Getting Lit in Ashland

Ashland is a tourist destination for rich old white people, especially for women. Do you have a problem with that? Should we all be home boasting about grandkids and complaining about ailments? What happens to Humanities Majors when they get old? If they’re fortunate enough to have the physical and financial resources to travel, they’d go to Ashland.

You will not be surprised to learn that I am frequently asked for directions here. Lost older women: Where is the theater? Where are the restrooms? Where can I pay for my parking? Where is the Dairy Queen? Where can I hike around here? I answered them all. So I look like someone who enjoys plays, has a pea-sized bladder (also pee- sized), pays at the kiosk for parking, eats ice cream, and hikes. No one asked me: who did your amazing hair? Or, where did you get those fabulous kicks?

We are staying again at Lithia Springs Resort north of Ashland. I like the four acres of organic flower gardens and the pool. In Ashland serviceable 1970’s architecture is christened with whimsical Shakespearean or English names. The self storage lot is called “As U Store It.” a low-slung mid-century modern is ahistorically called “Windsor Arms.”

But we are bathed in country luxury. The garden designer, Jan, is still here after twenty years. I enjoy her artistic work designing floral arrangements all over the hotel. She grows for the shape, texture, color of plants. We talked horticulture and outdoor education. She is almost, almost retired:

We’ve seen one good play, “Revenge Song” by Qi Nguyen, and found one good restaurant, Arbor House in Talent, owned by chef Leah, and one very good public library.

But it’s moments like these that amuse my readers: