Tag: Life experiences

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 10/24/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Yummy Muscadine Barbecue Wings I made the other night.

2. Walking into PetSmart and seeing this Halloween costume display for doggies.

Seriously?

3. Our sense of Sound. What are you hearing right now? Pause for a second and be mindful of all the sounds in your experience at this moment. Even if some of those sounds are perhaps a bit annoying (hello neighborhood dog that will not stop barking), still, what a blessing to be able to hear!

4. Being mesmerized by more than 10,000 pumpkins (!) on display on a recent trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

(P.S. I asked one of the garden workers what would happen to all of the pumpkins when they were removed. She told me they would be made into mulch for the garden. I felt better after that.)

5. This quirky drawing of a goat.

May something quirky give you a bit of happiness this weekend!

Posted in My Saturday Evening Post

My Saturday Evening Post: 10/18/25 “No Kings — Savannah”

Posted on by Neal Saye

Today’s No Kings Day here in Savannah loudly and colorfully protested Trump’s increasingly dangerous authoritarian moves.

Robert and I joined five thousand other patriotic Americans to say in unison that we have had enough of Trump’s Hitler-esque “leadership.”

My favorite chant at the protest:

“Tell Me What Democracy Looks Like.”

“This Is What Democracy Looks Like!”

It Really Isn’t.

What a peaceful, beautiful, loving, patriotic gathering of folks wanting the best for our nation.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

And that’s my Saturday Evening Post,.

Saturday Evening Post
Saturday Evening Post
Posted in One-Word Wednesday

One-Word Wednesday 10/15/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

“Pride”

Robert and I drove up to Atlanta last weekend for the city’s 2025 Pride Festival and Parade. This year‘s theme was …

decaturish.com

So Robert and I joined 999,998 friends on the sidewalks of Midtown Atlanta (two blocks from our neat little Airbnb) to watch seemingly endless bands, floats and various parade entries saunter down Atlanta’s famed Peachtree Street.

If you know, anything about Pride celebrations, you may be wondering why Atlanta Pride is held in October rather than the traditional month of June. It’s a Southern thing: the weather is simply far too hot in June.

There were quite a few political candidates running for various offices marching in the parade. But interestingly enough, all Democrats, not a single Republican bothered to show up and support gay rights.

The parade and the day exploded with joyous fun, camaraderie and much inclusive love.

May we march on … Pridefully.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 10/10/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. The beauty and importance of FIRE.

The other evening at Skidaway Island State Park, Savannah

2. Reaching 1400 days of meditation (not all in a row!) using the 10% Happier app.

Wouldn’t you think I’d have it a little more together by now?!

3. My toes! Wiggle yours real quick and give them a little “Thanks”.

4. A cute little fellow I saw the other morning just outside our front door.

Look harder!

5. Heading up to Atlanta this morning for Atlanta Pride 2025 over the weekend.

This year’s theme, “Rooted in Resistance,” honors what festival organizers say is the layered history of the LGBTQ+ movement, “acknowledging the foundational acts of defiance and courage that have paved the way for current advancements.” wabe.org

HR and me, 2023

“From Stonewall to the present day, we have continually stood firm in the face of adversity, demanding our rights and celebrating our identities,” said Chris McCain, executive director of Atlanta Pride, in a June press release. “This theme is a call to remember our past, acknowledge our ongoing struggles, and empower every individual to contribute to a future where all LGBTQ+ people can thrive, free from fear and prejudice.” wabe.org

New York Pride, 2016

What is something you’re very proud about?

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 9/26/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. This lovely little harbinger of serenity who peacefully greets me each time I walk into our bathroom.

No, no, not the patriotic wise owl on the top shelf. Look closer, down in the lower left.

In light and shadow, she welcomes me.

(But I’m trying to get her a better working environment.)

2. My beautifully shirted HR and this amazing cinnamon roll we had the other morning at a new restaurant near us, The Municipal Bar, inside a new hotel, The Municipal, which is a gorgeous revamp of an old city building where we used to pay our water bill. TMI?

3. The ability to taste. Isn’t that sense just absolutely amazing?!

4. Experiencing the Fall season, even inside the house. Here’s our pretty mature fiddle leaf fig.

She has been shedding a few leaves lately—but then again, haven’t we all?

For some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to simply throw the leaves away.

So I looked around and plopped them in our little wall vase.

And actually found them quite beautiful in their color-changing Autumnal phase.

Look at the chlorophyll saying goodbye.

Robert (so very helpfully) reminded me recently that I too am in my Fall/Autumn Phase.

After I started speaking to him again, I thought about it and decided to hope that my chlorophyll stays bright and green for a while longer.

5. Getting successfully through an intracept procedure earlier this week (a type of back surgery, which hopefully will help my lower back pain).

I got to keep the hat. 

Is it legal for HR to take photos in a surgery center? I would have yelled at him, but I was a bit out of it.

(More about THAT entire experience in an upcoming post.)

May you have some non-surgical fun this weekend.