I recently finished the book Anxious People. And I love this bittersweet bit of dialogue about holding hands with our little ones.
“Have you ever held a three-year-old by the hand on the way home from preschool?“
“No.”
“You’re never more important than you are then.“
What truth!
This morning Greene Square near us here in Historic District Savannah hosted the annual Spring Equinox Brunch. Glorious!
Oh my gosh. Such springtime fun as we proclaimed a hearty “Salut!” to Spring 2023.
Recently Robert and I were walking in our favorite Savannah library, Bull Street, when we came upon this poster …
Yes. Yes. Yes.
In spite of what the right-wing extremists say, we should be able to read what we want to read, as should our children.
Here’s Benny comforting it out on a soft-cushioned chair. With the much-lauded Three Monkeys just to the left of his behind.
See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil
Butt don’t the wrong impression. Benny means no disrespect with his behind positioned monkey-way.
He’s actually quite taken with them. Before Benny’s nap, they introduced and explained themselves:
“[We] three wise monkeys are a pictorial maxim, embodying the proverbial principle ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’. [We] are Mizaru, covering [my] eyes, who sees no evil; Kikazaru, covering [my] ears, who hears no evil; and Iwazaru, covering [my] mouth, who speaks no evil.
There are various meanings ascribed to [us] monkeys and the proverb including associations with being of good mind, speech and action. In the Western world the phrase is often used to refer to those who deal with impropriety by turning a blind eye. Outside Japan [our] names are sometimes given as Mizaru, Mikazaru, and Mazaru, as the last two names were corrupted from the Japanese originals. [We] monkeys are Japanese macaques, a common species in Japan.” Scholarly Community Encyclopedia.
“Seriously?” asked an incredibly impressed and slightly intimidated Benny.
“Yes. What’s your story?”
Benny thought for a second before answering hesitantly. “Well, back in the day, Daddy Robert picked me from a friend’s litter of about a dozen of us kitties.”
The three monkeys just stood there, with hands all over their faces.
That’s when Benny went to sleep.
I think maybe in 2023, I’ll become a spy. I’m retired, so I have some free time on my hands. How hard could it be?
Please ignore this post. Because I don’t think spies are supposed to tell people that they are spies, right?
Here’s our newest ornament we bought on our fun-filled weekend trip to see the Atlanta Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.”
(Please notice HR’s new Christmas tree pants. But don’t be upset; he still has his Santa pants.)
So today, HR’s and my assignment was to pick up grandson Gabriel from one sleepover, get him lunch at Chik-fil-A and take him to another sleepover. His parents are out of town.
No problem. An easy assignment.
But then the Universe got in the way. Gabriel‘s friend from the second sleepover was not going to be home for another couple of hours.
So we went inside Chick-fil-A for a sit-down lunch. Taking up half an hour. (Grandchildren can eat!)
What to do for the remaining time before dropping him off? (We were quite away from his house and from our house.)
Retired professor and older grandfather that I am, I sincerely suggested going to a nearby library. ON A SATURDAY. And maybe “hang out” or just spend a little time browsing the shelves.
Both Robert and Gabriel stared at me, as if I was suggesting that we strangle a new-born kitten.
So Robert, after continuing to glare at me with very mean eyes, just started driving around on Whitemarsh Island, one of Savannah’s many river islands, close to the Atlantic Ocean.
Out of the blue, Gabriel said, “Maybe we can go to Bogey’s Sports Bar and Mini Golf.”
So we did.
And had a JOYFUL hour or so.
End result?
An unexpectedly, incredible fun time.
Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams was here in Savannah this morning for her “Let’s Get It Done Bus Tour.”
Robert excitedly attended without me (because I’m a bit under the weather this weekend).
Natalie Portman is in town this month filming her latest movie, so she introduced Stacey.
May Stacey Abrams be our next Georgia governor !
Last night Robert and I returned home late from dinner, got out of our car, looked up and saw this …
HR’s true partner/cat Benny perched in our second story study window, gazing out. Looking down, his head slowly followed our steps as we walked to the door.
Benny prophesied our return home.
NealEnJoy 