micanope (that land is probably worth a fortune now, because as I recall your Aunt owned all that pasture too, which she leased or rented). 
 
It is fairly easy to own a home here in Montgomery, especially because of the demographic shifts.  From time to time I think about getting a townhome, of which there are some nice ones here, which would run 70-90,000.  However, with law school, and retirement I can't afford anymore budget allottments.  I'm not dis-satisfied with my apt. except in one or two salient areas (I don't have a washer/dryer,and I don't have a garden.  The first is very annoying and the second leaves me yearning for something more.  Tuscaloosa started "community gardens" at one of the parks.  For 25.00 you could rent a plot of land and "garden."  It was amazing to see what people would do.  Also, many gardens would produce so much people would abandon the produce, and leave it for the taking.  My father always had a backyard vegetable garden, or later his many fruit trees.  He genuinely had a green thumb, but I did not inherit it. 
 
This is going to be an awful slow day.  I've looked at the law school curriculum and the best thing for me to do this summer would be to go back up to three courses, otherwise, I won't get prerequisites in to take other courses later.  That's another big chunk of money, and impresses on me even more strongly that I've somehow got to come to grips with my apt. disorganization and time scheduling for exercise, etc. BEFORE school begins again.  But now I'm not through finals yet.
Take care, Elizabeth.  

Be Prepared