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.
One of the unexpected joys of living in Savannah’s Historic District, just a couple of blocks from the mighty Savannah River, has been regularly seeing (and hearing) the massive cargo and container ships making their way into our busy port.
The Port of Savannah, the nation’s third largest seaport, is special because the ships leave the Atlantic Ocean, navigate their way inland about 15 miles to downtown Savannah, and pass directly in front of our busiest tourist strip on River Street …
It’s always fun to be on a walk along the river when a huge ship comes into view and watch the shell-shocked tourists gaping at the ships’ sizes.
Here’s a short video from last year when the largest container ship EVER came to Savannah.
And here are a few random shots of ships Robert and I have enjoyed seeing as we walked along the river.
Just the other night …
My shadow and HR
Others …
But, perhaps somewhat weirdly, the greatest Ship Joy of all to me is SOUND.
Robert and I will be in bed (most commonly with HR peacefully asleep and me slowly, slowly heading in that direction). But all of a sudden I will hear it. And perk up. Sometimes even sit up.
From a few blocks away, down on the river. The night ships. The sonorous, plaintive, somehow both exuberant and unexplainably sad horn, sounding from the ship, finally, finally making its way, exhausted, from who knows where into our little city … and past the sleepy little dwelling of Neal and HR.
Listen …
And somehow, that sound, time and time again, makes me realize that we can get from Where We Are … to Where We Need to Be. To a port of rest, to a place of quiet. To a place of, at least temporarily, no more movement.
Each day, I continue to be amazed at the incredible, diverse joy of Plant Life.
Collards — my joy!Carrots and onions. Savannah corn!Local tomatoes The elephant ear, my favorite plant of all time.Pumpkin glory. Bananas!Sunflower (inside our apartment!)
This post could go on and on, but I’ll end with perhaps The Joy of My Life, the southern Longleaf Pine …
2. The Atlanta Braves winning the National League East … again.
3. Lunch with youngest granddaughter Isabelle for Pre-K lunch (at 10:45 a.m.!).
Isabelle hugging Nana and holding a tiny piece of broccoli.
4. Colorful Fall
Corner of our dining table
5. The simple joy of being alive.
Side note: The dead-looking, brownish clumps you see to the right and underneath the brilliant green …
They are not dead at all. They are Resurrection Ferns. And as soon as the next rain comes, they will burst into more obvious life and challenge the green vine’s brilliance.
May we all burst into More Obvious Life this weekend!