December 5, 2008. Jackson, Ms. Eudora Welty.

She was such a fine writer, yet I have not read her for several years. I wonder why? She was born in Jackson and lived here in the same house the rest of her life, except for the few years she lived in New York. She was born in 1909 and died in 2002. Next year will see a yearlong celebration of the 100Th anniversary of her birth. Today I spent two hours peeking into her life and habits when I toured her home in Jackson, Ms. It is always interesting to find out how people do their jobs, especially folks who are so accomplished and famous, but when you find out how ordinary were their routines and patterns you wonder why everyone doesn't write a book resulting in a Pulitzer Prize. But of course, even a very humble person such as Eudora Welty has talent beyond the normal person.

So many aspects of the tour were reassuring. She was always short of money, at least up until she gave her house and belongings in 1980 to the State Dept of Archives. From then on she lived in her family home until her death, while the State maintained her house. She had books everywhere. Book shelves were built in every room in the house, with books piled on every table and couch. Her desk and cabinets have stacks of paper. For a period of time, in order to earn money, she took speaking engagements, and she taught at Millsaps College, so she was so busy she was not able to write very much. Once she was so disgusted with yet another rejection that she burned the story in the kitchen stove, only to be asked to resubmit the story. Robert Penn Warren was upset at her lack of response and he kept at her, and finally she sat down and rewrote the story, which was published. I loved seeing her house and her desk and her work patterns, but I do not know where this standard comes from. Now I am going to read her again, and Reynolds Price too. It was worth the trip to Jackson, just to see her house.