Tag: Life experiences

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 8/26/22

Posted on by Neal Saye

1. Realizing that some broken things CAN be fixed.

My special wooden “N” (for Neal) that I somehow dropped and splintered.

But now it’s back on the top of my Desires Board, next to Mr. Happy and down just a bit from my Yes Stick. (Okay, I can see your furrowed brow. During the pandemic, HR and I traveled to a bunch of Georgia State parks, where we went on many a hike. I would often see a Y-shaped stick or tree branch on the trail and tell Robert it was a Yes Stick, to pause and think of something to say “Yes!” to. On one marvel-ous hike at Tugaloo State Park, HR saw this Y Stick, brought it home and shellacked it for us. Yes! TMI?)

2. The incredible ability to walk (which I usually just take for granted). To be able to put one foot in front of the other … and go forward! Try it!

3. Finally finishing with Robert this week the eye-, mind- and heart-opening A New Origin Story: The 1619 Project.

A difficult but so important read about the role that slavery and racism played in our nation’s founding—and continues to play in the U.S. today.

I wish its meticulously documented truths could be taught in every high school.

5. Butterflies

Callaway Resort and Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA

Species: HR

4. Soap. (For sensitive skin)

I wish you a joyfully clean weekend ahead.

Posted in The View from Behind

The View from Behind #4: “Proud?”

Posted on by Neal Saye

For some reason, I have always appreciated “the view from behind.” As a child, on the first day of each school year, I was a nervous wreck waiting for the teacher to announce our seating arrangement. Front of the class? 😢 Too much exposure! Far too much responsibility to “be.” A nice, comfy seat toward the back? 😁 Perfect. I get to observe, to “see.” To breathe calmly.

In this blog category, “The View from Behind,” I invite you to join me, somewhere in the back.

I have not always been proud. As a matter of fact, it took most of a lifetime to come to terms with being gay. That designation, that reality, somehow took a hidden back seat.

But in my … EARLY senior years, I am attempting to embrace the gay joy of being gay.

Posted in Family

It Starts with “L”

Posted on by Neal Saye

So if you have followed my blog for a while now, you know that I am married to a man, Robert, and that we are very close to my ex-wife Donna.

We actually took her out for lunch today. (Five Guys, Burgers and Fries— in case you are wondering. I’m a big spender.)

I was recently looking through my storage bins of “old stuff” and came across this …

A little gift from Donna years (no decades!) ago.

The incredible truth?

IT’S STILL TRUE!

At a Braves game.
Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 8/19/22

Posted on by Neal Saye

1. My homemade pickled jalapeños … on everything.

This time a turkey, cheddar, lettuce, tomato and onion pita.

2. Truth …

3. Discovering Senior Citizens Inc. here in Savannah and attending a fascinating lecture, “The Rosenwald Schools: Challenge and Triumph.”

I bought the book!

4. Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes.

5. My chair in our study! It has a personality of its own. It’s alive. It (he? she? they?) is a place of refuge for me. It’s where I read. And mediate. It’s where I sit in peace.

And where I often sit in not-so-peace when my anxiety, Truffles, comes a’knockin. (My anxiety protocol sheet is at the ready nearby in the magazine rack.)

And the checkered pillow?

I bought it for my father when he was in assisted living and early dementia.

When I lean back on it, I feel his strength.

May you sit in joyful peace this weekend.

Posted in Robert and …

“Robert and … #24”

Posted on by Neal Saye

A blog category of pics I’ve taken of HR (Hubby Robert) and … well, just about anything.

Robert and … a Nine’s Clock.

See how many of the equations you can solve.

TiB (Truth in Blogging): The clock belongs to my ex-wife Donna, a retired math professor. HR had just repaired the broken clockwork thingies for her.

Wait! Before you go, here’s a spellbinding film that captures the essence of Robert, a cat and the Nine’s Clock.

Posted in My Saturday Evening Post

My Saturday Evening Post: 8/13/22 “Pie Evolution”

Posted on by Neal Saye

Yesterday, I fashioned my only-once-a-season summer tradition …

Neal’s Savannah Summer Tomato Pie.

Both labor and time-intensive, it is nevertheless a delight to the eyes, nose and tastebuds.

First the ingredients. Home grown tomatoes, if possible, and if not, locally grown ones at a produce stand or farmers market. HR and I get ours at Davis Produce a few miles away from us near Tybee Island.

Fresh basil and chives.

Diced bacon and shallots.

Wait, here’s a riveting video!

Layering cheese, bacon, herbs and shallot mixture with the tomatoes.

Into the oven.

An hour later.

Tomato Joy!