1. This photo I snapped yesterday of an elderly couple, holding hands and walking into Walmart. For some reason, it sort of melted my heart for a moment.
Even in Christmas colors! 
2. Robert and I attending last night‘s annual Christmas tree lighting at the Jepsen Center for the Arts here in downtown Savannah.
The event featured a Fabulous Harpist (who we have seen at another downtown event or two).
And here’s Robert bothering her while she’s trying to perform.
TIB (Truth in Blogging): They were chatting, and she was excitedly telling Robert about how she unexpectedly started getting email checks for her work that somehow made its way … to Russia! TMI?
Look, The Clauses! (Is that how you spell their plural last name?)
I think she was the real Mrs. Claus. Robert apparently did too. I got HR a quick part-time job, taking festive photos of other revelers.
3. The good-feeling ability to be excited about seasonal changes and holidays. I know that it’s a blessing because many people are not happy at this time of year.
4. Beautiful Camelias, the “Winter Rose,” blooming all over downtown Savannah.
Hiding behind a courtyard wall
5. Beautifully delicious coffee (peppermint mocha) at Origin Coffee Bar.
Robert got a cookie with his coffee too, but it dropped in and melted. I laughed, a bit too loudly. He tried to even the score by saying that his coffee was much better with the melted cookie. 
**********************
And here I am trying to be all bohemian coffee shop-artsy …
May your happiness this weekend be better than a melted cookie.
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.
Centerpiece on a lunch table recently
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.
Glorious chrysanthemums at a market we visited recently.
Mama and her cute little triplets we saw on a walk.
My jalapeño cornbread last night.Black and White Cookies & Pan de Muerto at our Day of the Dead Dinner
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 …
greenmeldrimhouse.org
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.
Robert and I had a quiet, meaningful couple of hours the other evening setting up our annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) ofrenda (altar), remembering our parents and other loved ones who have passed on before us.
The time was especially dear for me this year because I thought to pull out some old files that, along with other paraphernalia, stayed for decades in my parents’ safety deposit box before they died (my mother in 2016 and my father in 2020).
In one file was the funeral information about a brother, Jimmie, who was born in 1946 and only lived for five weeks.
My mother dried and kept some flowers from his little grave.
In the little baggie behind the Celtic cross.
These old flowers are now 78 years ago—three quarters of a century!
I love the Day of the Dead season. “Nov. 1 is known as Día de los Angelitos, which honors the souls of deceased children, and Nov. 2 is Día de los Muertos.” usatoday.com
So today HR and I remembered little Jimmie and his brief life.
Marveling this Monday, remembering the terrific Savannah Pride Weekend we just experienced.
As I have mentioned before, both Savannah and Atlanta hold their Pride Festivals in October because the traditional month of June is simply TOO HOT here.
We started the weekend at our church’s Friday night Pride Service. 
Then Saturday was the Savannah Pride Festival in beautiful Forsyth Park.
HR Trying to decide if he’s too old for the inflatable gym.
NealEnJoy 