Twins – NealEnJoy

Humor, Neal's Writing, New, Savannah Joy, The Joy and Wisdom of Children, Transition, Uncategorized, Where Happiness Finds You

The Bear and the Unicorn

Posted on January 24, 2018January 24, 2018 by Neal Saye

For my recent suxteee-seckth birthday, I celebrated with my big ole’ modern family …

… at Savannah’s Tequila’s Town restaurant in Sandfly.

(Seriously? Can you believe they come hooting “Happy Bday” laden with tequila for the celebrant! Even though I had my large head prepared for an oversized sombrero and some flan.)

Post-tequila I received some neat gifts, but perhaps my Favorites came from five-year-old grandtwins Madison (inappropriately pictured above next to the tequila) and Matthew. Their mom let them pick out their gifts for me. Madison gave me a pink unicorn in a love mug …

…while Matthew opted for a brown bear that actually smells like chocolate when you rub it vigorously!

(Matthew is in an over-smiling-for-the-camera stage.)

Oh, they also each got me a large skein of yarn–yellow from Madison and green from Matthew. Not that I knit (who has the patience for that?!), but because they like to unravel the yarn, make giant spiderwebs and throw it all over the furniture and each other.

Thus, inspired by the tequila, when I got home I opted for a quick photoshoot to document my suxteee-seckth.

Moral of Story: the strangest little gifts ofttimes make for the biggest shots of … Joy.

In Our Own Backyard, The Joy and Wisdom of Children

Rainbow Joy

Posted on August 23, 2015August 23, 2015 by Neal Saye

Last evening I went to a fun but bittersweet farewell party for good buddy Ellie Covington (who is Texas-bound, Galveston).

After a torrential downfall forced the party onto the carport, the late-stayers ventured out onto the dock by the marsh and saw this …

(Do you see the second one to the right?)

Of course, we all had to get a little silly.

I quickly texted the pic to my fam and got this response from daughter Emily (mother of grandtwins Madison and Mathew) from the other side of Savannah:

“We can hold it too!”

The joyful promise of a rainbow!

May the excitement and happiness of children be with us all, especially Ellie as she makes her move to the next successful stage of her life!

Encouragement, Holiday Joy

Have You Counted Your Holiday Blessings? (Part One)

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Neal Saye

Have you done so this holiday? Blessings come in SO many forms and dressings. I urge you to take a sheet of paper and number your joys. Here is a sampling of mine:

1. I had to miss my seven year-old grandson Daniel’s first piano recital earlier this week. (I was SO frustrated.) Tonight at my family’s early Christmas dinner, I walked in the door and daughter Amy had arranged for Daniel to dress back up in his Calvin Klein suit and play Jingle Bells (as he did at the recital). It melted my heart.

(Okay, I’m not sure about the sunglasses either.)

(Absolute grandfather joy.)

Here’s Daniel at the actual recital:

2. The ability to smell Christmas.

3. Enjoying the power of silly.

4. Hosting a Holiday and Hot Toddy Chili Party Saturday night.

What fun!

Good buddies Ellie, Jamie and Brennan.

I read “A Cup of Christmas Tea” to the twenty-something guests–and asked them to think about a person important in their upbringing to toast at the end of the story. I urge you to do the same. Who encouraged you along your way?

“Let’s raise a cup of Christmas cheer, to family and loved ones far and near.”

So take a few moments, and with Bing, count your blessings:

5. Tree shadows on a wall during a walk the other night.

What are a few of your Holiday Blessings? Come on, share a few.