My husband Robert (robertsnapspot.com) suggested I look into Becky B’s Daily Squares — Simply Red. So here I am.
(Hi Becky. Am I doing this correctly?)
Daily Squares: Theme – Simply Red – Hosted by Becky at The Life
It is with divided sentiments that I awake early this 2025 Fourth of July and set the table for our little Independence Day breakfast.
Last evening Robert and I went over to daughter Amy’s for a family cookout and to watch incredible day-early fireworks from her lovely Moon River-facing balcony.
But as I stood behind my husband Robert and my ex-wife Donna, as they leaned on the railing toward the patriotic display …
… and as I listened to Lee Greenwood iconically singing from my son-in-law‘s speakers:
… I wondered, in the midst of the firework’s bangs, crackles, whistles and sizzles, if Lee’s words still ring true. Does the flag still stand for freedom under the current fascist regime? And if so, freedom for whom? For me as a married gay man? For my daughters and granddaughters to have autonomy over their own bodies? For my trans friends to live without threats of discrimination or even murder? Etc. Etc.
But Lee would have nothing of that viewpoint, as he continued to sing …
That absolute “knowing” of freedom in the USA has faded somewhat for me.
I love yesteryear Kate Smith’s rendition of “God bless America,”
This morning, her phrase “through the NIGHT” emanates new meaning for me. For we are living/trying to live through a Darkened Night Phase of our beloved country, with democracy under attack from within by our own leaders. A democracy which my husband Robert spent nearly 30 years in the Army trying to defend. A democracy which many of his comrades gave their lives to defend.
So why do I display the flag this Independence Day morn?
And why do I still feel a measure of pride as I take my morning walk and see all of this in my Savannah neighborhood?
Because I hope and believe that God (or whatever force you believe is greater than evil) Will Bless the True America and grant us a new Dawn of Democracy after this Darkness.
I especially like this darkened black and white version of Kate Smith’s “God bless America.”
Now that it has brightened up a bit, I’m going to sit down with HR (Hubby Robert) for breakfast.
A blog category of photos I’ve taken of HR (Hubby Robert) and … well, just about anything.
I haven’t done a “Robert and …” post in a while. Truth be told, I had forgotten about the category. (Don’t tell Robert.) So …
Robert and … Consummate Coffee Service.
Breakfast yesterday at one of our favorite coffee bars here in Savannah, Flora and Fauna.
HR Serving Coffee and … Love.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. This visually very pretty (and delicious) box of dried fruit and nuts from Turkey. (A belated Father’s Day gift).
2. Looking forward to an end-of-Pride Month gathering tomorrow here in Savannah.
3. The Amazing Ability to doze off every night for Sensational Sleep.
4. Crepe Myrtle (“Lily of the South”) blossoms all over Savannah this hot summer.
5. Clouds.
Like sleep, I find them so mysterious.
“I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s cloud illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all”
Joni Mitchell (and me!)
But I do love them.
Have a Jolly last weekend in June.
After another yummy breakfast on our little balcony …
… and saying goodbye to our Miami Fortune House Airbnb …
… we headed to the Miami Amtrak and started homeward bounding. (Why do vacations have to end? Who came up with that idea?)
Soon after we boarded the train, the rain started to come down! (Bad weather had not been a problem at all during our lovely stay.)
But actually, lying back in our reclining chairs, the rain was rather nice.
Of course, a little later, our Travel Buddies begged to go with us to the Dining Car for lunch …
Oh look, here’s our delightful new-bestie and train car attendant Jasmine …
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this train trip has been the really good quality of the food.
Dinner tonight was Flatiron Steak.
Well, our little roomette has been magically transformed into cozy berths. The travel buddies are vacation-exhausted. We’ve brushed our teeth and said our prayers, so it’s time to say “Goodnight.”
These little thingamajigs are all over downtown Miami delivering who-knows-what to who-knows-who.
Breakfast on our little balcony.
With pastries from the Bakery at Versailles (from yesterday).
Left to right: Millefeuille au Caramel, Pistachio Cannoli and Tarta Santiago.
Oops, I smudged the Tarta Santiago. Here’s what it looked like before:
“Tarta de Santiago, or St. James Cake, is an almond cake from Galicia with its origins in the Middle Ages. The cake is a simple base of almonds, sugar and eggs, usually flavored with cinnamon and lemon zest.
It’s easy to identify it as it’s almost always adorned with powdered sugar with an imprint of the Cross of St. James, also known as the Cruz de Santiago.” sundaybaker.com
Now you know.
Stuffed, we made our way over to Miami Beach, South Beach to be specific, for a little morning “swim.”
Sun-tired, we trekked across Ocean Boulevard to one of my favorite restaurants from yesteryear, News Cafe.
Goodbye News Cafe. We had a great time.
Before heading back to downtown Miami, we Ubered over to the Lincoln Road Pedestrian Mall. Why? Because in my memory (from academic conference trips to the University of Miami a couple of decades ago) Lincoln Road was filled with all these quirky shops, bars and restaurants. No more. Big name stores everywhere.
But we did see this:
A terrific day at the beach.
NealEnJoy 