… the more the concept of a good picture of myself changes.
This evening, for instance, I walked the block or so from our place here in Historic District Savannah to sit up on the bluff from the Savannah River and read.
OK, OK, maybe it’s not The Iliad. But it is a whole bunch of escapist fun.
For some inexplicable reason, I decided to take a selfie …
And there you go — an Older Age Portrait.
HAPPY MONDAY EVENING FROM SAVANNAH!
Robert’s Hand, Benny’s Head.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. Savannah doors and windows showing off their living beauty near us.
2. The ability to recognize beauty as such.
3. My friend Riboclavin (long story about his unusual moniker, for another time) and his breakfast this morning in Munich, Germany where he is visiting.
4. Speaking of breakfast, my Apple Cobbler for Two this morning from provincial Savannah. 
5. Another look at Approaching Autumn (see yesterday‘s post) on my walk earlier this morning.

May you approach, and be approached by, Beauty this weekend. 
Approaching Autumn often finds me in what I call (probably foolishly) my Melancholy Joy Frame of Mind or Temperament: 50% Despondency at Summer’s Goodbye and 50% Delight at Fall’s Coming Orange Cool.
And as I find myself getting close to Autumn this year, I realize that I too—and not just 2024—am in my September Stage of Life.
Approaching Autumn pulled no punches this morning when I unexpectedly ran into her in, of all places, the shared second floor hallway of our old Savannah apartment building.
About a week ago, Robert had placed a beautiful, summery-looking orange day lily with several blossoms in one of the hall windows.
This morn, when I opened our front door and walked out into the hallway, I saw her there in the window. Approaching Autumn herself.
I walked over cautiously to her. 
A bit dismayed at what I saw, I clumsily asked, “What’s going on? You don’t look like summer anymore.”
“Neal. It’s time. I’m Falling.”
“ I still don’t get it,” I complained. “You can’t just out of the blue … BE Fall. You are Summer.”
“Do I look like Summer now?”
I stood for a bit … stuck. In between seasons. HR growing anxious behind me to get on with our breakfast date.
Approaching Autumn, sensing my frustration, asked, “Weren’t you an English major in college? Didn’t you read Frost? He understood. Let him remind you:
I can’t say I completely and lovingly embraced her/his explanation. But I did find a melancholy beauty in its Truth.
I started to walk away when Approaching Autumn spoke her last: “And just so you know Neal, you don’t exactly look like summer anymore either.”
But she smiled as she made the comment. I released some pent-up tension and paid her back with a new season Melancholy Joy smile of my own.
“Let’s go,” I said to Robert.
And with creaky knees, I tackled the narrow 1850s stairwell and headed outside into yet another new day.
What a Challenge!
May September’s Prophecy be one of Health and Joy for us all.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
Gloriously colorful, geometric shapes everywhere!
2. The ongoing belief that our bodies know how to be well and are always trying to move toward wellness.
3. Colorful carrots!
I made a delicious new dish, Maple Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Fennel Seeds, with some of them.
4. Our “Travel Buddies.” Have I told you about them? Three silly little stuffed animals HR and I have given each other over the years. But they travel with us EVERYWHERE we go.
I’ll do a blog post about some of their adventures soon.
5. Friday!
Joyful weekend ahead for you!
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. A terrific cast iron skillet breakfast at one of our favorite local eateries here in Savannah, J Christopher’s …
2. My new cow.
3. Air conditioning! (And it makes me sad and a bit privileged to realize that everyone does not have this luxury. Maybe a lot privileged.)
4. Beautiful views from our hotel room last weekend.
5. Basil lemonade!
May you have a beautiful summery weekend!
I love this hymn we sang at church this week, as the theme of the service was celebrating our nation’s independence holiday.
It challenges the belief that the United States is “God’s country,” that the USA is more special and deserving of good than other nations.
Take a look at the lyrics, with my emphasis in red:
This Is My Song
by Georgia Elma Harkness, Jean Sibelius, and Lloyd Stone
Verse 1
This is my song O God of all the nations
A song of peace for lands afar and mine
This is my home the country where my heart is
Here are my hopes my dreams my holy shrine
But other hearts in other lands are beating
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine
Verse 2
My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean
And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine
But other lands have sunlight too and clover
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine
O hear my song Thou God of all nations
A song of peace for their land and for mine
Verse 3
This is my prayer O Lord of all earth’s kingdoms
Thy kingdom come on earth Thy will be done
Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve Him
And hearts united learn to live as one
O hear my prayer Thou God of all nations
Myself I give Thee let Thy will be done
God bless … the World and all its Nations.
