Tag: Encouragement

Posted in a Voice of Readon snd Courage

Repressive Evil Has Its Hold on the “United” States

Posted on by Neal Saye

I simply don’t understand our federal government’s Administration of Hatred.

Crosswalk by Georgia Voice

WHY would these people take something born out of LOVE, the gay flag, and “recreate it” as … terrorism?

It makes NO sense.

Except perhaps in the twisted minds of authoritarian strongmen dictators and their blind-to-truth followers.

An excerpt from the disturbing article …

advocate.com

Here’s the link to the full disturbing article:

https://www.advocate.com/news/trump-considers-pride-flag-bans

And here’s the beautiful Progress Flag the article references, along with the meaning behind the colors …

Maybe I’m stupid, but I don’t quite get how …

LIFE

HEALING

SUNLIGHT

NATURE

HARMONY

SPIRIT

And inclusive Love directed toward Indigenous Peoples, People of Color and Transgender People …

… are terroristic threats.

This is fascist insanity beyond belief.

But this is my country too, and I call upon …

HR and his megaphone

… all true patriots to condemn this cancerous Avalanche of Hatred that Trump and his cronies are unleashing upon our nation and its very soul.

Long Live Love

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 8/15/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Green beans.

They are crisp-perfect, simply drizzled with olive oil and a little salt, and put in the oven for about 15 minutes.

2. This cute little doggie store on my morning walk.

3. The amazing ability to remember. What a gift.

4. What we need more of:

5. Robert’s love of fancy coffee … that’s not in a paper cup.

Starbucks this morning.

What’s on your Happiness List today?

Posted in Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling?

Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling? 8/4/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

Well, I suppose that I am Marveling this morning, but with a side of Moan.

My favorite rose relief at Bonaventure

Yesterday morn, instead of attending our beautiful and inclusive Asbury Church here in Savannah, Robert and I played hooky. Since it was an unusually cool reprieve from our stiflingly serious summer heat, I suggested we drive over to Savannah‘s iconic Bonaventure Cemetery and do what we have not been doing much this summer … walk outside.

What a beautiful, old cemetery/park, along a bluff of the tranquil Wilmington River.

We took our time, walking quietly, almost meditatively, under the ancient live oaks and magnolias. A morning breeze (amazingly refreshing for early August!) invited the Spanish Moss to a ceremonial Dance of the Dead above our heads.

About an hour into this Sauntering Sunday Service, I somewhat wearily gazed through the overgrown and dark green “we-bloomed-months-ago” azalea bushes.

And saw it.

“Let’s walk over there, Robert.”

A small mausoleum, circa 1927, darkened and a bit crumbling with age and wear, the small double doors having patinated over the decades into a glorious, deep metallic green.

The Schroder family whispered us closer, even offering me a little sitting of rest (which I desperately needed).

‘Neal, look behind you,” HR quietly instructed.

Someone (who?) had placed a single, long-stemmed, radiantly red rose at the foot of the doors, below the two “S’s.”

(My last name is Saye, Robert’s is Smith, I for some reason thought.)

“Pick it up.”

I obeyed, trying to avoid the thorns.

I have been dealing with some frustrating physical issues (thorns!) lately—causing me to be a bit out of sorts with the world and with life.

73 years come with challenges.

Then again …

Anne Bronte

And I still crave the rose.

Posted in Challenges

Staying Alive 🎶

Posted on by Neal Saye

The mid-summer heat is incredible down here in my Savannah, Georgia—as it seems to be in much of our weathered nation.

—————————————————-

Yesterday afternoon here in Savannah 

Real Feel of 114? Seriously?

cnn

On early morning walks (it’s far too hot for me to walk midday), I have noticed one resilient plant that seems to not only survive in this oppressive heat and brutal sunshine, but actually to THRIVE.

Crepe Myrtle

“Some plants perform best when the heat is on; Crape Myrtles revel in the sun and heat. They are summer show-offs.  In full bloom this beautiful shrub/tree radiates color, sporting a full head of crinkled, “crepe” like blooms in various shades.” aldenlane.com

May we follow crepe myrtle’s exemplary leadership in this very hot time in our nation.

It’s dangerously hot, but we will stay alive!

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 7/18/25 (Food Heavy)

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Discovering a new (to me) type of peas at our little independent grocer, Red & White.

Sandandy Peas, fresh and shelled

Google told me that Sandandy peas “often spelled Sadandy or Sa Dandy are a type of cream pea, which falls under the broader category of southern peas or cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata).”

So Very Good! With an Earthy Flavor.

And leftovers for the freezer …

2. These stickers about breathing I recently ran across and had to buy.

3. Speaking of breathing, I so appreciate that our bodies breathe by themselves. We don’t have to force the breath. It simply happens.

4. Popcorn! Ex-wife Donna recently gave Robert and me this neat Movie Night Popcorn Set for Father’s Day.

The other evening in the middle of a movie (FYI: Twilight Kiss Suk Suk), I jumped from the couch and yelled, “Our popcorn gift! Pause the movie!”

And we did something which both of us realized we haven’t done in years, maybe decades: we popped popcorn “the old fashioned way” on the stovetop instead of in the microwave.

We had such fun!

Sometimes Slow is so much better than Fast.

5. I have mentioned before that HR and I love our local library’s “Spice Club.” Once a month or so, our Bull Street Library offers patrons a new spice, along with an explanation and several recipes.

Some of our Spice Club materials.

This month is Mace. I had never heard of Mace as a spice, only that self defense spray.

Well, listen to this: “The web-like outer covering of the nutmeg seed, Mace, imparts a more pungent and spicier flavor to food than nutmeg. Mace is most popular in European foods where it is used in both savory and sweet dishes, especially in French cuisine that calls for this spice to be used in tandem with nutmeg to balance the flavors; it is also the dominant flavor in doughnuts and a great companion for chocolate. Add whole mace to fruits while cooking; it can also be used in savory favorites, such as patés, creamed spinach and mashed potatoes.” Spiceworld.com

From the accompanying recipes, I chose cookies (mainly because they looked so easy to make.)

They were delicious!

May you have a Bit/Bite of Deliciousness this weekend!

Posted in Holidays and Seasonal Changes, How Has It Come to This?

“Through the Night” 🇺🇸

Posted on by Neal Saye

It is with divided sentiments that I awake early this 2025 Fourth of July and set the table for our little Independence Day breakfast.

Last evening Robert and I went over to daughter Amy’s for a family cookout and to watch incredible day-early fireworks from her lovely Moon River-facing balcony.

Glorious Beauty.

But as I stood behind my husband Robert and my ex-wife Donna, as they leaned on the railing toward the patriotic display …

… and as I listened to Lee Greenwood iconically singing from my son-in-law‘s speakers:

… I wondered, in the midst of the firework’s bangs, crackles, whistles and sizzles, if Lee’s words still ring true. Does the flag still stand for freedom under the current fascist regime? And if so, freedom for whom? For me as a married gay man? For my daughters and granddaughters to have autonomy over their own bodies? For my trans friends to live without threats of discrimination or even murder? Etc. Etc.

But Lee would have nothing of that viewpoint, as he continued to sing …

That absolute “knowing” of freedom in the USA has faded somewhat for me.

————————————————

I love yesteryear Kate Smith’s rendition of “God bless America,”

This morning, her phrase “through the NIGHT” emanates new meaning for me. For we are living/trying to live through a Darkened Night Phase of our beloved country, with democracy under attack from within by our own leaders. A democracy which my husband Robert spent nearly 30 years in the Army trying to defend. A democracy which many of his comrades gave their lives to defend.

So why do I display the flag this Independence Day morn?

And why do I still feel a measure of pride as I take my morning walk and see all of this in my Savannah neighborhood?

Because I hope and believe that God (or whatever force you believe is greater than evil) Will Bless the True America and grant us a new Dawn of Democracy after this Darkness.

I especially like this darkened black and white version of Kate Smith’s “God bless America.”

————————————————

Now that it has brightened up a bit, I’m going to sit down with HR (Hubby Robert) for breakfast.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 6/13/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. LOVE-ly coffee.

Origin Coffee Bar, Savannah

2. Watching (spying on?) and documenting my Handsome Hubby, as he walks toward our little car heading to an appointment.

“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

3. Spices! Robert and I love them.

Our spice drawer ..

Simply Organic is my favorite spice brand.

Our spice shelf …

Our Spice Club! …

Once a month or so, our local library offers patrons a new spice, along with an explanation and several recipes. This month is a spice I have never heard about before: Summer Savory.

“Summer savory, Satureja hortensis, is a sweet- and spicy-smelling herb, lighter in flavor than winter savory. It is a member of the Lamiaceae, or mint family, and is indigenous to the Mediterranean region. It is also closely related to rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, and mar-joram. Summer savory had both culinary and medicinal uses in ancient Greece and Rome.” Bull Street Library Spice Club

4. The amazing ability to simply Pay Attention. (That trait is sometimes a bit of a challenge for me and my “all over the map” brain.)

5. I SO appreciate the theme of this year’s Pride Festival in Atlanta.

RoughDraft Atlanta

May we all have a weekend where, even on the most minute of levels, we Realize that we can Resist that which attempts to damage our lives.