My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. Pulling out my parents’ colorful and old metal Thanksgiving Platter. Still beautiful, even with its chips and dents from decades of use.
2. Time once again for Neal’s Citrus Cranberry Sauce!
3. The hope that tomorrow might be better.
4. After Thanksgiving lunch …
… Robert taking photos of Daughter Amy and her fam for their 2025 Christmas card.
5. HR and a spot of wine.
May you drink heavily from the spring of joy this weekend.
So this afternoon, HR (Husband Robert, to the uninitiated), Ex-wife Donna and I went to see the current top-grossing film in the nation, Wicked: For Good.
We got our popcorn and headed for Auditorium One, when we decided we REALLY needed photo documentation (well, perhaps I alone decided that, but HR and Donna went along).
In a weird way, just the three of us out together on a movie date is … Defying Gravity.
“It’s time to try defying gravity
I think I’ll try defying gravity
And you can’t pull me down”
I Have Been.
Moaning a bit this morning.
Is it just me, or is “Goodbye” just SO much harder than “Hello”?
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. Robert’s little red hat under Burger King’s new lights … which look like a gargantuan burger. See the top bun on the right?
2. Remembering last Sunday and Savannah Photo Club’s Third Sunday Photo Walk. (Whew. That’s a mouthful.)
We met at the newly opened and very cool Laundry Diner …
… and walked about a mile around the Thomas Square neighborhood.
Most folks had these fancy cameras (including Robert), some with lens as long as my forearm, but I tagged along, head held high, with my trusty iPhone.
Perhaps the thing I love most about the monthly walk, other than the photo snapping and the socializing, is the opportunity to really SEE your city, up close and personal, which can only be done on foot.
Oh, we finished up the walk back at the diner, sharing a … little BLT.
3. The ability to walk. Oh my goodness, what an “I usually take it for granted” blessing!
4. Simple beauty.
5. Attending an absolutely fascinating interview at our local Jepson Center for the Arts, featuring New York-based costume designer for stage and film Tracy Christensen.
After talking about the behind-the-scenes work involved in dressing characters, Tracy specifically delved into her collaborative role with Glenn Close and the Broadway reprisal of Sunset Boulevard in 2017.
Miraculously, Robert and I were in NYC and able to see the brilliant actress as Norma Desmond on the very final day of the production.
A few samples of Close’s archive of outfits she wore in various projects over the years on display at The Jepson.
Look! There’s HR, walking down his own pretend runway.
May Happiness and Good Health be your Costume this Weekend.
Walking through Hobby Lobby the other day, Robert and I came upon these neat seasonal kitchen towels …
I stopped to chat with them for a bit, while HR wandered off … who knows where in the gargantuan store.
“Uh, did you know that Fall is not actually a color?” I probably somewhat ‘I’m-a-retired-professor’ asked the towels.
They answered immediately, and I might add, a bit mockingly: “Uh, you call yourself a retired professor, and yet you don’t understand simple literary devices.”
Taken back a bit by the question, I could not think of a single literary device.
The towels, sensing my embarrassment and feeling a little sorry for me, gently explained: “The statement ‘fall is my favorite color’ primarily uses a literary device called synesthesia.”
“Right,” I said, trying to remember if I had ever heard of “synesthesia.”
I turned away and quickly Googled.
Synesthesia involves blending senses—in this case, treating a season (“fall,” a concept related to time and nature) as if it were a color (a visual property), thus associating the qualities of the season (the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows of the leaves) with the single concept of a “color.” Google AI
“Y’all ARE right!“ I sorta yelled. (It doesn’t take much to get me excited.)
“Fall has always been my favorite season. And now it’s my favorite color too! Thank you!”
But they were already starting to chat with the next customer, explaining Sensational Synesthesia.
I love these fall colors somewhat hiding in the morning shadows here in Historic District Savannah.
Mama and her cute little triplets we saw on a walk.
Yes …
And that’s my Saturday Evening Post.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. Buying my first bunch of mid-fall Southern fresh collards at our favorite little neighborhood grocer here in Savannah, The Red and White.
With hog jowls, adding the flavor of yesteryear and Granny. Dinner tonight with Beef Brisket and my jalapeño cornbread.
2. Napping with Benny.
3. The ability to REMEMBER.
What is something you remember with fondness this Friday?
Right now I’m remembering how excited Robert was last Christmas sitting between Santa and Mrs. Claus.
And I realize I’ve had almost a year now to tell HR that there is no real Santa, but with that smile, I just can’t quite bring myself to do it.
4. Pain medication when we need it.
5. The glorious Introduction to the Holidays Robert and I experienced today at the annual Holly Days Luncheon and Bazaar hosted by the incredible women of St. John’s Church here in Savannah.
We’ve been walking across the Historic District for years now to experience this delicious snd elegantly festive day.
The lunch was held at the church’s beautifully historic Green-Meldrim House, which …
I opted for the BBQ plate, HR the salad trio.
We were GREATLY distracted while eating our lunch because of the Huge Dessert Table right next to us.
I chose the Red Velvet Cake with homemade whipped cream, while Robert got the Guinness Chocolate Cake with whipped cream and fruit compote. (He’s fancy.). He asked for a tall glass of glass of Guinness to go along with it, but he did not get what he asked for.
And post-lunch we loved walking through the Silent Auction area.
Look! A Nanny Bench! (Truthfully, I had never heard of such a thing before.)
See that little railing on the left side. That’s where Nanny plops down Baby so she can snooze a bit while rocking the bench.
Speaking of sitting, check out this beautiful little window alcove.
Let’s get closer and into the light.
Do you think it would be okay if I sat down for just a sec on that gigantic comfy- and angelic-looking pillow?
By the way, it was the golden mirror for sale, not the pretty pillow. My silent offer of $4.99 didn’t get very far, darn it.
But we did pick up a couple of books …
… and some homemade vegetable soup for another day …
We were certainly Well Fed in Every Way at this year’s fun-filled Holly Days.
May you have a healthy weekend and be Fed with a substantial Serving of Joy.
NealEnJoy 