The JJ's experience and a delightful professor.

Now I know that many of my close friends often hear me say "I'm going to JJ's". Most know where it is, some have experienced JJ's, and others can only wonder what magical place JJ's is. Yes, I said magical...and you think I'm exaggerating? Okay, I am. This summer I'm at JJ's approx. 2-3 hrs., 3-4 days a week ( some weeks more than others). Each time I'm here it is an experience. This is for several reasons :

1. I'm usually accompanied by a cherished friend

2. I am more often than not, running into some awesome individual whom I don't see enough of

3. Classical music is playing from 8a.m. - 3p.m. ( so I feel artistic and intellectual at the same time?)

4. The aroma of various coffees being brewed, teas being served, mixed with the delicious fragrance of freshly baked goodies can make you want to curl into a giant muffin and sleep ( don't judge that last statement, you know you've thought of it).

5. On rainy days, like today, there are few other places I'd like to be.

Favorite JJ experience of the week :

Yesterday I ran into one of my top 3 undergraduate Vanderbilt professors, Prof. Holly Tucker. She teaches French and History of Medicine courses within the interdisciplinary major of Medicine, Health, and Society. I've taken a lot of courses at Vandy ( given I'm also a graduate student there) and Professor Tucker is still easily one of my favorite professors. Her zeal for teaching History of Medicine ( mostly centered around the European culture and it's ever changing perspective on health, sickness, spirituality etc...). I vividly remember her strolling into class rosy cheeked as she had just rode her bike to class, then saying : "alright class we're going to discuss fairy tales and how that relates to childbirth in early modern French society". If anything, I knew this class would be interesting!

One of my favorite presentations ever was of a barely known Medieval french healer who was brought to trial for practicing medicine without the then equivalent of a license to practice. Professor Tucker gave us freedom to choose any topic ( within the scope of medicine, healing, sickness, treatment etc...) and encouraged us, with excitement, to explore something extraordinary, unusual, or even strange. I really appreciated that about her : excitement and freedom to learn. I found that I put a lot more into that assignment that I did to most others, spending many hours trying to find a translated version of a 14th century french court manuscript ( it was in both french and Latin), so that I could decipher what the verdict was for the defendant, Jacqueline Felicie. Anyhow, all of that to say, when I see Professor Tucker - which is probably once or twice a year in chance encounters - I feel a sense of excitement because I'm reminded of what kind of professor she is - an inspiring one.

And just to give you another reason as to why I think so highly of her, if you haven't heard enough, she has written two fascinating books. The first one is entitled Blood Work : A tale of Murder and Medicine in the Scientific Revolution. The second one is entitled Pregnant Fiction : Childbirth and the Fairy Tale in Early Modern France. If those titles tickle your fancy, go check it out!