The Tropical Inn is blessed by a loyal following of repeat guests, who visit regularly. So I was thinking it might be interesting for our blog followers to get to know a few of them.

Seems like the creative types are especially drawn to us. Take this weekend’s visitors, Michael Norell and Douglas Scharmann, from Natchez. This was either their fourth or fifth stay with us (we’ve lost count).

This duo is one of our favorites. We have mutual acquaintances that are vestiges of our former lives in Savannah that have, over the years, become prominent in certain New Orleans/Natchez circles, as well. The two locales share a certain supercilious flamboyance. Philosophical discussions about the common thread aside, the conclusion seems to be, quite simply, “decadence becomes them” … “debutantes and dilitantes”, if you get my drift … sounds like a great Fantasy Fest theme, don’t you think?

Writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, and Shel Silverstein have all left their indelible mark on our tiny island home.  Similarly, aspiring and accomplished literati have been lured by the creative inspiration to be found in Natchez and Savannah. In fact, there is a long-established literary connection between the two cities. The Southern Literary Trail describes itself as “a collaboration of 18 Southern towns from Natchez to Savannah, Ga., celebrating renowned writers and playwrights of the 20th century who were inspired by their communities.”

During that time, the Deep South produced a wealth of writers, poets, and playwrights that gave rise to the Southern Gothic genre. Mississippi produced some authors that are true giants in that regard, such as William Faulkner and Eudora Welty. Louisiana gave us Truman Capote. Tennessee Williams was born in Mississippi and lived as an adult in New Orleans, as well as Key West, producing some of his most important works in both places. And Georgia lays claim to its own icons of the genre, such as Flannery O’Connor (born in Savannah, her home there is now a museum) and the canonic Erskine Caldwell.

Southern writers are a breed apart. They give us insight into a culture defined by historic architecture, distinctive regional food, contentious religious practices, steamy passion, nihilistic violence, and a legacy of human exploitation. Traditions sometimes charming, but just as often scurrilous, are fiercely held relics born of pedigreed lineages, family secrets, an obsession with “keeping up appearances”, and an inability to let go and move forward. The brew is steeped in an amalgam of low-lying geography and oppressive summers. From this ferment has sprung some of the most imaginatively descriptive prose and insightful character studies ever to emerge from a region.

In recent years, author John Berendt has been particularly clever in parlaying the characteristics of Southern Gothic into a contemporary setting. Not a Son of the South, but an astute observer of life there, he possesses a keen ability to extrapolate the essence of “place” and translate it into his writing.

Those who hold the Deep South lifestyle sacred have an amazing proclivity to dismiss even the most aberrant of social behaviors within its ranks as merely eccentric. Berendt became immersed in the culture of Savannah, where that phenomenon is alive and well. His “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” is a chronicle of the Hostess City’s unique inhabitants, unconventional lifestyles, and absurd pretentiousness. It was a huge success, landing him a Pulitzer Prize nomination.

Since the publication of “Midnight”, Berendt has written a lesser (IMHO) manuscript which attempted to reveal the same sort of insight into Venice society. Now, Michael and Douglas tell us that he has recently been very prominent on the New Orleans/Natchez circuit, and rumors are flying that the Crescent City is his next target.

Hmmm … now, how did I get off on that tangent? Just a bit of “6 degrees of separation” insight into some shared history that has contributed to Michael and Douglas’ growing from “guests” into “friends”, I guess. Anyway, suffice it to say that whenever they are in the house, there are sure to be flowing libations and irreverently devilish gossip, as we catch up on the time that has passed between us since their last visit!

Douglas owns Castle Research (www.castleresearch.com), a script research company that specializes in movie & TV productions. With at least a dozen TV series and assorted movies, produced by ABCDisney, CBSParamount, and others, to his credit, his job is to make sure that fictitious names of businesses, people, and products remain just that – fictitious, and that time and place issues are accurate. Right now, he is working on “Numbers”, a TV series akin to “CSI”. Mining primarily the internet for his documentation, he provides the background research that protects the studios from accidental lawsuits. He even works with film-making art departments to assure that details like street names and scenes are authentic.

But, like so many of us relying on our “day jobs” to pay the bills, what Douglas really wants to do is write (surprise!). He is presently working on a novel about a Hollywood private detective. He’s keeping the details secret, so I guess we’ll just have to wait for the book to come out to learn the rest of the story.

Douglas’ partner, Michael, is the director of the classical music division of MMO Music Group (New York). But his professional designation as independent music producer is overshadowed by his greater interests: tropical horticulture and landscape architecture. His botanical knowledge is positively encyclopedic! There is literally not a specimen unknown to Michael … and no trip to Key West is complete without a stopover on the mainland at Fairchild Gardens, en route.

Describing himself as “leading a fragmented life”, Michael’s talents extend far beyond the musical. He keeps saltwater aquariums filled with exotic specimens. He backs up Douglas in the report production aspects of his work. And he tends an extensive greenhouse and garden — his consuming passion — at their home. On the return leg of their weekend trip to Key West, the pair stopped over in Florida City to claim a rare specimen of banana tree for which Michael has been on the waiting list for the past year and a half … an adoptive father awaiting the parent tree to “pup”.

In light of their individual careers based on opposite coasts — New York City and Los Angeles — the natural question is, “”Why Natchez?” to call home? Better yet, “how”?

The magic of the internet and increasingly sophisticated electronic gadgets make it possible for them to live anywhere they choose. Douglas, for instance – with his website and his LA phone number forwarded to his home in Natchez — says that he only has to appear on the west coast about once every six weeks. Big Apple trips are even more infrequent for Michael.

That given, they elaborate a bit about life in Natchez. They explain: “Living in Natchez is the easiest way to be an expat, still be in the US, and to literally step back in time.” Expanding on that, they say (I love this one), “You ride a tornado in and click your heels three times to get out“ … “like stepping into a novel … living on a movie backlot filled with interesting characters” … where – to ice the cake — everything is remarkably affordable .

Except for that last part about “affordable” … kinda sounds like Key West, doesn’t it?

Tags: Fairchild Gardens, John Berendt, Key West, literature, Natchez, Savannah, Southern Gothic

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 4:09 pm and is filed under Very Special Guests. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.