1. Healthy smoothies.
2. The colors of summer.
3. The never-changing truth of Henry David Thoreau.
4. Our legs. And the ability to use them.
5. Robert cool beach hat.
May you be cool, both figuratively and literally, this weekend.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts
1. Incredible Spanish and Cuban food at Columbia Restaurant in St. Augustine FL
I first discovered this gem, decades ago, at the original Columbia (which has Flamenco dancers!) in Ybor City (Tampa)
2. A week at the beach. Ponte Vedra FL.
3. The ability to feel at peace with the world (occasionally).
4. A big jacuzzi bathtub.
5. Fresh fish from a seafood market.
Marveling, for sure.
Robert got up at 6:12 this morning to photograph the sun rising on the Atlantic here at Ponte Vedra Florida, where we are staying for a week.
I woke up about 30 minutes later.
Now we’re sitting on the balcony, drinks in hand, gazing at the full moon.
1. This restroom sign at a restaurant in Atlanta.
2. This delightful Father’s Day card I got from kitty cat Benny.
3. Great FIFA Fun as Robert and I joined 68,000 other soccer fans at Atlanta’s FIFA Fan Festival in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park, as Spain played (and beat) Saudi Arabia at nearby Atlanta Stadium.
4. An incredible Mexican Hot Chocolate at Café Intermezzo in Atlanta.
5. Exploring the absolutely fascinating exhibit of the work of artist Amy Shepard (Michele Obama’s portrait) at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
You may remember that Sherald had a controversy at the Smithsonian involving one of her portraits of a trans figure posing as Miss Liberty.
“Amy Sherald, the acclaimed artist known for her official portrait of Michelle Obama, withdrew her retrospective ‘American Sublime’ from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in July 2025. The cancellation came after the museum expressed concerns over her painting Trans Forming Liberty, which depicts a Black transgender woman holding a torch in the pose of the Statue of Liberty.” Google AI
My favorite painting …
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts
1. My brother Lamar and me “decorating” our parents’ gravesite this morning in my little North Georgia hometown of Ball Ground.
2. Finally, after a decade, getting a new car.
Toyota Corolla HYBRID.
3. The ability to scratch when we itch!
4. Celebrating Robert’s birthday this evening at one of our favorite seafood restaurants, Atlanta Fish Market.
5. Butter.
May you have a delicious weekend ahead.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. An abundance of Coleus!
2. Robert’s incredible “Sin-sational Chocolate Cake” at Savannah’s Gallery Expresso the other evening.
Decadent chocolate cream cheese icing!
3. Remembering joyful childhood summers.
4. The sky. It’s always there. Clouds, rain, storms, industrial pollution/smoke, etc. may come and go across it for a time, but the sky is always there. Holding it all.
5. Our simple vegetable dinner last night. Charred bok choy, oven-roasted yellow squash, and fresh ripe tomatoes.
I hope you have a delicious weekend ahead!
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. Our charcuterie supper the other night.
2. This crazy can of baked beans I saw on the shelf at a supermarket the other day.
Dr. Pepper beans?!
3. The joy of surprise.
4. Finding out, from Ancestry DNA, about my ancestral trail.
5. My new Wisdom and Clarity candle I light while I’m working on my Summer Memoir Course.
May you experience some Joy of Surprise this weekend.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. Discovering this very cool observation tower on Skidaway Island near Savannah.
2. Wildlife to observe.
3. Being able to hear. What a blessing.
4. Cinnamon rolls for breakfast!
5. Spices
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. This incredible pizza Robert and I devoured at Ricciardi’s Pizzeria in Richmond Hill GA.
2. This sheet of flowery wrapping paper …
… which wrapped a bundle of supplies I need for a summer memoir writing course coming up in June.
More about that adventure later. 
3. The ability to get out of bed each morning.
4. Completing 2222 meditation sessions on my 10% Happier app.
Wouldn’t you think I’d be a tad more guru-ish by now?!
5. The beautiful spring lights outside daughter Amy‘s next-door neighbor‘s house.
May something light up beautifully for you this weekend.
NealEnJoy 