HR and I live in Savannah, home of one of the country’s largest (and rowdiest) St. Patrick’s Day Parades. We live directly on the parade route, which sounds terrific, and I suppose it was for the first couple of years.
But the parade (and even the days before) soon became somewhat of a headache, at least for us. Very party-oriented folks heavy drinking, property destroying.
So anyway, Robert and I get out of Dodge for a few days.
This year, we escaped to Magnolia Springs State Park and one of their cottages, a couple of hours north of us.
We didn’t have a parade, but we did have peace.
And color.
That’s Robert in the distance, talking to the clouds, I believe. 
For the last few years, Robert and I have taken part in a wonderful program here in our home state of Georgia: Farm Passport.
Over 100 farms are involved, and Passport participants travel to as many as they like: “Passport travelers will discover where their food comes from, meet the people who grow it and see firsthand how diverse agriculture is across the state! With each visit, travelers can get stamps in their passports, and they can earn prizes. The love of exploring Georgia, supporting local farms and eating fresh is lived out when traveling with this passport.” Gfb.ag
Today we visited our first farm for 2026 (the program just started for the year): Franklin’s Farm in Statesboro GA. This farm is primarily known for their wonderful satsuma mandarins.
I love their Georgia fruits and vegetables T-shirt.
Recently Robert and I visited Southern Belle Farms in McDonough GA. Walking to the side of their fabulous country market, HR yelled, “Neal, look! Baby Jesus on a truck!”
And sure enough, as I got closer, I saw them—all the stars of the traditional crèche: Mary, Joseph and the Baby. The Three Wise Men. An Angel. A Shepherd and his Sheep.
All mounted on an old school farm truck!
Robert started pointing and giving a little impromptu lecture about the various Nativity personnel, as if I were a toddler new to Sunday School.
Mentally asleep for a while in his mansplaining words, I finally woke up and asked, “What do you think happened to Mary’s left arm?”
“Neal, you’re missing the whole point of the display!” he sputtered as he huffed off toward the Kettle Corn stand.
I stood there for a while, pondering about what was missing. Until I finally followed the buttery scent to the Kettle Corn and to Robert.
Robert and I have been up in Philadelphia this week for an anniversary getaway, so most of my Happy Bringers are found within our travel.
1. First, a few photographic mistakes I made during the week. Which are actually sort of cool.
2. Delicious and messy Philly Cheesesteak at Pat’s King of Steaks (who supposedly created the iconic sandwich).
3. The Joy of being able to travel a bit. Everybody certainly doesn’t have the luxury.
4. Well, …
It was our anniversary after all.
5. Unbeknown to HR and me while planning our Philadelphia trek … landing smack dab in the center of Philly’s Gayborhood.
The blue dot is our hotel, Alexander Inn.
Iconic gay bookstore, Giovanni’s Room, a short walk away.
May you have a Grand and Gay Weekend ahead!
P.S. As I write this post, Robert and I are on the Midnight Train to Georgia. (We arrive in Atlanta early morn.)
“[We’re] leaving (leaving) On that midnight train to Georgia (leaving on a midnight train) Hmm, yeah Said [we’re] going back (going back to find) To a simpler place and time (and when [we take] that ride) Oh yes, [we are]”
Today, December 9, marks the 9th Anniversary of … Us.
Nine years ago today …
*********************
We’re now on a week Anniversary Getaway that started with a busy weekend in Atlanta and continued on to the neatest little boutique hotel in downtown Philadelphia.
Today, HR and I are taking the Amtrak …
… an hour away to a cold New York City for an Anniversary Day Trip.
First stop …
Then the subway to a NYC museum we have never visited …
Hi Robert. I look a tad demented. I blame it on the cold.
Fascinating!
Gingerbread!!!!
On to our Anniversary Meal at Del Frisco’s Grille, Rockerfeller Plaza.
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?)
Cool Mural in the Amtrak Station 
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 …
Butter Cake for dessert. Oh my goodness. This is train food?!
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.
Robert says “Hello.”
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.”
Our Travel Buddies playing second fiddle to the coffee.
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.”
Showing my age with an umbrella. Our Travel Buddies went with us! It was so difficult getting sunscreen on them.
Sun-tired, we trekked across Ocean Boulevard to one of my favorite restaurants from yesteryear, News Cafe.
HR smashing a smash burger.
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.
NealEnJoy 