From the Twitter feed of Florida teen gay activist Zander Moricz …
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It’s not possible, of course, or even completely practical, but I’m SO glad we have dreamers.
Twitter Truth
Author: Neal Saye
Five Friday Happy Bringers 5/27/22
Last night, in the midst of some uninvited anxiety (Hello, Truffles!), I told Robert that I was thinking about not doing my weekly Five Friday Happy Bringers today. That there’s just too much Sadness and Horror in the world to post about Happiness. After giving me a lengthy and incredulous stare … something like this …
… HR helped me see that my rationale made NO sense. “Everything is not negative. And doesn’t positive help to counteract negative?”
He’s right. Happiness continues to come our way, if we see and embrace it.
1. Curly haired courage. Florida high school class president Zander Moricz, speaking at his graduation, brilliantly referencing his being gay (and Florida’s new restrictive anti-gay laws) without ever using the word (as he was told not to do so).
If you haven’t read about or seen videos of Zander’s speech, here are a few excerpts.
“I must discuss a very public part of my identity…As you know, I have curly hair,” he continued while taking off his graduation cap.
He went on to discuss the challenges faced by curly-haired people. “While having curly hair in Florida is difficult — due to the humidity — I decided to be proud of who I was and started coming to school as my authentic self,” after unsuccessful attempts at straightening, he said. And he found support from teachers who discussed the topic and discovered others with curly hair.
“It’s because of the love I’d drawn from this community that I came out to my family,” he said. “Now I’m happy. Now I’m happy. And that is what is at stake. There are going to be so many kids with curly hair who need a community like Pine View, and they won’t have one. They too will try to straighten that part of themselves.” (The Advocate)
2. HR prepping for his spectacular Baked Ziti Thursday night.
4. Grandson Gabriel receiving a year-long honor roll award at his school’s ceremony.
4. The classic simplicity of lettuce and tomato.
5. Life. LIFE!
Have a lovely last weekend of May.
The Abomination #2: “Daniel Defense & Death”
A blog category looking at our nation’s deadly gun insanity.
I woke up this morning and went to my local news app to see if our new friend Wade Herring made it into the runoff for the U.S. House of Representatives for our district. He did!
But the moment of happiness lasted for just that—one moment. For then my eyes trailed down to the next news headline.
Daniel Defense is a gun and ammunition manufacturing company here in Savannah. HR and I pass it every time we drive north on I-16.
When I discovered that Daniel Defense had made the assault weapon found on the Texas shooter, I went to their website. And saw this:
(Easier to read in the second block below.)
The $100 million dollar a year Manufacturer of Death made no mention of their culpability, no mention of perhaps reassessing the need for stronger common sense gun laws. Just assurance of their cooperation, their sadness, and that all of them at Daniel Defense are on their knees praying for the families of the dead children.
But look closer at the pic above. Can you see something behind the “apology”?
What joy! There’s a contest! A drawing!
You can win $15,000 for ammo or guns or whatever you want! Well, except for the life back for your dead child. Dead child murdered with a Daniel Defense assault weapon.
Look deeper on the website and read the joyfully enthusiastic words of Marty Daniel, founder of Daniel Defense:
“We love making high quality products and, quite simply, care about our customers more than any of our competitors do. That’s what got me started in this business back in 2000. I like well-made products – products that exceed expectations for accuracy, durability, reliability, style, and value. We know how much our customers care, and that’s what makes working in this business so much fun. Thanks so much to all of our loyal customers, and for those of you new to our brand. Isn’t it time you got a Daniel?”
Isn’t it time for our sad nation to garner the courage to embrace and pass stricter common sense gun laws?
The Abomination #1: “An Imagined ‘Conversation’ between God and Two Republican Governors”
A blog category looking at our nation’s deadly gun insanity.
God: “My children are dying. Being killed with guns.”
Texas Governor Abbott: “We know! But guns don’t kill people. It’s a mental health issue. People kill people.”
God: “Guns don’t kill people?! Are you serious?”
Georgia Governor Kemp: “Yes. We need more guns, easier access to guns. Then we will all be safer.”
God: “I sent you the Prince of Peace.”
The Two Republican Governors in Unison: “Peace is not enough. We need guns. We are backed by the NRA. Here’s our plan: whenever a young person turns 18, let’s give her and him a gun. Safety is in guns. We celebrate guns! We worshi-, we mean we REVEL in guns!”
God: (speechless)
One-Word Wednesday: 5/25/22
“Assault”
Will deadly U.S. gun law insanity never end?
“The Artful Dodger“ #9
A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations.
There I was, minding my business and sitting at lunch with HR at the Grub Burger Bar up in Atlanta. Nearly finished with the meal, I looked down at my tenders plate, and saw a little bird sashaying among my fries!
I stared at it for a minute it two, wondering how it got into the restaurant. When, lo and behold, the little bird (little duck?) took flight and flew down my throat!
Startled, I looked over at Robert, levelheaded as usual, who told me to “Feed him a fry or two. He’s probably tired and hungry after that flight.”
So I did.
Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling?
Definitely marveling. This past Friday, Grandson Daniel opened for a three-weekend run as Joseph in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” production at the Savannah Children’s Theater.
This is a great experience for Daniel. The play is the theatre’s 2022 MainStage production, meaning there are adult, teen and child actors involved. Daniel just turned 15, and some of his adult costars in “Joseph” are professionals, brought in for the show, so he has really been learning from their expertise.
“Close every door to me,
Hide all the world from me
Bar all the windows
And shut out the light…”
Joseph:
I look handsome, I look smart
I am a walking work of art
Such a dazzling coat of many colors
How I love my coat of many colors
Narrator and All:
It was red and yellow and green and brown
And scarlet and black and ochre and peach
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn
And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And purple and white and pink and orange
And red and yellow and green and brown and blue!
Great colorful and MARVELous fun!
Shhh … Silent Sunday 5/22/22
My Saturday Evening Post: 5/21/22 “Fancy Coffee”
Yesterday morn, Robert and I headed over to a new bistro near us, Alexander’s, for coffee and a little breakfast. I got my usual (whatever drip they were featuring), but HR went all fancy — a latte with mocha.
The orange flower was edible! (He didn’t share.)
My coffee came in a sad brown paper cup. I had to force it to let me take its picture.
After HR’s sausage roll and my Kanelbullar cinnamon roll (with pearled sugar!), we just weren’t ready to leave, so we shared a beautifully delicious Scottish Egg.
Fun, fun morning.
NealEnJoy 