Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 11/29/24

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. This old tree we saw near us on a Thanksgiving morning walk in Savannah’s Colonial Park Cemetery.

Do you see what I see on his trunk?

In the lower half, there’s a Big Bunny with gigantic upward ears!

And if you forget the bunny and look again at the entire trunk, there’s a Brown Monster with a three-pronged crown, green tongue and menacingly raised arms! Watch out!

2. On the other hand, here’s a quartet of happily handsome fellows: son-in-law Scott and three grandsons Jack, Gabriel and Daniel searching for the perfect Christmas tree.

3. A bountiful Thanksgiving Feast yesterday.

Robert, Me, Son-in-law Scott and Daughter Amy who hosted
Oh, and Coastal, ready to play.

4. Moments in life when you feel JOY.

5. And finally, I’m happily thankful for HR.

Okay, that’s a BIG image.

May you have a BIG weekend ahead!

Posted in Encouragement

A Major Woman’s Race and a Minor Old Man

Today my beautiful Savannah hosted the inaugural Every Woman’s Marathon, with over 7000 female runners and about 140 males (well, they wanted to be inclusive).

The finish line, after the 26.2 miles, ended just outside our front door.

Looking out my second-floor window, I saw women of every ethnicity, age, body type and physical ability running, running, running toward the finish line.

Toward the finish line of equality.

Toward the finish line of a woman’s marathon being just as significant (more?) as a male-dominated marathon.

For some reason, I became obsessed with this race. Every now and then walking down my stairs out onto East Broad Street to see the goings-on.

A few hours into the marathon, Robert and I walked over to the finish line and added our voices to the incredibly loud “You-Did-It!” for a multitude of women (and a few men) from all 50 states and 12 countries pushing toward a physically difficult finish.

Later, after the race, young volunteers from the Every Woman’s Marathon team were walking around picking up trash and putting them in garbage bags. Outside our place, directly in front of HR’s little tree garden, a young man’s bag burst, and all the trash spilled out!

I saw this, looking (nosily) out the window. Robert suggested that I run down and give him one of our trash bags. I did. He was so very grateful, thanking me profusely.

I walked back into our hallway, and heard the young man say to his buddy, “That nice old man really helped me, giving me that trash bag.”

I’m fine with that, just helping empty the trash.

Because we have certainly created a whole bunch of trash over the eons.

But Truth still runs

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 11/15/24

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Scrumptious beignets at Huey‘s, a New Orleans style restaurant on the Savannah River near us. (Well, not literally ON the river.)

And to be honest, they are SO much better than the beignets we have had in New Orleans. 

And here’s HR, tackling the steep stairs heading back home.

I’m not sure why he looks a little pouty in this photo. He just had beignets, for goodness sake. 

2. Finding, at a Little Library (do you have those where you are?) over in Hinesville, Georgia, a delightfully funny children’s book that I used to read to my daughters when they were little ones.

3. The ability—and privilege—of being able TO READ. What a blessing!

4. Grandson Daniel singing “Bring Him Home,”accompanied by the Savannah Country Day School Orchestra at their Veterans Day assembly on Monday.

Here’s a fifteen second Instagram post:

5. Robert, ex-wife Donna and me, heading to our yearly beginning-of-the-holidays traditional lunch at St. John Episcopal Church here in Historic District Savannah …

St. John’s Green-Meldrim House next door, where the luncheon is held …

… has a fascinating history. Here are a few tidbits:

May a few tidbits of fascination find their way to you this weekend.

Posted in My Saturday Evening Post

My Saturday Evening Post: 11/9/24 “Sitting”

Sitting in Greene Square, one of my very favorite Savannah squares near us, reading.

It’s dusk; the sun has said goodnight.

And behind me is the church where Martin Luther King Jr. practiced his “I Have A Dream” speech before perfecting it in DC.

I’m still having difficulty processing Tuesday’s election.

But may America’s dream of “liberty and justice for ALL” somehow continue.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 11/1/24

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Grandchildren Trick or Treating last night …

Isabelle and Madison

Or going to their first high school homecoming game and dance …

Gabriel, with the distinctive hair

2. Our Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebration and meal today.

Robert and I were especially celebrating the lives of our parents.

Black eyed peas and hog jowls (one of my folks’ favorite dishes). With ultimate lump crab cakes (one of Baltimore HR’s folks’ fav).

3. Memories.

4. These incredible lacquered flower pumpkins in front of a Savannah Historic District home near us.

Look!

5. Incredibly good-smelling fall candles.

May you “fall” into a great weekend ahead.