I was thrilled to see my friends Tad and Erica Wilson’s gorgeous Tybee Island home, called Amazing Grace, featured prominently here in this month’s COASTAL LIVING. The house, in my opinion, is the most beautiful on Tybee, situated on a large lot on the Back River, and preserved and restored by the always amazing Jane Coslick, and furnished with love by Erica, who, like me, has a serious jones for junking. I met Erica and Tad through Jane a couple of years ago, and eventually scammed an invitation to go down to Tybee and stay in their guest cottage and meet with Erica’s book club. In the history of MKA scams–and believe me, I’ve pulled some scams, this was my personal best. I got to stay in the cottage, do a little writing, and hang out with this warm and friendly couple and their three adorable children. I even got to meet Erica’s sisters and mom that weekend. That’s Grace, for whom the house is named, sitting on the floor looking at a storybook in the photo above. And what’s that on the shabby chic chest to her right? Schnikeys! It’s a stack of books by…Mary Kay Andrews! And the funny thing is, I’d been poring over the CL story and photos, admiring again the loveliness of what Jane and Erica have created, and totally missed seeing my own books in the photo, until I was clued in by an alert fan. What a treat it is to read and re-read this feature on a blissfully beautiful summer beach house–especially on a day like today, when we here in Atlanta are being treated to a rare snowfall. So glad to be cozy and warm at home today. I had a blast meeting friends and fans during my signings over the weekend in Nashville and then Memphis. I even took a sidetrip to the Nashville Fairgrounds Flea Market on Friday. I guess because Friday is setup day, and it was cold and rainy, pickings seemed pretty slim. Still, I did manage to snag a vintage porcelain flamingo for the Breeze Inn. By the time I finished my signing at DAVIS-KIDD in Memphis yesterday, it was raining. I got in my rental car, hoping to do a little junking, and immediately the rain turned to sleet. Five minutes later, snow was creating a near white-out. I junked the junking plans, sped (carefully) to the airport, and hopped an earlier flight out. We had to get de-iced before take-off–a first for me, but I made it home safe and sound, just in time for the snow to follow me east. Thank GAWD Mr. Mary Kay made a pot of chili for us already. Maybe we’ll even have a fire in the fireplace today. Stay warm and dry, y’all.
There are lots of perks to being a published author, but one of the nicest ones is meeting so many fascinating people. Today I was a guest at a coffee given by some of the board members of Georgia Women of Achievement. Next Thursday, I’ll have the privilege of speaking at the organization’s annual induction ceremony at Mercer College in Macon. My hostess’s mother founded this organization–and guess what? She just happens to be Georgia’s first and only Miss America–Neva Jane Langley Fickling–Miss America 1953. The photo above doesn’t do me any favors–but even in sunglasses (and a stunning Miss America-worthy full length fur) you can see that Neva Jane Fickling’s beauty hasn’t dimmed a bit over the years. She is charming, witty, and she plays the piano like a banshee. Just a little coaxing had her sitting at her daughter’s baby grand belting out “Has Anybody Seen My Gal?” After chatting with Miss Neva I learned that we are both Florida natives–she grew up in Lakeland, with a father who was in the orange grove business, and while she was a music student at Mercer College in Macon, she was recruited to compete in the Miss Macon, Miss Georgia and of course, Miss America pageants. A classically trained pianist, she won the talent competition in the pageant, but gave up performing after marrying and having four children, only returning to playing in public again after she became a grandmother. Today Miss Neva is a community activist, performer and adored mother and grandmother. After googling her, I learned that among the prizes she received in 1953 were a custom-made wardrobe, nearly $100,000 in appearance fees–and a white Nash Ambassador with leather seats. Who wouldn’t love to tool around town in a full-length mink in a 1953 Nash? I learned that 1953 was the last year before the pageant began being televised. But as a little girl in the 1960s, my sisters and I never missed watching the Miss America pageant. We would have a sleep-over with our friends, and argue and pick our favorites. I can even remember one of the sponsors: Miss Tonette home permanents. Tragically, since I had tightly curled hair, I was never the recipient of Miss Tonette’s beauteous bounty. In later years, I became an enlightened cynic/skeptic who scorned the idea of beauty pageants. But now? I must bow down to the beauty, talent and charm of Neva Jane Fickling, our OWN Miss America 1953.
