It’s Like Grown Up Girls Boarding School

Yesterday when I was at cocktails before dinner I was chatting with a group of my students. I can’t remember exactly how we got on the subject, but I found out that two of the women had gone to Miss Porters and they told me that another woman In the class, Janet had gone to Ethel Walkers. I promised them no demerits for going to Porter’s my school’s rival.

So in class this morning I asked Janet if she had gone to Walkers and she had, graduating 11 years before me. She told me Sigourney Weaver had been in the class ahead of her. Janet was already a superior mah Jongg player, as a Walker’s girl.

After classes today two of my students invited me to have dinner with them and one of their husband tonight. People are so nice here about inviting me to eat with them.

As we were getting to know each other I discovered that they both had gone to Chatham Hall together. Trina had also been on the board of trustees there when they hired my friend Gary Fountain to be their head of school.

Trina and her husband Jay had lived in Knoxville, and are friends with my aunt Edie’s best friend, and my friend Townes. Townes and Edie were supposed to be here this week, but had to miss. I wish they had gotten to come and spend the week with me, but we will have to do it next year.

The men in the classes, and there are men, are really good sports, because at least this week, the classes are like a big girls boarding school event. If you went to a girls school you would understand what that is like. If you didn’t I can’t really explain it to you. Just know that everyone is connected somehow and we are having lots of fun, everyone wants to win, but is still really happy for the person who actually does win.