I haven’t told you yet about my time in France or North Yorkshire and a bit in Scotland, but I’ll get back to that. This month, I want to tell you about my first residency week at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. First of all, it’s gorgeous.

The Newport MFA in Creative Writing appealed to me when I first heard about it from Ann Hood at the San Miguel Writers Conference, but when I read about the mission of the university to seek wisdom, universal justice, and a world that is harmonious and merciful, I was sold. It’s just a bonus that some of the buildings look like French châteaux.

Ochre Court was donated  in 1947 to the Sisters of Mercy to start Salve Regina. Now there are seven contiguous Gilded Age estates that make up the campus, so even walking upstairs to the bursar’s office is a treat.

Here’s the entrance to the main admin building.

And here’s what’s right behind it.

The Breakers, the Vanderbilts’ summer “cottage,” is next door and even more posh, of course. It was like a spa treatment, except soaking in beauty instead of mud (or whatever–I wouldn’t know), but that’s not even the best thing about the week.

The really glorious things were the welcome I received from the professors and the other students and all I learned in just the first week. I was originally a bit sheepish about being a grad student as a retiree, but there are people of all ages in the program. Even if there hadn’t been, it feels right. So I’m embracing it. Yes, I have a student ID. Yes, I bought the swag: a hat, a quarter-zip, a tote bag (then we were given another specific to the Newport MFA). I even bought a window cling-sticker for my car. Why not? I’m  proud of myself for doing this.

Praying for you bravery to chase a dream that maybe feels like a bit of a reach. I say keep reaching.

Grace and peace, as always!