Fulfilling a Bucket List Wish for Karen

Karen, Dodi, Kathy, Marty, Linda

The authors of Sophia's Table: Women's Wisdom in Five Voices fulfilled one of Karen's bucket list wishes. She wanted to celebrate her birthday with special friends by spending a weekend in Berea, Kentucky. Here we are after Karen's birthday dinner in the historic Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant, our home for the weekend. 

Boone Tavern, a LEED Gold Certified Green Hotel, is intricately connected to Berea College, founded in 1855 as the first interracial and coeducational college in the South. Berea charges no tuition and admits only academically promising students, primarily from Appalachia, who have limited economic resources. However, student do come from all over the USA and from more than 60 countries representing a rich diversity of colors, cultures, and faiths. About one in three students represents an ethnic minority.

In an effort to educate the whole person, student labor is a central part of the environment at Berea. Sharing in work promotes community and prepares students for the workplace as they provide service to the College and broader community. They are expected to celebrate work well done, exhibiting the Christian values of human compassion, dignity, and equality. The College has an inclusive Christian character, expressed in its motto, ”God has made of one blood all peoples of the Earth.”  

That was certainly our experience as we were served by students at the desk and in the dining room at Boone Tavern. Friday evening, we approached a server in the dining room. "We'd like to have desert on the porch. Is that possible?"

Valerie responded, "We can make that happen for you."

Valerie, a delightful young woman, recently graduated with a major in psychology. She responded to our curiosity about her. "I wasn't sure I'd meet their qualifications, but my mother encouraged me to apply anyway." Then she added with a chuckle, "When I got my acceptance letter, my mom said it was the first time she was glad to be poor." 

We inquired about the student body, unaware that students came from outside Kentucky. "Oh, students come from all over the world. In fact, I met my husband here and he's from Afghanistan."

One member of our group could not enjoy desert with the rest of us on the stately white columned porch. She has a gluten intolerance. And so, Valerie talked with the Chef and when we celebrated Karen's birthday the next evening in the dining room, there were gluten-free chocolate tortes just for our party.

Berea College is home to a student crafts program committed to preserving traditional Appalachian arts. The town grew around the college. Berea is home to a thriving population of potters, weavers, instrument makers, furniture artisans, jewelry designers, glass workers, painters, sculptors, and musicians. The weather was perfect for our visit, so we greatly enjoyed visiting the many shops that are part of the charm of Berea.

The college also has a longstanding tradition of diversity, social justice, environmental responsibility, and community service. Both the college and the town are committed to the practice of sustainability. Several of the students choose to live "off-the-grid" in the school's Eco-Village, community artists have "adopted" rain barrels to raise conservation awareness, and the town itself has committed to a strategic plan to promote sustainable eco-tourism.

Karen beamed the whole weekend as we all enjoyed helping her celebrate another milestone in her life in this unique locale. Only three hours from Dayton, we'd all recommend this historic town and college as a great get away destination. 

Ponderings:
What's on your bucket list?
How do you honor your unique spirit on your birthday?

A safari in Africa is on my bucket list. I'd love to see the majesty of wild animals in their native habitat while they are still there. I've been hearing many reports about people, including Prince William, who are devoting their lives to protecting these magnificent creatures. I'm grateful for their efforts.

"God danced the day you were born!"
Andrew Lawrence

Sophia's Table Book Signing

Tonight was a big night for the authors of Sophia's Table: Women's Wisdom in Five Voices. We held a book signing at Kettering Library and at least fifty and maybe more of our supporters came to honor us.

We each shared how we got involved in Karen's contemplative writing group, what the group came to mean to us, and how Sophia's Table emerged as a collaboration among us. Then we each read a couple of pieces from our part of the book. 

What a thrill it was to sign books as published authors.  

We want to thank all those who came and helped make this such a special event. We ended our evening celebrating with our guests. 

Karen, Marty, Kathy, Linda, & Dodi