Classic Kathleen Givens, first published on 12/07/97
I couldn’t do it. Couldn’t put a foot on Jane Austen’s grave in Winchester Cathedral. I paid my homage to one of The Whine Sisters’ favorite writers with a simple donation to the Cathedral. I took pictures of her grave and the plaque on the wall there, but I couldn’t just walk over her gravestone, even though millions of other visitors have. Check out the plaque and gravestone. No mention of her writing. Now isn’t that interesting? Wouldn’t you think someone in the family might have thought it important enough for a comment? Hmmmm . . .
Going to see Jane was a pilgrimage for me, but in a recent conversation with a friend, she said that she had no desire to visit Jane, even though she enjoys Jane’s book very much. Her pilgrimage, she confessed, would be to the Culinary Institute of America. She said one of her dreams was to take a class there. So now, after our talk, she’s going to try to do just that, either in NY, or at their campus in Napa Valley. So . . . . where would your pilgrimage take you?
Sherri adds: Travel, not always a bargain but definitely a rewarding expenditure. Seeing the world: highly recommended. Kath was well-traveled, and I love that she got to see so many incredible places. And I still think a Whine Sisters pilgrimage would be so fun! Would you walk on Jane?
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I would not walk on Jane. I feel very strange walking on grave markers anywhere, so it’s not personal to Jane.
I think my pilgrimage would be the pyramids I have absolutely no desire to see Egypt, but I would love to see the pyramids.
I wouldn’t be able to walk on Jane’s grave. It just seems disrespectful.
My pilgrimage is to NY to see the US Open–front row seats would be ideal. Dream match would be between Federer and Nadal.
Would eventually like to hit all four of the tennis Grand Slam events–US Open, Australia, French, and Wimbledon.
Oh that sounds like great fun! I’d like to see the Yankees play in at least three other parks. Fenway, Camden Yards and somewhere else…maybe Toronto?
Well, my pilgramage such as it were — would be to Greece. As most of you know I’m a devoted fan of Mary Stewart’s books and one of the places she often used as a setting was Greece. And since she’s such a descriptive writer, I’ve often dreamed of seeing it myself. So Greece is still on my Bucket List. But I do love the American Culinary Institute and have taken two (for public consumption) classes there. Indian Cooking and French Cooking. Great fun!
I would not walk on Jane.
I would swim up to the swim up bar and by Julia a drink.
My pilgrimage – Scotland/Wales
That would be “buy”. I do know how to spell. Blame it on the full moon.
To a swim-up bar.
meet you there!
me too!