On occasion there are events in one's life that are life-changing. If you're really lucky, you know it when it's happening. That's what happened to me this past weekend at the Mountain Heritage Festival held on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN.  To make it even more special, I had a writer friend there to share it with- my Quillbilly friend, Nansy. 

We were treated to insightful teaching by Darnell Arnoult. Inspired by the drama of Barbara Bates-Smith in her one-woman dramatic interpretation of On Agate Hill. Enthralled by the stories and mountain singing of Sheila Kay Adams. For me, I was humbled by the simple blending of voices by the Johnson Sisters. All this, entertwined by the love of the written word. Each writer, poet, singer in attendance was encouraged to notice the people that live around them and the surrounding geography and idiosyncracies of the culture. Every holler, valley, glen, and bend in the creek means something to someone. There's a story there...it's our job as a writer to seek it out. To tell the story with the right words.

Last, I was reminded of the special place I have been privileged to grow up in. The campus at LMU was beautiful. Gorgeous, towering trees...oak, magnolia, tulip popular, locust, and many I'm embarrassed to say, I couldn't identify. I'm going to work on that!