Longest Day Yet

   I just got locked out of my bedroom because the junebugs are going crazy, and there was one in my sitting room as I started to write my post and I had shut the bedroom door so it wouldn't find its way in there and I shut the door, forgetting that I hadn't turned the latch thing horizontally.  Pardon the run-on sentence, but that's how I feel right now...going and going and going and going!  I went upstairs to Julie and Patti's room (both from MD) and called for a key from their room.  And the guy rode over promptly on his CW bicycle, which is the transportation between the inn and the colonial houses, and let me in.  Now I'm all set!
   Today I ran my usual 2 1/2 miles, this time over to and around the William and Mary campus.  Very beautiful area!  I'm going to go there on my next run too, which won't be tomorrow because I need to finish my homework assignment, which is due tomorrow before dinner.
  We met at 7:15 a.m. at the Brickhouse Tavern, where Robin and a couple of other teachers are staying, and then walked over to Bruton Heights School for breakfast.  Panera assortment.  At this point in our comfort level with each other, we're pretty wired right from the start, so even breakfast can be loud and animated.  I love it!
   Then we walked to Mr. Powell's house (he's middling sort, or class) and learned how to set a table and had other lessons in and around his house.  Everyone loved the animals in back:  bantam chickens, a rare breed of pigeons called "giant runts," which are essentially pigeons on steroids, and oxen.  On the right below are the oxen--we all wanted to pet them but were told we couldn't.  :(

Darrell with Dan and Dick

  One of the highlights for me was learning some of the outdoor games.  We had a hoop-and-stick relay race among three pairs.

Here I am in action

Kristen (IA) and I are the champs!!

  
















   Then volunteers could try a game called trapball, which, according to our guide, is still played in England.  Ian??  Below you'll see me about to hit a small canvas ball after I've whacked it airborne from the "trap."

   Then we listened to one of the interpreters portray an enslaved woman.  She was a young William and Mary grad (theater major) and we were her first audience for this particular character, Aggie.  It was such an incredible, moving performance.  So very real.  She took our questions in character and out of character, as all the actors do, and she had so many important things to say.  Here is "Aggie":

 

   I'm going to sum up the rest of the day quickly because I'm starting to crash.  It's 10:42 p.m. and I can barely keep my eyes open.  Next we had sandwiches at a little outdoor patio somewhere (we all loved that salad was spelled sallat- someone googled it and it shows up as being some type of helmet!), then we took a bus to a faux plantation and learned all about tobacco farming.  Another interpreter told us about slave trade and how slaves were treated.  It was really interesting.

   Next we went to the Governor's and talked about the gentry.  Another interpreter was Lady Dunmore(sp??) and she showed us around the palace, inside and out.  She was great too!  They're all fantastic--have you figured it out yet???!  My favorite line from Lady Dunmore is her response to someone who asked, "Can I take your picture?"  She replied, "I'm sorry, I have no picture to give you but you may sketch me."  And she warned us not to sketch anything while on the landing because we might fall.  Loved it!

   Next we went to Christiana Campbell's Tavern for dinner.  Some of us walked; others rode the bus.  The food was great!  We were all upstairs in one big room- it was just as fun as last night's dinner!  Then we met back at Brickhouse Tavern for an application session and to work on our homework, which most people still haven't finished.  There's no time!  (Have you figured that out yet????!)  And after that we went to an African-American storytelling show at a little wooden outdoor stage.  I enjoyed that but did not like sitting on those benches again.  So the day ended around 9:45 p.m.

   Tomorrow we have an easier day, which will be nice.  Someone mentioned that the high school teachers had a two-hour break yesterday and we groaned.  Being with and getting to know these teachers is really a rewarding experience- it's like summer camp for adults.  I love how there are just the right number of us- not too many where it would be overwhelming and not too few where some might get left out.  The way it's all orchestrated and the way everyone drifts in and out of different groups is pretty incredible.  You might sit with one group of people for one meal and another group for another.  There are some teachers who actually work together so they tend to gravitate toward each other, but it's not always the case.  

   I'll close with a photo of Robin (remember, she's the peer facilitator) (CA) and Allie (MA), who both absolutely love George Washington.  They're doing heart signs to show their love for him.  Crazy girls!