[Cally Conan-Davies]

I have momentous news, on this Maryann’s Moving Day – not concerning revolutions or royalty, but Rayne.

Many of you know of her, some of you have met and know her well. A few of you have been waiting – fingers crossed – for this news. And I, of course, adore her more than life itself. Once again, she has done the incredible! She has been offered, unanimously, a position as History Professor at Dearborn University in Michigan!!!!!!!! It's before dawn here, and I've only just heard the news!! This is her very first academic job – indeed, it's her very first job of any kind!!!! Well – her real job has been to be the best she can be, and she has done it outstandingly!

We have been on an amazing journey. That little red-haired, blue-eyed Australian bush baby—who could sing Donne's 'The Sunne Rising before she was two; who we taught at home because the Education Department advised us there was nothing they could do for her; and who stuffed her language larder and fed her soul with the Dylans, Bob and Thomas; who excelled upon excellence at university— has now secured a position in a limited job market in the United States!!!!!!!!

She is my boundless joy, and I hope you don’t mind me sharing this great news, and celebrating our unique and beautiful Rayne, with friends here who care about her, too. I append a tribute ghazal workshopped here some time ago, about Rayne – Long may she!


ghazal (on Rayne)

Let light ring out a joyous psalm about you,
the night will cast a moonlit calm about you.

I swallow deep a swollen note of pain
then loosen, ruck the woven balm about you.

You snap the waves that wash your sandy feet,
you reap the crop of skulls we farm about you.

A canvas kiss adorns your coppered walls,
da Vinci’s Mona throws her arm about you.

In your breathing space spin coins of gold,
The Seven Sisters seed their charm about you.

I call a chrysalis to feed the worms,
extract a vow to ward off harm about you.



Please feel free to crow about your own kids here! There simply is no love like them, is there?

Cally

[Maryann Corbett]

Absolutely wonderful news. And I feel so lucky to have actually had the opportunity to sit in a booth at Blue Door and talk with the two of you!

But Cally, dear mother, you realize now we're going to grill you for more details, right? More about the appointment and the area of history?

Hurrah for the successes of all the people we love.

[Cally Conan-Davies]

Maryann! I'm in the middle of a huge storm on a wild stretch of coast, and my internet connection keeps dropping out! It took about ten attempts to post this news! When it's light, I will drive till I find an area of more reliable connection, then I will tell you more! I think we will try to find a place to live in Ann Arbor - she can commute to Dearborn from there.

Can you believe this, Maryann!??!! We will all be at The Blue Door again soon, now that I can make my travel plans, and we can raise a glass to her! We must have champagne!!

Cally

[Duncan Gillies MacLaurin]

Congratulations on Rayne's sucess, Cally!

Duncan

[Ed Shacklee]

Is this great news, or what? Congratulations is almost too pale a word: a friend was just telling me how hard it was to great a job in academia these days, and now this. You must be walking on the moon.

Ed

[Pedro Poitevin]

Wow, the academic job market in the US is tougher than ever right now, Cally. This is amazing! The Poitevins will have a drink tonight to celebrate Rayne's success and Cally's joy.

Pedro

[Mary Meriam]

Cally, I've been jumping up and down so much, I haven't even finished reading your first post above!!!!! Hooray for Rayne! And her darling parents, Cally and Mark!!!!!!

[Seree Zohar]

g'donya, mates!!
thrilled for you!
let's raise a celebratory timtam!!

[Cally Conan-Davies]

OK!!! MARY!! I am rolling about in fits of tears and floods of laughter! This would demand a new generation of emoticons!!!!

I've driven to a lookout for better reception - what a day to dawn!!!

I just finished a long skype call with her. Her heart is so full of happiness!! Do you know what that means to me? I know you do! She has done so much, at such a young age! To win a job like this in the current climate - it's extraordinary. They loved her! Who wouldn't? Here are a few more of the details Maryann asked for.

Her position is Assistant Professor of Early Modern History, in the History department of the School of Social Sciences at Dearborn, which is part of the University of Michigan. She felt so at home with the people there! And they voted for her unanimously! She will have a six year contract, after which the tenure process begins, and she is well positioned for that already as she almost has her first book ready for publication, and she has had many articles published already! Isn't this amazing??

My daughter will be living in America! In Ann Arbor!! Which means I will spend part of each year there - and there will be much cuddling and much kissing, and much adventuring!!!

This is so huge! I love her so much! I can't stop crying at all, I can't stop laughing - I have never felt so full to bursting!!!

I need to dance! I need champagne! I need to see Rayne! I'll be booking my flight in the next day or so. I have to teach her to drive! She doesn't drive yet! And it's impossible to live in America without driving! Richard - I have already promised her that YOU will teach her to drive! Can you, Richie??

Cally

[John Riley]

Historic day indeed. Congratulations, Cally.