In Our Own Backyard

Sunday Afternoon Adventure at Bonaventure: A PhotoJournal

Posted on June 9, 2013November 18, 2021 by Neal Saye

I spent an incredibly warm but wonderfully interesting couple of hours this afternoon at the historically magnificent Bonaventure Cemetery here in my beautiful Savannah. The day might have been heavy and muggy, but my time there was anything but–cooler than Leopold’s! It seems that every second Sunday the Bonaventure Historical Society offers free guided tours of the cemetery, so I showed up thirty minutes early with a big water bottle and wearing my thinnest t-shirt.

Before leaving my air conditioning, I checked out the cemetery’s website and learned that …

Though not Savannah’s oldest cemetery, Bonaventure is certainly its most famous and hauntingly beautiful. Quintessentially Southern Gothic, it has captured the imaginations of writers, poets, naturalists, photographers and filmmakers for more than 150 years. Part natural cathedral, part sculptural garden, Bonaventure transcends time.

Military generals, poet Conrad Aiken, Academy Award-winning lyricist Johnny Mercer and Georgia’s first governor Edward Telfair are among those buried at Bonaventure. The approximately 100-acre cemetery is also historically significant as a reflection of changing views on death and dying in the Victorian era. As death became more romanticized and ritualized during this period, cemeteries became lush, beautiful “cities of the dead.”

Another reason behind Bonaventure’s popularity is John Berendt’s book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which featured a cover photo of the now-famous “Bird Girl” statue, formerly located in Bonaventure. The statue has since been moved to the Telfair Museum of Art, founded through the bequest of Mary Telfair, also buried at Bonaventure.

Our tour guide, the vivacious Ms. Elizabeth Ford …

… oozed Southern hospitality and a spoke a delicious Southern dialect. (After the tour, I wanted to go home with her just to hear her talk some more. But I didn’t really know how to ask.)

Elizabeth led us around the hauntingly beautiful Gothic graveyard, along the banks of the lazy Wilmington River, regaling us with stories of the history of the place and showing us gravesites of some of the more prominent folks buried there. But what I loved most of all was the simple interplay of a deeply Southern voice leading me, slowly, on Sunday afternoon time, through such beauty.

(In the above pic, I was aiming for a cemetery facial expression. Did I get anywhere close?)

(I wish I had a ponytail like that guy to my left.)

My parents taught me to love cemeteries. As friendly places, reservoirs of wonderful memories. To this day, when I return home to visit them, we usually end up at one of several cemeteries in or around my hometown of Ball Ground, Georgia, where close relatives are buried. Granny Nix and Veto. Mama and Papa Saye. My brother Jimmy who lived only one week. Old Doc Saye, Ball Ground’s first doctor. Pulling weeds around a headstone, or straightening flower arrangements, we get caught up in “Remember when’s” and “She was a pistol!” and “I still miss him so much.” They taught me that I am standing tall today because of all of them who came before.

Bonaventure: an afternoon of warm joy.

Bonaventure Cemetery Website

D-Man, Superheroes and Snakehandling: Party Weekend–Party Two

Posted on April 23, 2013November 6, 2021 by Neal Saye

As I mentioned in the previous post, this past weekend brought two terrific parties, a street celebration Saturday night and then on Sunday afternoon the Sixth Birthday Celebration for my Grandson Daniel.

Before I escort you to Weekend Party Two, let me just explain that Daniel is one very COOL little boy. And here are Eight Sunglasses-Prominent Pics of D-man to prove it:

(With kindergarten teacher Ms. Lancaster)

(With little brother Gabriel)

Okay, maybe the twin girls froze him up a bit and reduced his coolness by a tad.

But NOT on his birthday. Here he sits, with his green faux hawk (aka fohawk) before his backyard party begins, “patiently” waiting for the Spiderman inflatable to blow up.

Almost there.

“I love it!”

Here’s Batman perched in the trees:

I have NEVER seen a balloon so huge. And the Spiderman pinata, ready to be lowered:

Soon the backyard fills with school and neighborhood friends.

A great hit at the party–the appearance of the folks and animals from Critters-to-Go. The kids (and adults) are fascinated.

“Okay, kids, now let’s all play with snakes!” (Neal’s first thought: “Is everyone here INSANE? What happened to the PRETEND superheroes theme?) Then out of the corner of my eye, I see courageous Batman hiding out in the trees away from all this.

Initially, Daniel’s not so sure. See? He’s a smart boy.

That soon changes.

“Here, Abu, you hold him too.”

My drug-induced-looking smile is for the camera. I’m really thinking: “Is there ANY possible way to spank this child with over fifty people watching?”

Then Daniel becomes an experienced snakehandler.

Next, the spiders, of course.

Her t-shirt says it all.

(Note to self: talk to therapist about memory erasure treatment.)

Younger daughter Emily with grandtwins Madison and Matthew:

“Look up, Em.”

Older daughter Amy (Daniel’s mom) holding Matthew:

Matthew: “I know who my mama is.”

Nana and Madison step up:

D’s little brother Gabriel:

Amy and hubby Orte:

Oh, the gifts!

After the party, Daniel and I play with the giant picture of him that I had attached to a backyard tree. See it way in the back there?

An Afternoon of Joy.

In Our Own Backyard

Touring Savannah’s City Hall, Y’all

Posted on April 17, 2013November 6, 2021 by Neal Saye

Every First Tuesday Savannah’s City Hall opens its doors for free tours. I know, I know, touring City Hall doesn’t sound like the most exciting entertainment venue around. But hold on just a second, compadre. After a hefty helping of Gabriella’s Zesty Chicken (on mashed potatoes) at Zunzi’s, I wobbled down Bull Street, remembering just in time to look up before I reached the river, and saw this …

… Savannah’s incredibly beautiful City Hall.

Completed in 1905 …

… City Hall features two figures who adorn the front, just below the clock and gold dome. And those two pretty ladies represent Commerce and Art. If you know anything about Savannah, you will find those figures so, so timely. Because what was true in 1905 is certainly true today: Savannah is both a big business city (Savannah Port and Gulfstream, for example) as well as a cultured, artistic town (SCAD, Savannah Music Festival, festivals galore).

Come along.

The original clockwork is now in the lobby:

I really loved the wood floor.

Looking up to the interior stain glass dome:

Some important Savannahian. (I want a bust made of me. Where can you go to get that done? Hobby Lobby? Michael’s?)

The plaque below looked historically official, so I stood there trying to read it to make people think I’m smart and all, but then I started daydreaming about the Vanilla Taffy down at River Street Sweets, so I took a picture of the plaque (which sorta still made me look smart because why else would you take a picture?).

Here I am with the really interesting tour guide (and SCAD grad), Luciana Spracher. She knew her stuff!

Did you know Savannah has a flag?

View from a back window of city hall:

Very cool open style elevator cage:

Something important looking:

I pretended to know the mayor. But you can only stand in front of her office for so long before people start to wonder what you’re doing.

TANGENT: A couple of months ago, I attended an event at the Savannah Civic Center with our mayor, Edna Jackson.

Okay, okay, maybe I wasn’t exactly with the mayor, but you can’t tell that from the above photo with her and Savannah State’s President, Dr. Cheryl Davenport Dozier.

*******

Luciana led us into the Savannah City Council chambers. For some reason I just got so excited.

Here I am sitting at the mayor’s desk. (Does she know people do this?)

What a fun (and educational) tour! Thanks, Luciana.

I Love Savannah!

In Our Own Backyard

88 Reasons to Love the Carters

Posted on February 13, 2013March 10, 2022 by Neal Saye

Last night I drove through the monsoon up to my old stomping ground, Georgia Southern University, to hear former President and First Lady Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter speak.

“An Evening with the Carters: A Conversation with the Former President and First Lady”

Oh. My. Goodness. What an incredibly encouraging evening. Did you know that President Carter is 88 years of age? And going stronger than ever! (I’m just … “39” yet had to detour through Wendy’s drive-thru and grab a #1 with cheese just to get enough energy to calm my rain-soaked nerves and waddle into the Hanner Gym in some measure of consciousness.)

I loved how the Carters were both entertaining and issues-specific on point. They divided the evening into segments of their life journey–with the President talking about their early years before the White House, followed by Mrs. Carter discussing their years in Washington. They then took turns sharing about their work with The Carter Center in Atlanta, dealing with many issues which other organizations don’t touch (eradication of tropical diseases, for example). The packed house interrupted the talk with applause at least a dozen times–and deservedly so. President Carter kept emphasizing the dire need for a return to non-partisan cooperation in our political world, as well as the responsiblity that each of us has to hold our politicians responsible for the decisions they make and the laws they pass.

They seemed SO real, SO logical, SO much in touch with the possibility of changing the world into a better, healthier place.

The coolest part of the evening: how this couple, who have been married over 60 years, kept deferring to one another. Their respect and love for each other came though so very clearly. (“Asking Rosalynn to marry me was the best decision I ever made.”) (“I grieved when Jimmy wasn’t re-elected. I know he would have been a better president than the one who won.”)

I sat next to this friendly, talkative couple, Leon and Morrie Shelkoff. Morrie is a school teacher, and Leon ran Leon’s Menswear in the Statesboro Mall for thirty years. They exuded happiness–look at those smiles!

I drove back down I-16 to Savannah with buoyed spirits and a joyful respect for compassionate leadership.

(P.S. I met then-Governor Carter at a Governor’s Honors Luncheon way back when I was in high school. Even as a teenager, I had great admiration for the man.)

In Our Own Backyard, Where Happiness Finds You

Mr. Happy Goes to Charleston: A Photo Essay

Posted on January 31, 2013December 1, 2021 by Neal Saye

Some of you may remember Mr. Happy (who is sort of my blog mascot). Technically he is jointly owned by me AND grandson Daniel. He lives in the back seat of my car (Mr. Happy, not Daniel) and helps me pick up Daniel from kindergarten a couple of days a week.

For months now, Mr. Happy has been nagging me for a train ride to Charleston, so early last Saturday morning, we hopped on board the 8:15 Amtrak bound for a one-night stay in the Holy City.

Less than two hours later, we arrived in beautiful Charleston, SC. (sister city of my hometown of Savannah).

From the station, our Charleston taxi driver (who “drove” like a wild New York cabbie) whisked us to our hotel, the Best Western King Charles Inn in the historic district ( a very nice hotel–stay there sometime).

The folks at the hotel treated us like royalty–especially Michael, Rhonda and Richard–and even gave us a beautiful upgrade … with rocking chairs on a balcony:

After reading up on some sites to visit, Mr. Happy and I hit the road walking.

We learned a bucketful of area history from guide extraordinaire Boyd Schuler when we toured the historic Edmondston-Alston House on the Battery overlooking the bay.