“Billie”
Walking through the Fell’s Point neighborhood of Baltimore (HR’s hometown) back in 2019, Robert and I came upon a very cool mural project highlighting local legend Billie Holiday.
I felt honored to stand so close to her.
Over the valley and through the woods, gathering collards we go. 🎶
Walking in Habersham Village toward our favorite little bar and grill in Savannah, Robert and I saw this …
A mountain of beautiful pre-Thanksgiving collards! Being carefully pulled into our favorite little neighborhood grocer, The Red and White.
The sight brought a sudden jolt of JOY into my heart.
I love collards! They are deliciously beautiful. And they exude such leafy and cruciferous strength.
Collards greens have strong spines!
I’m having a bit of trouble being happy today, after the Colorado Springs gay club massacre.
But today we were walking through Hobby Lobby, looking for Thanksgiving placemats for our family gathering, and I came across this.
And it made me smile. I needed to smile.
And HR seems to think the sentiment rings true.
P.S. But aren’t gay clubs supposed to be safe havens? Robert and I have visited them in New York City, Washington DC, Atlanta, Baltimore (HR’s hometown), New Orleans, etc. etc. etc.
But lately, whenever we go into a gay establishment, I look for the exits, just in case.
And even more sadly, when I go to our gay friendly church here in Savannah, I remind myself where the exits are, just in case.
It really shouldn’t be this way.
About this time of year, every year, I fall into the “depths of despair,” borrowing a phrase from my very good friend, Anne of Green Gables.
Why so low, you ask? Simple.
THERE ARE NO LOCAL, SUMMERY, VINE- RIPENED TOMATOES!!!
The tomatoes you find at the grocery store this time of year are, to use part of Donald Trump’s newsy allegation, “fake” tomatoes!
They taste like … well, fake tomatoes.
Side Note: Please do not tell anyone that I agreed, even if just half agreed, with anything Donald Trump has ever said.
So what I like to do in mid-November is remember, somehow both sadly and joyfully, July tomatoes.
Here are a few memories of the Real Deals.
My Tomato Pies!
Tomato beauty.
I miss you, July Tomatoes.
HR and yours truly. Lying in the Sheep Meadow. Central Park. NYC. 2016. Our very first trip to New York City together.
“These vagabond shoes ….” 🎶
My weekly list of a few “joy inciters” in my life. A Friday Gratitude Journal, of sorts.
1. The beautiful bottlebrush plant we saw recently on a walk here in Savannah.
What a cool and fitting name! And it’s SO friendly. It colorfully whispered in my ear, “You know, Neal, Christmas is coming! Joy to the world!”
2. Pine. Oh, the glorious appearance and aroma of pine!
3. Comfortable shoes.
4. Always having enough food to eat. (I so often take that blessing for granted.)
5. The beach.
May Peace shine on you this weekend before Thanksgiving.
A blog category of pics I’ve taken of HR (Hubby Robert) and … well, just about anything.
Robert and … two tidy Irishmen.
Did you see this CRAZY story in the news?
When I first read it, I laughed out loud. And thought about my old sandals. Here they are. I’ll sell them to you for a mere $500. A DEAL!
But then when I thought about it a bit more, the humor sort of leaked and lessened. 200 grand! Think how many homeless meals (for just one example) that amount could provide.
P.S. …
Hmm.
NealEnJoy 