not quite the day planned

Here's what I had originally planned for today:
1) Attend church. I had paid for the flowers for the day's service, in honor and memory of the 34th anniversary of Mama and Frank. That cost was $60, a number I have been especially appreciating this year.
2) Attend the cookout in Pooler. Even though I was no longer part of the "Born in the 50's and 50's" meetup group, Karen had personally invited me to come out and join them. I had signed up for this party before leaving meetup and I still wanted to go.
3) Watch "Tangled" at 6 PM. I missed the last "Dream Big, Princess" film from Disney and wanted to make sure I saw this one, perhaps with Carolyn. I especially wanted to make sure I maximized use of my AMC A*List membership to actually see three movies this week, a goal I've fallen short of the last few weeks.
4) Go with my movie-going g'friends for an 8 PM flick. We four have not been to the movies together for a couple of weeks. This would be a perfect end to the day!

Well, at least I did accomplish the first item.
I was even dressed nicely, wearing my peach skort and a new, paler peach, top with fancy latticework on the front.
The sermon by Reverend Billy was absolutely amazingly hot-topic. Anti-misogyny, anti-sexism, anti-ageism, anti-marketing campaigns that make people feel unworthy. He correlated the message in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" - eat this [apple] and you'll be smarter, prettier, sexier - to that in Genesis - eat this apple] and you'll be smarter, prettier, sexier. I will definitely be listening to that one again!
Afterward, as I was trying to take the above photo, I saw a waiting message.
Who might be contacting me?
My ex? Barbara? Carolyn? My stepsister Jean? Karen the Boomer?
Sadly, no.
It was Terri of the car wash.
"Have you seen Ronnie lately? His face has been beaten up pretty badly. The swelling over his left eye is extreme. He said it was three days old. I've seen black eyes on him before but never this bad."
He had just left their place.
So, I went in search of him instead of going to Pooler.

By 12:54 PM, after driving around and checking the latest lead, I found him.
He was behind the Marathon gas station in his neck of the woods, drinking a beer.
Teresa and her dog, Link, were keeping him company, as was Randy the liar.
He was coherent and making jokes, so that told me he was not hurt as badly as he looked.


Still, the wound on the left side of his face looked infected.
After he finished his beer and smoke, we headed for Memorial Hospital.
He had told Terri and Hobe that he went there after it happened.
The hospital had no record of it.
Sigh.

So, I settled in to wait it out, still hopeful of a quick resolution, trying to be as positive as I could.
His left shoulder, of course, had never healed, so
they took a new X-ray of it.
They also took an X-ray of his face to check for breaks,
and did a CT scan to check for internal bleeding.
Every time we were waiting for the next orderly to take him for a test, he would complain loudly about wanting a cigarette, about leaving for a smoke.
Sigh.

Three hours later, we were back in Examination Room 3
for the results.
No breaks, no signs of brain swelling, just mild infection.
i thank You, God.
The nurse cleaned all scrapes all over his arms, hands, face, then apply bacitracin to ward off infection,
to aid healing.
He signed the paperwork for his release and we left...
though we didn't drive off until after his smoke.

Nicely, he found a penny right by my car, where I had been standing.
I was retrieving the backpack I'd bought him at Sears, the underwear at Rite-Aid.
The penny reassured me: right place, right time.
My car echoed the sentiment, with the odometer clicking over to 200,200.
i thank You, God.

He had talked of wanting a pot pie from KFC, but he'd changed his mind at the counter.
The 3-piece chicken fingers instead... then didn't eat any of it.
I did convince him to eat one of the cookies, keeping me company while I ate the grilled chicken breast.
When I was finally done, we gathered our things.
He was going back over to the gas station and have a beer.
No ride, he wanted to walk... so we hugged and made plans for 2 PM tomorrow at DQ.

I went straight home.
The time was 5:17 PM when I drove off.
I felt like these bedraggled roses look:
beaten down, pieces scattered about, spent -
but still trying to add some cheer to the world.
I had thought of still going to the Disney movie,
but I never got out of the house in time.
I checked movie listings for other movies, too -
but I never went toward the door to leave.

I'm glad I was home.
My youngest brother, Tony, had told me he was cooking a Boston butt in the crockpot. Would I like to have some? Did I want some Johnny Harris sauce on it?
Yes, that would be very nice, I told him.
Just before 8 PM, my phone rang.
It was Tony, letting me know he'd pulled some meat for me and sauced it. Would I like for him to bring it or did I want to pick it up tomorrow?
I walked down the seven houses to his, enjoying the night air. I got hugs from him, hugs from Laura, too, finally home from work. I was shown their latest home-decorating projects. What a magazine-ready bedroom they have! What crisp paint lines between walls and ceiling in the front bedroom!
Then, I accepted more hugs, the generous helping of barbeque, and their love before walking back down the street to my house.
I may not quite be 'right as rain', but I'm certainly more at peace.
i thank You, God.

wedding in bluffton!

Awaiting the arrival of the bride!
That's Andy in the vest,
his stepson Connor beside him,
his son Liam making them a trio.
Very nice!

Here we go now!
(I just had to throw some Ozzy in, y'all!)
What a lovely scene!
Such a beautiful day, too!
i thank You, God!

Andy reading his vows to Sheryl...
two pages' worth!
They were quite good ones, too!
(No, I can't recall the words,
just the feeling of the moment!)

It's official, folks!
They're married!!!
Ta-dah! It's magic!
Two single people transformed
into a husband and wife!

Andy and Jeff share a rare moment together!
They're brothers-from-different-mothers and life has kept them physically apart for too long!
I'm so glad they had this time to share...
and that my ex had me share it, too!
i thank You, God!

Here's a lovely family portrait!
That's Russ holding Alice while mother Ashley looks on,
as does Wendy!
Russ is her man, Ashley is her daughter-in-law,
and Alice is her favorite granddaughter!

Time for good eats!
Liam and Ashley were busy with
the barbeque, coleslaw, and
baked beans!
Connor, Ashley's husband and Wendy's elder son, was doing his part to put away the food, too.

Well, Connor was trying to eat!
Alice had taken up his lap and Jeff had taken his ear.
(smile!)
Now, time for me to set down my flip phone and chow down!
That's some of the best, leanest, pork ever!

Jus' chillin' in the chair, y'all.
Big dance coming up!

I wasn't kidding!
Here's that first dance
as husband and wife,
to The Beatles'
"And I Love Her" -
beautiful!

Then the groom
left the dance floor and
took up his bass -
time to jam and
get others up there to dance!

They didn't have to invite me twice!
Especially as the rock-n-roll song
was "Little Sister".
That's an Elvis song and I had danced to it in Las Vegas...
and wearing this same outfit!
Woohoo!

Let them eat...
DOUGHNUTS!
Krispy Kreme for him,
Dunkin' Donut for her!
I had one of each, thanks!
So much better than cake!

Then, somehow, we all noticed
the night had crept in on
the party.
Little Alice was going to be
past her bedtime...
and early-riser Jeff was right
there with her on that note.
Goodbye to all!
So very lovely to have shared
this wedding day!
i thank You, God!

happy 34th anniversary

I well remember that day in 1984.
Mama had asked me to stand with her as she married Frank.
They had known each other ever since Mama started working at Union Camp paper mill.
That was probably in the late 1960's or so.
Everyone out there knew Frank Barry, the man who kept the money at the Credit Union.
(smile)
Honestly, I wouldn't be at all surprised if my family and his had run into each other at company events. I seem to recall gold tournaments as fundraisers and that sort of thing, once upon a time.
After Frank's wife, Zaida, died of cancer in 1983, he and Mama began spending time together. I know it began as her taking food to him, for comfort. Then their friendship became more serious and talk had turned to marriage.
She was 45 at the time and he was 62.

I was discharged from the Navy and home in Savannah again. I was 25 years old. My brothers were all grown, too, and living in their own homes, except for Tony. He was a month shy of 17 when they wed. Smitty was married, but not yet with the son he would soon have. Ronnie was wed to Melinda and they had a 1-year-old daughter, Christina.
(That makes her my 'first niece'.)
Frank's kids were also grown and living in their own homes. George and Bunny had not yet had children and Frank's youngest, Jean, was not yet married. Daughter Susan and her husband (Steve) had a 1-year-old son, Stephen.
(His birthday was just four days earlier than Christina's.)
So, there we were, at the church, for the wedding of these two grandparents.
(smile)
I was there for Mama and George DeLoach was there for his best friend, Frank.
We all went to Frank and Mama's house afterward, the small families which had doubled in size just moments before.
I wish they were both still here to enjoy all their great-grandchildren.
i thank, You, God, that they had 16 years in each others arms.

l'art de Monet est de retour

Yes, yes, I was at the Jepson...
yes, yes, I was visiting "Swarm"...
and yes, yes, for the fourth -
or maybe the fifth day in a row,
I had my legs "hangin' out"
of my peachy-keen skort!
At least I had gone to a different venue downtown!
(smile!)

I was there two hours before the talk for the new exhibit, "Monet To Matisse: Masterworks of French Impressionism".
I wanted plenty of time to explore the works beforehand.
One of my favorites was "Peasant Girl Among Tulips", mostly because I found this 1890 piece to best represent that style of painting.
Beautiful colors, too!

"The Little Maure Mountains" was another favorite today, though it was painted using just the tip of the paintbrush to leave dots of color.
Aptly, the style was dubbed pointillé by the art critics of the day.
What a tedious style to use, especially for an aging artist with rheumatism!
No wonder he died the next year.

This piece, with its broad brushstrokes and heavy paint, seemed to be the odd one out.
Titled "Pot of Anemones", the 43-year-old artist was part of a group termed "Fauves" - "wild beasts" -
by the critics, for their bold style and use of color.
This certainly got my attention!

And look!
Elvis was even at the Jepson!
No, not as part of that exhibit!
"The Official Elvis Prayer Rug" was on the second floor, with an intent to lure me to Cornelia, Georgia.
That's where the Loudermilk Boarding House & Everything Elvis Museum calls home, boasting over 30,000 items.
Road trip, anyone?
(smile!)

For now, though, a little tripping of the light fantastic would have to do!
This kind gentleman, who has been playing the accordion since he was only a lad of seven years, very nicely graced me with "La Vie En Rose".
I, in turn, graced him with a bit of twirling in my dance!
Such a good trade of talents!
I'll look forward to more at the reception!
(smile!)

First, though, is the talk next door at the TUMC by Kevin Sharp.
He's the man who curated this 30-piece collection at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens, from which the Telfair has borrowed it.
How appropriate that he will discuss the Impressionism Revolution was discussed in this building that dates back to that movement's time!
As a fan of Monet, I'm going to love this... and leave off with my writing, right now.
Later!

four nights in a row!

Sunday afternoon, I was at the Lucas, ushering for the Musical Matinee of "Cabaret"!
I do so enjoy that movie version of the play!
I had also very much enjoyed the play, too, when Savannah Stage Company presented that in their new digs, back in July.
That's when I had worn the outfit above, one of my favorites from my dancing days - and dancing nights! - in Las Vegas.
I'm so glad I bought that beautiful salmon skort before the trip!
I'm so glad I wore it for the opening night festivities for "Cabaret", too, and that this photo was snapped. I had treated Carolyn to the play for her birthday, knowing she would love all the dancing and songs - and she did! But her favorite part was seeing all that bare-chested man candy in the cast - ooh la la! Plus, meeting everyone afterward at the opening night reception and having the adult-themed cotton candy was pretty nice, too!
Anywho, where was I?
Oh, yes, talking about being at the Lucas for the musical movie...
and that was the real point I was trying to make.
I was at the Lucas.
Denise and I struck up a conversation about learning and math. Specifically, we were talking about her middle-school-aged daughter and Ben Tucker. Even more specifically, I had brought to her attention that the jazz bassist had been the one to create the math tunes for "Schoolhouse Rock", to help a friend's son learn the subject.
Cool, right?

Then, on Monday and Tuesday, I was back at the Lucas for two Savannah Jazz Festival events. Anticipating the possibility of dancing, I had worn my favorite summer wear, that lovely skort.
Denise had stopped me short when she saw me sashay by on Monday.
"Where are you going with your legs hanging out?"
And the words her mother had said to her brought back similar words Mama once spoke to me, as I wore my favorite mini-skirt under my high school graduation gown.
(smile)

Tonight, I'll be back at the Lucas for the fourth night in a row - amazing!
Like the three nights before, this evening's entertainment is also free for me - amazing!
That's because I'm a working girl, ushering for "Puzzle", part of the Arthouse Cinema.
I'm looking forward to it primarily because of Irrfan Khan.
He's the one who spoke one of my movie quotes, from "The Lunchbox".
Yep, he's definitely a favorite...
and I need to don my usher attire and get going!
Later, y'all!

revisiting favorites

Last night found me at the Lucas Theatre, but not as an usher.
The 37th Annual Savannah Jazz Festival is back in full swing, with yesterday being Day Two of Seven.
(Yes, that pun was intended!)
Claire Frazier regaled us with "Satin Doll" and "Midnight Sun", as well as a few others.
Then came the event: the world premiere of 2009's Clint Eastwood presents "Johnny Mercer: The Dream's On Me"!
The made-for-tv movie had never been released on the silver screen.
How wonderful that this venue - which had shown so many musicals that the Savannah songsmith had soundtracked - would be the chosen site!
Then again, I think that Mr. Eastwood may have a soft spot in his heart for this beautiful city - and this theatre - ever since he filmed "Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil" twenty years ago.
(smile)
I so enjoyed hearing Ms. Frazier sing again! It's been better than three years since I last did. That was at one of the Coastal Jazz Associations' monthly concerts, free to members... which I was at the time. My membership has lapsed, again, mostly because the new venue is across the bridge.
What a silly reason to end such a good thing, n'est-ce pas?
Well, I shall remedy that tonight. The SJF has another event at the Lucas this evening, a concert by the Ben Tucker Alumni Band. Composed of musicians who were graced with playing alongside him, the music will include pieces composed by the man... perhaps even some of the math numbers from "Schoolhouse Rock"!
(Yes, that pun was intended, too!)
Amazing the things one learns from a documentary! I first saw the film, "In Tune: The Ben Tucker Story", at last year's Savannah Film Festival. Interested? Watch it here.
Why so much interest in the Savannah Jazz Festival this year?
Honestly, I think it's about timing.
I have found myself, of late, at quite a few events that were once prevalent in my past.
It was at the 2008 SJF that I had 'discovered' a favorite, Elliott & The Untouchables. The first concert I drove to was in Charleston, at its jazz festival. Later in 2009, I followed them to their concerts in Columbia, SC, at several venues, dancing to the old-time jazz sound of this group with its diverse ages!
Many of their shows are private, but they do have a few public ones still to come.
I think I need to go. After all, I had so much fun dancing in Las Vegas!
And who knows? Perhaps this year's SVJ will find me with a new band that stirs up some of that "Old Black Magic" and sets me to dancing?
It's all about timing.
I had thought it may have begun with Christa's party a few weeks ago. That felt like one of the NK! events! But that social group has been defunct since January 2015... or has it? The six people present at the party were the majority of those who attended the scheduled events. So, that worked out rather well for us!
i thank You, God.
(smile)
Yvonne and Louis may not have been part of NK!, but I did meet them through Christa. I've really enjoyed getting to know them better, too, as part of "Born In The 50's and 60's", and look forward to that friendship continuing (though not through that group, as I have left meetup, after many issues this past year). Honestly, they are such good people! Last night, they were already at the Lucas, and seated, when they saw me come in and sit. They left their chairs and came to sit with me. I have never had anyone do that.
i thank You, God.
(smile)
Last Thursday found me at Chatham Post 36 of the American Legion. I had received a phone call on the Wednesday evening, reminding me of the impending meeting. Really? A personal phone call? So, I went. That was beneficial, as I found out I was not the only sailor there. Martin of Statesboro had asked that we all introduce ourselves, and so we did. There were about 15 members there, including Doris (the one who called) and her husband, Nate, both fairly young. The oldest member there was 90! I already knew Jimmy Ray, the post commander when I had joined years ago. This time around, I met Michelle Flores, out current PCO. I didn't stay for the meal after, but next time I will.
I once very much enjoyed performing karaoke here with Brian Russell - I was his "rock star", as I was the only one not singing country songs. I loved that! I also enjoyed dancing there, especially on the dance floor that I helped install with some of Mama's money, after Frank died. I noticed that floor finally wore out and has been replaced with a much larger one. I'll be watching out for dance parties here in the future.
After all, this chapter will be 100 years old next year. According to Doris, she had called eighty members to rally 'round and help plan events to celebrate that century mark.
I'm glad she did.
i thank You, God.
(smile)
I've been thinking about Drinking Liberally, too. They also meet on Thursdays and I had planned to go see the Mattingly couple again last week... but then Doris had called. I will put extra effort into going to Tondees to join them this first Thursday of October. Maybe Bonnie and Don will be there, too!
If not, perhaps I will catch them one Monday night at Philo Cafe. That was another group I had so enjoyed! After all, having debates - not arguments - about hot topics or old philosophical questions is always mind-expanding. That's beneficial and social.
I know that I have been blessed with extra free time. I am choosing to use it to renew old friendships and to nurture new ones. I am choosing to make better use of all the free culture and free social groups available in this fine seaport.
Life is short.
To borrow John Mellencamp's words again:
"I only have so many summers left and I intend not to waste them being old."
I have every intention of dancing at tonight's free concert at the Lucas!
i thank You, God!

200002

My odometer ticked over to 200002, a palindromic mileage to reassure me:
right place, right time.
I was on my way to Bev's funeral in Ebenezer, at the Jerusalem Lutheran Church.

I couldn't find anyone who could tell me about the
swan motif at the church.
This was the entrance by the pastor's office.
The swan was also at other entrances to the building
adjacent to the church.
Perhaps those were added as the church expanded from
its 1733 structure to accommodate more members.
I know Bev loved that place.

And all of us gathered there today had loved Bev.
Family and friends from all over the country had made time to be there in remembrance of her.
That included my stepsister Jean and her husband, John.
My stepsister Susan was there, too, and she had brought Grayson and Brooklynn, Jean Marie's children - what a treat for me!

Susan's son, Stephen, was there, too, with his Sarah,
but not with the children (Mason and Blakely).
Bunny and Steve were there, of course, as well as Jason and Hannah, down from Atlanta.
Emily and Boone - and many in his family - were in from Louisville, with their dear daughter, Ally - another treat for me!

We had a lovely time catching up with each other's lives - job changes, school activities, new homes.
That is one of the benefits of these somber occasions.
Another benefit is hearing stories that you had not known before, stories of the deceased as a much younger person, stories that occurred a couple of generations ago.
(smile)

Perhaps even a story that might have been true,
but might not have been just as easily.
This photo, of young Bev and Jack, Bunny's parents,
on a trip to Hawaii, inspired once such tale.
"Can't you just hear her now, telling him to stop
making eyes at that hula girl?"
Honestly, I do believe I could!
And, as he died in January this year, there is
no one to say otherwise.

It's good to leave on a high note...

i thank You, God.

why lantana roams my yard

I snapped those five photos in the space of just over a minute.
On m way downtown to finally catch Odd Lot's Friday Mystery Dinner Theatre, I jumped out of my house to hurry along...
and was caught in my tracks by this beauty flitting in the lantana...
and followed it along, madly clicking the button on my cell phone camera...
not wanting to lose time with the fluttering guest...
until it finally took its leave and headed off to distant flora.
Wow.
I had thought for years that these annual visitors were monarch butterflies.
That is not the case, however.
All monarchs are orange.
But that doesn't mean this insect is not also an interstate traveler.
Yes, as it turns out, this butterfly is the state butterfly of Georgia, Delaware, North and South Carolina, and Virginia.
It is the Eastern tiger swallowtail, or papilio glaucus...
and the one I most adore is the female, with her blue spots.
Beautiful!

familiar, but foreign

I just love to be surprised by a movie!
Sometimes, that surprise is in the form of a plot twist, but lately, it's the music.
I'll be tuned in to the movie, all senses 'GO!', then a discrepancy will hit.
My body is responding to the melody in a knowing way...
but my mind is all "Say what?!"
That'll be because the tune has been redone in another language.
Surprise!
Now, let's play a game, shall we?
Akin to the movie quotes of the past, or those other "GOTG:V2" games, this one will involve matching a song to a movie.
Please bear in mind that these songs may have been sung in a different language in the film.
To make things a bit more fair, I've included the name of the artist that made the song well-known, whether they wrote it or not.
As always with these games, some answers may match more than one listing.
To keep it interesting, of course!
(smile!)

Songs:

1) Coldplay's "Yellow"

2) Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin' "

3) Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U"

4) The Beatles' "Money (That's What I Want)"

5) Jack Gold's "It Hurts To Say Goodbye"

6) Extreme's "More Than Words"

7) Madonna's "Material Girl"

8) Toni Basil's "Hey Mickey"

9) Bob Crewe Generation's "Music To Watch Girls Go By"

10) Louis Armstrong's "La Vie En Rose"

*
*
*
*
*

Movies:

A) 2018: "Crazy Rich Asians"

B) 2008: "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"

C) 2018: "A Simple Favor"

D) 2018: "The Meg"

E) 2018: "Mission Impossible: Fallout"


Okay, give it a go!

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Ready for some answers?
Okay, here they are, in condensed form.

1) A
2) B
3) B
4) A
5) C
6) B
7) A
8) D
9) C
10) E

Well, THAT was fun!
I didn't quite end up with "Abacab", but that's just fine...
neither did Genesis, when their song was finalized!
(smile!)

talkin' like a pirate, i be

Arrrggghhh! Run fer ye lives, me hearties! It's a mighty dragon of the seas, lookin' fer his lunch! Christina and Christian, be sure to talk like a pirate, too, fer 'tis the day to be din' that very thing. And run!

Ah, let's be hoisting a mug for the good times!
And for those of ye who fancy a sing, there be no better tune than this one? There's even a rowdy crew of fellow hearties to join in the chantey!
Oh, what do ye do wit' a drunken sailor...
(smile)

melaness said to leave her alone

While I was in Florida this last bit, I had sent cards out.
One of those went to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to my friend, Melanie.
I had enclosed the above Jumble in the note, to let her know it had reminded me of her and her love of The Doors, especially Jim Morrison.
I knew it would appeal to her sense of humor, too, as it had to mine.

She and I have known each other since fall semester of 1988.
I was a teaching assistant for a chemistry recitation and she was one of the students, there at Florida State University. She and I became very close friends, going out to movies and malls and concerts! We were best friends!
Three years later, I was renting one of the bedrooms in her apartment. I had been living with a guy down there and the relationship had gone sour. Thank God for her friendship and generosity!
Time went on. I met my man from Michigan and got married in 1992. She had a 'complicated' relationship with a man in Maryland.
More time passed. I got divorced in 2007. I started going to Virginia and Maryland to visit her. She and Scott got married a few years later. They even met me and a friend in Virginia once during my week there in May of 2011. That was very nice!
Then, in 2013, I went to Carlisle to visit them for a few days. What a wonderful time we three had! But when she and I had time alone together, I had noticed her withdrawal from society there. She wasn't working, she wasn't volunteering anywhere, she was staying home, concentrating on the yard and the house. Sure, we went to the Amish festival and had a grand day of it - truly! We also spent much of a day at a lovely museum and had dinner at a favorite barbeque place. She even had Scott take us all to a Belgian restaurant one night! When I left, I had encouraged her to join a gardening club or get involved with some of the DIY classes at the nearby Home Depot. She needed to have some local friends, I had told her, and not just stay closed off all the time.
She didn't go that, though. I had even told her about the meetup groups, where she could join in to favorite activities with like-minded folk. I even sent her some links to make that easier for her.
Time continued its march. I had hoped to go visit her again in 2016, but I couldn't drive much that year. The carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands kept me close to Savannah almost all of that year. She and I kept in touch during Hurricane Matthew and its aftermath. She and I also kept in touch over her health issues: she'd been found to have breast cancer, needing surgery and radiation to combat it.
That's when something went amiss. I kept contacting her, but she was not interested in long conversations, either by phone or email. That was okay, I knew when to let her have her space. I knew she would contact me when she wanted to talk.
But she didn't.
I sent cards and letters, but had no response most of the time.
That changed this month.
She had emailed me on the 11th to thank me for the card. I was thrilled to hear from her, but concerned by her message. She was down on fb, down on marriage, down on life.
I immediately sent a reply - how was she doing since the breast cancer, were they still married, letting her know I was there, I cared.
Her reply the next day spoke of him not being there during the surgeries (including reconstruction) and her not having anyone really to depend on but herself. She'd had two more cancer scares, one just six months earlier.
I opted to lighten the tone. How good it was that the cancer had been caught so early and not returned! How glad I was that she still had Scott as I had been alone - but still hopeful - for the past seven years! I had even asked about the bird boxes she had put up in the yard, noting her creativity. Then I had told her I was off to see "Beauty And The Beast" and how much I loved Dan Stevens' voice, and left her a blog link.
I had hoped that link might spark some dialogue with her... and it did, but all dark. No, she didn't watch Disney movies because of 'the Pedo ring bust down in Florida'. No, she didn't watch Hollywood movies anymore because 'the leads are usually trannies'. No, she didn't talk or read blogs anymore because 'most of the people on there are either liberal, globalist, snowflakes, idiots who drink fluorinated water, trannies, gays, were educated in the dumbed down Obama system, idiots who still think Michelle Obama is a woman lol, etc etc etc.'
I had asked, "Is there nothing that still brings you joy?"
She immediately took umbrage, accusing me of judging her, telling me I had not walked in her shoes. Her terse message read, "Leave me the Fck alone. Have a nice day."
That was last night.
I sent the following message this afternoon.
"Melaness, I was NOT judging you.
As you wish, I will leave you alone."

Then I went to the Lucas. I ushered for the NTL production of "The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time", a play that had very much touched me when I saw it at the Regal in mid-June. More on that another day...

When I returned, she had replied.
"Thank you."

Now, I'm at a loss.
How long should I leave her alone? Well, at least through the end of the year. Perhaps she will contact me over the holidays, as she has in the past.
Should I try to contact her husband? No, that would be an awful idea. She would certainly resent that and treat it as an act behind her back... and she would be correct to regard it that way.
Should I try to contact her family in Missouri? Well, I could... but that would meet with resentment, too. I do not want her to think I'm working against her wishes.
That means I wait for her to hold the olive branch to me.
Rather, I will wait until the coming year.
She responds to mailed correspondence, so I will try that avenue of contact.
Perhaps I will suggest a visit to her next summer in the letter I send.
She and I have been friends far too long to end on this note.

chasing rabbits, missing a cat

Like the commercials said, "Silly rabbit!"

"That train robbery cereal commercial?"

No, that was a two-parter, at least. At any rate, it wasn't the cereal in particular that I was talkin' 'bout. The rabbit was the thing.

"You mean the bunny ears was the thing, right?"

Nope! I'm talking rabbits, hippety-hopping all over the ether world. Sometimes they lead me to complete a task, but usually they just gobble up my time. Voracious little beasts.

"O...kay. So what happened that you're on this topic?"

Well, I had meant to attend "The Cat In The Hat" today. The SCT is putting it on, with just morning and matinee performances. My friend Danielle is in it and she had said her husband - one-time League of Savannah Bloggers guy, Thomas - might be there, too. Hooray! I would know someone there!

"How very fortunate! Why weren't you there? Let me guess: rabbits."

More specifically, rabbit holes. I was up until four AM, again, popping in and out of them. That is such a bad habit! Then Tony had come by this morning to cut my front and back yards for me. He'd waited until after 9, as he knew I'd be up watching "CBS Sunday Morning." HA!!! The joke was on him. I still managed to sleep until he was outside my bedroom windows, then I got up. I had some mail for him, after all.

"Well, good! Your yard really was looking a bit scruffy again."

Yes. Anywho, he was here until about 10:30. I thanked him, gave him that HUSKY socket set and ARC insulated lunch tote that have been languishing in the pantry, and returned to bed.

"Oh, wow! You mean that red bag you had received for donating blood? That was four years ago!"

That very one. Four years ago? I don't doubt it. That may be about the same time I got that socket set as a bonus when I bought my lawnmower. Oh, wait, that was back in probably the spring of 2012. I don't recall exactly. I just know I already had a socket set and was holding on to that other. I may have opened the case a few times, just to look at the tools.

"None of that is about rabbits. You promised me rabbits."

I most assuredly did not. I promised rabbit holes, h-o-l-e-s.

"Well, tools aren't rabbit holes, either."

True. Okay, where was I on this ramble?

"Your youngest brother had mowed your yards..."

Oh, yes... and I had returned to bed. I had even set an alarm for noonish, still with an eye to going to this 3 PM matinee. I awoke about 12:45, as good luck would have it. My alarm had mistakenly been set on "AM", not "PM". Hahahaha!

"Still in plenty of time for the play!"

That's what I had thought, too! So, after brunch - pork loin and corn in salsa verde, atop fresh spinach - I went on facebook. The time was 2:20 PM.

"Oh, no, girlfriend!"

Oh, yes. Last night, I had sent this post to one person and this post to another. I wanted to make sure I had not offended in any way, right? Next thing I knew, I was hitting the rabbit holes, and some of them were pretty deep...

"... and cold, too! Hahahaha!"

What?!

"You know, like in the joke about the two guys and the bridge!"

Well, in that case, your adjectives are in the wrong order. As they're taking a piss, the one guy says, "The water sure is cold tonight," and the other replies, "And deep, too!" see the difference it makes?

"Fine. Got it. So how did you miss the musical?"

Actually, I still managed to get to the Savannah Children's Theatre in time, wonder of wonders! But it made no difference. The play was sold out, as it has been for all three performances this weekend. That means I'm going to miss it, as next Saturday will be Bev's visitation and service. Next Sunday, I'll be at "Chicago" for the Lucas.

"Oh, well, dear. You can't have it all... where would you put it?"

Indeed. (smile)
Well, I've been here, in this rabbit hole, far too long - almost ninety minutes!
Time to return to the WGN "Married With Children" marathon!
I have so missed that whack-a-doodle family!

"Bundy's! Bundy's! Bundy's!"

Exactly! Yesterday, I watched five episodes and noticed the proliferation of "b" words in their shows! Beautiful!

"So it was Bundy family bowling, right? And the one with Steve's beard and Bud's homeless babe, too?"

Exactly! Hey, were you peeking over my shoulder? LOL! I also got the episodes with the mall Santa's bag of goodies and Marcy's missing blonde Barbie! Hey, how about that! I just had two sets of alliteration there without even trying!

"Hahahaha! Good work!"

Now, let me go watch some more. This one is about Peg's discontinued bra - I know that anguish! (smile) That will be followed by Al and Steve's search for a baldness cure for their receding hairlines. Marcy is the focus next, having bad luck, a business trip, and trouble with her boss - all in one episode!

"Alright, dear, you go and enjoy! Me, I'm looking forward to seeing Burt Reynolds in Jim's special Sunday screening at the 'Bean. (See, I can alliterate, too!) He won't say what movie, but my money is on "Mystery, Alaska", based. Here were the clues: American romantic comedy, not filmed in the USA, with Burt in an uncharacteristic role. I'll say! He plays a judge in that 1999 outing, filmed in Canada, about an American hockey team. Sure hope I'm right again!"

Oh, that would be cool! I don't recall ever seeing it.
You know, Burt Reynolds was the same age as Bev when he died, just eight days before her.
They were the same age that Daddy would have been, too.
Both of them are still a year younger than Elvis would have been this year...
and almost two years older than Mama would have been in December.
I'm thinking that sounds like a pretty good social club in the afterlife.
Okay, enough of math - back to the Bundys!
i thank You, God, for my many blessings!
(smile!)

Bev

My outlaw Bunny just sent me a text: her mom has died.
Beverly Lockamy had been one who helped me stay sane this past decade.
She was "my stepbrother's ex-wife's mom" or "my former sister-in-law's mom", both of which pleased her. It made people crinkle up their brow to figure it out.
(smile)
Like me, Bev was a night owl, up until the wee hours of the morning.
I could call her, or she me, any time for a conversation, and we often did.
Sometimes we would talk about others in the family. Many times, she'd get the latest scoop from my entertainment world of plays and movies and tv shows. We'd talk about my travels, too, and life at school, and my new friends.
She helped put things into perspective, you know?
Older and wiser for sure was she, as Yoda would say.
(smile)
She would have gotten a kick out of that.
Funny emails regularly arrived to my computer.
Jokes about engineers! Jokes that featured religion! Jokes about blondes! Jokes about being absent-minded! A longtime favorite joke about a panda!
Then there was the calendar that combined seniors and movies! I loved that one!
What a great sense of humor!
We kept the ether humming, we really did.
(smile)

Sometimes we would even meet in person and have lunch, instead of just touching base via airwaves of one type or another.
The photo above was from our last luncheon, back in December. Bunny had let me know they'd be in town, so we'd all met and had a wonderful visit!
I'm so glad I took those two photos of Bev.
I much prefer to remember her this way, smiling and happy.
Thank you, Bunny, for notifying me last week that cancer had laid siege and won its battle with this strong woman.
Thank you for helping me find a time to come and see Bev for one last conversation.
Being able to talk to Bev for that hour meant so much to me.

i thank You, God, for Bev in my life for so long.

one person's junk is another's treasure

I think the recent changes began for me on Wednesday, September 5th.
At the noon15 meeting, someone mentioned that the Rite-Aid stores were closing.
Apparently, they have all been purchased by Walgreens.
Usually, by the time I hear this kind of news, the stores are depleted.
This time was no exception... but they still had plenty of things for me.
Everything in the store was 70% off, too.
Lactaid pills, scrunchies for my hair, underwear for my brother Ronnie...
birthday cards and superhero stickers and party invitations...
and orange foam shelf liner, for just thirty cents per roll.
I bought all five rolls, to use in my kitchen cabinets.
I installed it in the china cabinet, that one on the left, on Friday morning.
That was quite a task! Those three shelves have an irregular shape...
but once I'd done the first shelf, I had a pattern for the rest.
The other cabinets already had lined shelves, but they may be next!

Last Tuesday, on my way to visit Bev, I noticed a Rite-Aid store.
On my way back home, I stopped in to see what they might have.
Most of the store had already been converted to a Walgreens...
but the summer goods and some others were marked 75%.
I bought a new laundry basket (with a shoulder strap!)...
four nonskid mats for the kitchen and bathroom...
and lots of indoor soft toys for the greatnieces and greatnephews.
My floors are definitely looking better!

That, in turn, inspired me to redecorate my kitchen cabinets.
The exterior has been festooned with post-its and scraps of paper
and clippings from newspapers for years.
I had posted the three photos of my trip to Marineland last summer,
though not on the cabinet shown.
No, it was one cabinet to the right.
And, as much as I loved having the photos greet me every morning,
I was still allowing other bits to infringe on that space.
What to do?
Well, here's what I did.
The evidence is shown in the photograph.
My encounter with the dolphin, Hemingway, on the left...
a shell-bedecked kitchen towel from Publishers Clearing House...
then my close encounter this year with Brian Duffy, astronaut!
The fourth cabinet, not shown, still serves as my secretary, for now.
Change is in the wind... and I'm not talking about Hurricane Florence.
Time to go do laundry and talk to Nami!

waiting

This Panhandle Slim painting has greeted me on Waters Avenue for quite some time.
In fact, I've seen it every time I went to fetch Mister Willie for the ball games, as well as on every return trip afterward.
Attributed to Frida Kahlo, its advice to the downtrodden in the area is this:
"You deserve a lover who takes away the lies and brings you hope, coffee and poetry."

I ask: Don't we all?
Yes, we, do.
In the wee small hours this morning, I was still pouring through videos of Steam Powered Giraffe on youTube. It's as if Jim Steinman wrote songs for Queen - how addictive for me!
I found myself especially captivated by this performance, which I watched three times.



This morning, I awoke to the revelation: I'm waiting for my android lover.
The one spoken of by Tanith Lee in 1981's "The Silver Metal Lover", one of those seen in "Star Wars" four years before that, one modeled after Isaac Asimov's Three Rules of Robotics almost three decades before either of those blipped onto my radar...
one that would be mine, all mine, and mine alone...
one devoted to me and not subject to being lured away...
impossible things...
again...
still.

Michael is THIRTY!

This photo I took tonight may well be my favorite.
Michael is sitting beside his best friend, Jeremy.
In Michael's hands is the birthday card from his twin daughters.
Michael is explaining that he can always distinguish their writing.
"See this tight squiggle right here? Alyssa wrote that. Leila has large drawings with big loops."
I was so touched with his fatherly attention to such a small detail as their drawing styles!

This is my favorite photo of Leila!
At first, she was staying in Chelsea's lap,
but eventually she started sitting briefly
in the empty chair between us.
By the time the cake came out, she was staying
in the seat of her own accord.
She even accepted the sprinkles and icing off
my piece of cake!

I really like this three-generation photograph, too.
Pure serendipity that I ended up with it!
That's Alyssa, there in the middle, and she was the
one I was focused on.
Her mom, Melanie, is on her left, next to Michael.
To Alyssa's right - photo left - is Melissa, mother
of Melanie and her maternal grandmother.
Right there, three generations!

Just where was this party?
At Sapporo's, a Japanese place in Pooler with a
truly unique dining style.
For a flat fee of $20.99, you order whatever you want
on the menu, several dishes at a time, and you continue placing orders until you're satisfied.
One menu, one price, period.
Lots of unique sushi rolls, too, like this Crazy Monkey,
with banana in the center and crab on top!

How did the birthday man make out?
Well, his mom and stepdad gave him a "Star Wars" card with four mini-cards within, each hiding a pun and a bit of money.
You betcha that made the rounds!
His friends gave him the Steam Powered Giraffe tee-shirt and goggles (over his green-like-mine sunglasses!) - and I love their music, too!
He also received a new bona fide case for his "Magic The Gathering" cards and figures, as well as some new treats to put in the case. He was trying to explain the game to me and I must say that I like a game that requires you to have no more than seven ideas at a time and kills you off when you have no more ideas - pretty nifty!

I gave him this "Star Wars" trilogy which I had received from Mama and Frank on my 40th birthday.
A 10-year-old Michael had asked for it and I had promised I would give it to him on his 40th.
Clearly, I rewarded him a full decade earlier!
He was delighted, as this was the 1995 box set - the original films, before all the crazy edits began.
Yeah, they're VHS, so I may need to give him the VCR-DVD player I have - no worries there!
(smile!)

Thank you, Melanie, for including me on the guest list!
i thank You, God, for the inspiration for his gift!
(smile)