Richmond

I'm exploring the capital of the Confederacy. The Poe Museum was closed as was Sheba, the Ethiopian restaurant. Alas, it was Monday. But, I happened upon Cap'n Buzzy's, an independent coffee shop. I'm staying with my sister on Tobacco Row in her sweet loft apartment: insanely tall ceiling, huge windows, elevated bedroom, brick wall, wood floors. We went to the Cake concert at the National last night. I had a lamb burger at Gibson's. I didn't sleep well. So, I drank a pot of coffee when I got up at 8:30. I'm quite taken with Shockoe Bottom. It's charming. And, I'm saying that as a person who rolls her eyes when people use "charming" as an euphemism. But, it fits the quirky Federalist houses and churches converted into "lovely condos" and cobblestone streets.

This city is chock full of quirky people. This place is a budding novelist's playground. Damn, her work is done just driving around this place. The bumper stickers, the fashion, the architecture... the trees. This city is not only full of personalities but has a distinct one itself. Perhaps that's the necessary outcome of a gigantic monument of Robert E. Lee on Traveler complete with a round-a-bout. This city is thoroughly Southern. Southerners actually outnumber the carpetbaggers here unlike Charlotte.

I'm ashamed to say that this is the first time I've been to the Commonwealth's capital. I really like it. I think I may be a city dweller at heart. But, just last week, I was thoroughly ensconced in the rural life-- about two miles from an Amish settlement.

I'm dreading, DREADING, starting back to school. I like vacation when I have a paycheck.