Well, time gets away from you when you're supposed to be keeping up with a blog. I think part of the problem that took me away from the blog for the last 10 days was that I was trying to figure how to embed a video into the blog. We'll, I'll get back to that. Aha, just as I was posting this I figured out how to add the video bar--scroll down to the bottom of the page for True Grit videos!
In the meantime, I think it's time to remind everyone (is there an everyone? is anyone reading the blog?) of exactly where we are:
1. Let me remind everyone that we are not "officially" reading True Grit until next semester. That is, the students in ENGL 1213 will be reading it next semester. The rest of us may, of course, go ahead and read the novel now and reread it in the Spring or just work from memory.
2. There will be an opening event of some sort to launch "the Spring of True Grit" but no concrete plans have been made. Still, there will be an opening event in January or early February with an open invitation to faculty, students, and the community. This might happen on campus, or we could do something down at the National Park. No concrete plans yet.
3. One idea I've had came from talking to a delightful woman who lives at the Methodist Home. We really should have students and older folks read and discuss together--perhaps even have students read aloud to the older folks who might have a problem reading the print. As far as reading groups, there will be at least one official reading group in the college (maybe more) that anyone can join. I'd like to see mixed groups as much as possible, though. Wouldn't it be nice to see faculty, staff, students, administrators, and people from the community discussing the book together? I believe that Lifelong Learning is planning a reading group. The library needs to be contacted, too.
4. Someone also suggested that the group that does gun-slinger reenactments could be involved somehow--maybe reenact the trial or something. This might be good for the closing event.
5. In fact, I hope that there can be a big closing event--a celebration of sorts--where students could exhibit the projects that they've done in conjunction with the book (speeches, papers, posters, artwork, dramatic enactments, etc.)
The main thing is that YOU, yes YOU, should make this stuff happen. Don't wait for me to do it. Get faculty in other disciplines involved. Talk to the community. At the very least post your ideas as responses to the blog--and by all means keep reading the blog. Help make this happen; it's up to you!
By the way, the daffodil picture is the True Grit daffodil. Yes, there's a whole industry grown up around the phrase. I've found True Grit boats, wine, a kennel, several restaurants and saloons, a tire store, True Grit Jeans, and lots of other stuff.
Keep on reading, Pilgrim.
