Just as I begin to sink into my summer mode of enjoying long weekends at the beach with my family, the letters start arriving. The summer reading list reminders, the math packets and the tuition bills that fill many of our mailboxes remind us that back-to-school time is just around the corner. Our summer was a little more hectic this year because we are preparing to send our oldest away to college in a few short weeks. She has traded her summer reading and math packets for a job as she prepares to move away from home for the first time. Although our son still has books to read, math work to do and football workouts to attend, I think the majority of his brainpower has been spent trying to figure out what he will do with all his sister’s vacated space.

On a recent family vacation to the beach, I received an email from a friend encouraging me to get a Facebook account. With both my

children on this Web site constantly, I thought of it only as something “the younger generation” uses. I couldn’t have been more wrong. In the past few weeks, I have had fun catching up with many long lost classmates who I haven’t talked to in years. It has reminded me that friends are the most memorable part of school. With my 25-year high school reunion taking place this year, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

As many of us prepare to switch our mindsets from vacation mode to “back to school” mode, I hope our special section gives you some of the information you need to help you through this hectic time. We even included, with the help of Rivals.com, the top 25 Tennessee high-school football players to follow this season. Congratulations to all of them!

As you travel through our state following your favorite college or high school teams over the next few months, be sure to bring along this issue of At Home Tennessee magazine. You can enjoy breath-taking country retreats, gather information or just find great places to shop, stay, eat and play along the way. Enjoy these last days of summer with your family. After all, school days are just around the corner!