Friends and Cars

My dear and faithful fans,

If you read my previous entry, you'll know why it has been so long since I've put pen to paper (paws to keyboard). Yes, I was truly shocked that my pal Santa (my best pal, or so I thought) treated me dismissively (if not snubbed me altogether). However, we've passed the turning point, Santa has another chance to demonstrate his devotion, 5 months (and counting).

So, on to other matters.

Driving lessons were on my summer agenda. After years of total dependency in this car-dominated society, Papa agreed to teach me how to drive. And how absurdly simple it turned out to be; simply point and go.

Papa has promised to buy me a car of my very own! I've selected a Mini Cooper, the smallest size, preferably hunter green. And unlike Santa (pal that he has heretofore always been), I will get my car very shortly indeed-- certainly before University of Georgia--Athens classes start.

I can't say that Fall is in the air. To the contrary, hot and humid has been the story of the last 4 weeks and promises to by the sequel playing out over the next 4 weeks (and beyond?). But the start of university classes holds the promise of new comrades on the journey of knowledge pursuit. Who knows where that journey will lead. Please return soon.

As always, with gratitude for your readership. Please feel free to send your comments or questions. I promise to answer them all.

Your friend, Mercury Murphy Roushanzamir

Secret Garden

There's an old street, Milledge Avenue, that leads to Athens' 5Points. It's studded with classic southern mansions and older brick homes, most but not all, now housing the sororities and fraternities of UGA undergraduate students. One of these spectacular brick houses appeared to be unoccupied. Original wavey, handblown (?) glass covered the windows, its heavy shutters would keep out the highest winds.

Next door? A secret garden. Bricked in except from the sides, Maman was reluctant to tresspass. Thankfully, one spring morning, I persuaded her.

We may have been among the final visitors for soon, heavy construction implements were rolled in & the secret garden was razed. Now there stands a tasteful but nonetheless brand spanking new mud-brick house, home to many college boys and with a spacious parking lot for their SUVs, Jeeps, and sporty BMWs.

The secret garden was dark and cool, almost magical in its offerings of pretty plants,  mossy rocks, winding pathways and near silence. What a refuge, right off Milledge Avenue, what Maman refers to as the "noisy street," Athens' central north-south through-way. And finally, we stumbled across a small marble seat, placed as if for us only. An oasis for us alone.

The brick house still stands but it seems to be an administrative structure, a house mother of sorts for the brand new frat house. The boys hire a service to keep up their lawn and landscaping, their cars are hidden from view and it's all a nice bit of urban planning.

But my ever lasting thanks to Maman for permitting me to survey the secret garden, now only a memory. In the photo above, you can see the pathway into our very own secret garden, my back yard.

Mercury attends university

Friends and Fans, you may remember that I attended dog prep school some years ago. After a gap year (or two) I commited my time & energies to returning to school. I have chosen the University of Georgia-Athens and there I was welcomed with open arms as a University Fellow. University Fellows (and sisters?) are the creme de la creme of the student body. Seminar-size classes, visits from the famous and the infamous among American, European, Middle Eastern, African and Asian scholars, and trips abroad each year describe the arc of our educational experiences.

This term my courses are: film history, social psychology: dogs & man, European Intellectual history: mid to late 20th century, and medieval philosophy (part I). I hope to complete a major in modern European history with a concentration on British & French history.

I bought many books and have located others on the internet. My computer skills have certainly come in handy since so much of our coursework & research exploits the resources of the world wide web. (I must admit that the www has its distractions: youtube, blogging (!), social networking, to name only 3, etc.)

I have encountered a cadre of like-minded and like-aged students (broadening my circle away from the strictly home life) with whom I share after hours merriment. Perhaps I'll keep the specifics under wraps.

Finally I must thank Maman et Papa for funding my (re)entry into scholarship as well as the State of Georgia's Hope Scholarship and the University Fellows program.

Check back for more details & stories of my higher educational career.