breakfast wishes for my youngest brother

Advice from a
GLACIER

Carve your own path

Go Slow

Channel your strengths

Smooth the way for others

Keep moving forward

Avoid meltdowns

Be Cool!




Dear Tony,

Guess what I'm watching with my breakfast this morning?

"FLASH GORDON"!!!

Ah! Ah!
Man, I just love this movie!
The bright colors, the Hawkmen, the music!
And, of course, the plot wherein a hero saves Earth.
Woohoo!

The one acting for the good of the many...
classic.
Especially at his time of year.

Hope your new year begins with a warm bed, a full stomach, and a blue sky!

with my love!

day 11 of Twelvetide with Bonnie in Bluffton

I began this Boxing Day morn with one of my favorite "The Twilight Zone" episodes. Starring Art Carney, "The Night Of The Meek" is humanity at its best.
All he wants at this time of year is to be able to bring some joy to the poor folks in his 'hood. But, as a derelict who works seasonally as a department store Santa, he's not likely to ever have the means to do that... until a magical bag comes into his possession. He then proceeds to grant the wishes of all he sees, with the bag graciously providing any and all material goods.
He asks for nothing in return, until the end. Then, he wishes he could be able to do this every year... and an elf appears, with the reindeer-drawn sleigh, to take him to the North Pole to make ready his wish.
Beautiful story, isn't it?
I cry each time I see it, happy tears, grateful tears that such a man exists...
even if it is only in "The Twilight Zone".
With that to gladden my heart, off I bounced to Bluffton for Bonnie, sans boys!
What a rare treat for both of us!
On such a blustery day, we opted for soup to warm our bones. The beef stew I had and the chili she had were not very good... but we didn't really care. She very much enjoyed her fried mushrooms and I liked my crispy fries there at Hinchey's.
Then, over to the Sea Turtle Cinema - oops! I mean, the Cinemark Cinema, as its been known for the past few years. She had suggested "The Darkest Hour", but she decided to see "Ferdinand" instead. Hooray!!!
Most definitely, let me say that again: Hooray!!!
We both laughed and laughed and giggled and laughed some more!
Such silly, prancing horses!
Such a ragtag trio of hedgehogs!
Such a sweet, lovable, carnation-sniffing bull!
That was very much exactly what we needed to see!
And if Merritt and Conner want to see it, I'll gladly watch it again!

Now, let's see if I can catch the bfe and share a bit of time with him.
We were to do so yesterday, upon my return to town from my Aunt's house.
However, due to a lack of communication on both sides, it did not happen.
Perhaps I will have more success today...
wish me luck!

on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day!

I really love that song, don't you?
"I saw three ships come sailing in on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
I saw three ships come sailing in on Christmas Day in the morning..."
That isn't one of the many Christmas songs I heard this morning as I drove to Glennville.
Nor is it one of the popular ones I sang with the carolers - and Elvis! - last evening.
Still, it's so very appropriate on this 10th day of TwelveTide!
Wouldn't you agree?
(smile!)
I brought along the Santa bag (from Nami), filled with flavored candy canes (from the Trustees Theatre), hoping that children would be there. And of course they were!

Here's my Aunt Barbara,
fetching gifts and envelopes
from under the tree.
She even had a gift for me!
It was a lovely new shirt!
My students will be so surprised
to see me in such grown-up clothes.
(smile)

Then, it was all a blur,
as five-year-old Phoenix,
and his cousins Aidan, Brennan,
and lovely little Iralynn,
pulled gifts from stockings
and tore paper from presents!
I bet that activity went on
for almost thirty minutes!

Uncle John was there for the post-dinner festivities, too!
He even had the good grace to act surprised
every time his name was called out
and another gift was placed before him.
That's his daughter-in-law Teresa
joining him on the couch.
His son, Mark?
On the other couch, snoring away!
(smile)

The inevitable finally happened, of course...
a toy or too collapsed under the
enthusiastic hands of a child!
"Past it, Daddy", as Zuzu would say.
In this case, it was Amanda working on
the new slinky of her son, Phoenix,
and Christopher (cousin Becky's son)
setting a-right the one for Iralynn.

When I departed in late afternoon, I had a plateful of food along for the ride.
Any of the deviled eggs?
'Fraid not. Even though I had been set to peeling the hard-boiled - and still delightfully warm - eggs for my Aunt, none remained, testament to their tastiness.
But that 25-pound turkey had plenty for seconds... and for my to-go plate! I took a massive chunk of her cornbread dressing, too, as well as some mac-n-cheese, loaded with sharp cheddar. That'll be my supper when I get home!

First, though, I popped in for my kitteh-sitting duties.
You can see that Jinx really loves the attention!
Such a shame that you can't hear the constant -
and deep - purring from this photo!
I took it as 'proof of life' for Kevin,
with the message, "Hey, Dad, she gave me turkey!"
A little treat for a good old-lady cat.
Now, dash away, dash away -
dash away me!

i thank You, God, for such a blessed day!

carols with The King!

Oh, what a joyous Christmas Eve I have had!
Of course, it began with a good note... and has ended with one, too!
I mean that literally, as well as figuratively, as you will see.
(smile)

I arrived at church a bit late,
but right on time to see the four Povies -
Amy, Doug, Samuel, and Sarah -
light the four Advent candles.
i thank You, God!
Then Rev. Billy talked about
those four little words the angels always say
before presenting their message from God:
"Do not be afraid."
Quite reassuring, aren't they?
Very nice to visit with the Povies afterward, too!

After the service, I jetted downtown to visit with Tony. I was early, as the church service he has been graced to attend this month had not yet returned him to the CTC. I patiently waited for, as I told the warden, "I had blocked out this time to spend with him and had nowhere else I needed to be."
We had a wonderful visit! First, we talked about the sermons we'd listened to - hallelujah!
Then, we talked about my talk with Chief Judkins and his talk with the Chief - hallelujah! Tony is now well aware that I am going to keep onto him about following the right path and I'm letting others know that, too.
Then we hugged and wished each other "Merry Christmas" - hallelujah!

Then to visit with Kevin's old-lady cat.
First, she insisted on lots of cuddling on the couch.
(He had said she liked cuddles and she does!)
Next, to fill her water bowls with clean drink.
Done, as she supervised and gave instruction.
(smile)
Then, how about the food bowls?
Well, she definitely got more dry food...
but no more tuna, not tonight.

Off to watch "Pitch Perfect 3"! More music in my life with this crazy bunch of chicks!
I've seen the two previous movies, so this one has been long on my list!
It was delightful! Nice to see John Lithgow being a bad guy, too!

Now, for my second trip to Asbury Memorial UMC
on this special day.
I arrived just in time -
the evening service had not yet begun.
I even found a seat downstairs!
The service was beautiful, as it always is,
ending with all of us lighting a candle
and singing "Carry The Light".

The Hesters were all there -
Jean and John and Molly, with Zaida home from college! -
so I filled up on hugs and love
as we caught up with each other.
My Christmas card was a big hit this year,
and Jean was thrilled that I had sent one
to Jean Marie's children, too.
They recognized it on their Aunt Jean's fridge!

(I'm so glad I addressed all the cards to the children - I'll have to make that my tradition!
You know how much children like mail in their names, right?)

Then a large group of us church-goers transformed into neighborhood carolers, led by Elvis!
What a lovely way to commemorate 24 years of bringing joyous song to those nearby!
"We Wish You A Merry Christmas"!
"Silent Night"!
"Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer"!
And, of course, "White Christmas" to Miss Virginia, as she sat on her front porch, before we headed inside for food and fellowship before taking our leave for our own homes.
i thank You, God.

on my 9th day of twelvetide...

... Charles Osgood sang to me!
Yes, you know life is good when you can begin Christmas Eve with one of your favorite television personae, on one of your favorite television shows, singing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"...
So very nice to see him again!
Now, off to Asbury Memorial for the first of two services today!
Life is most definitely good!
i thank You, God!

23 odd birds later...

Yes, they are odd birds, but no, they are not the ones of the title.
Tonight was Odd Lot's "Christmas Eve Eve" show, one to eagerly anti-ci-pate every year!
I should know, as I've been to them from the very start!
(smile!)
Well, I may have missed a couple whilst soakin' up rays in Daytona...
but I caught the star-studded variety show last year, as well as the song-bejeweled show of 2015, marking their five-years of existence. Much fun!
The scene above involved all of the night's players, performing examples of the "World's Worst" in various occupations. From the left we have Justin, Darryl, Travis, Zach, Alex, Thomas, and Lynita, with Megan out front and Chris calling the shots from the side.

The show began with one of my favorites.
I call it "old men in hats"
(whether they are wearing them or not),
in which Chris Soucy and Justin Kent
do what they do best:
riff on each other.
You can tell they're best friends!

This skit was new to me and Sandy.
Titled "switch change", the four players
took turns in the middle two roles,
maintaining accents and demeanor
with whoever last occupied the positions.
In keeping with the season,
Justin, Chris, Zach, and Thomas
were constructing gingerbread houses,
with German personae and squeaky voices!

My very favorite skit from the first half, hands down, was with Thomas Houston and Travis Spangenburg!
Titled "film noir + alphabet", they began -
and eventually ended - with the letter "k",
to solve the crime of 'grandma
getting run over by a reindeer'.
Woohoo! That was my suggested topic!
That made the skit even sweeter for me!

The second half of the show was long-form improv,
a series of skits all wrapped around a central theme.
The two true loves are lynita Spivey and Justin,
working on the ultimate gifts for each other in
"The Twelve Days of Christmas".
Here, he has just presented her
with a partridge in a pear tree...
and now it's her turn to outdo his gift!

Well, she had brought home two turtledoves,
of course...
and he had then cooked them
for mock-turtle soup. Ack!
Now, he was back at The Bird Store,
run by a beleaguered, bespectacled Travis,
who suggested he purchase three French hens -
Jacques, Pierre, and 'the dirty one' -
to please the put-out and pouty true love.

Well, that did naught except up the ante!
She came home from The Bird Store with
four calling birds, each one having
their own little cell phone
and different service provider.
Ack! He was done with birds!
Off to the pawn shop to fetch home
some golden jewelry and one brass one -
but a total of five rings, of course!

His true love was still on a bird kick, though.
The man at The Bird Store sent her home with
six geese, all of an age to give fresh eggs.
Well, if it was birds she wanted,
birds she would get, he said to himself -
and having a nearby pond "too small for eight",
he gave to her seven lovely white swans.

Next thing they knew, their apartment for two
was taken over by fowl of all description,
not to mention the eight cows with their
accompanying milkmaids, and nine ladies
kickin' up their heels all the time!
She needed a little eye candy around, too -
so ten lords came leaping home with her -
a gift for her true love, of course!

What was he to do now?
Well, if he was going to have a houseful of folks
dancing and leaping about
then he would need to supply some music,
now wouldn't he?
Why not insert eleven bagpipers into the mix?
But of course!
Her twelve drummers even helped keep the rhythm!
(smile)
Merry Christmas, y'all!

art imitating life!

Can you believe this
beautifully-plated meal was
simple Vegetable Primavera?
I had actually hoped for
a Spanky's Pizza,
but the Tybee branch
didn't serve those.
I'm so glad they didn't!
I would have missed
dining with an angel!
Such sweet little wings
and lovely blue halo -
my thanks to the chef!

Then I drove around admiring the lights again,
especially this little train.
I say 'little', but the display was easily
more than ten feet long!
To do it justice, I had to park and walk over,
as driving past was giving too much blur.
Sheldon Cooper wold surely approve!
(smile)

Finally it was time for the doubleheader at TAPS!
First up was "Babushka's Basket",
based on a Russian folk story
about everyone's grandmother...
and finding forgiveness.
Do you know what I found
especially wonderful?
A real family -
mom, dad, three kids -
portrayed the family in the play.
How heartwarming!

Then came the play I was there for:
"The Gift Of The Magi".
This story by O. Henry is one
I've known most of my life,
but haven't seen it onstage ever.
See the woman and man in the middle there,
taking their curtain call?
That's Bonnie and her husband, Don,
in roles as wife and husband!
I just love that, don't you?
Life imitating art...
or the other way around...
and in two plays on the same night.
Christmas magic!

twelvetide holiday wave!

Let me guess: you've never heard of Twelvetide.

"You got that right, as Lynyrd Skynyrd would say."

Ha! Trust you to bring some wild-eyed southern boys into this!

"I guess 38 Special qualifies for that, too. Yes, indeed!"

Okay, we've had our fun, let's get back on topic, shall we? I was asking you about Twelvetide...

"Which is otherwise known as the Twelve Days of Christmas, to everyone who isn't a thalassophile like you. How about that? I managed to use that Greek term for lover of the sea!"

Yes, dear, on both counts. Anywho, I have my own little Twelvetide cresting! Mine, though, will consist of a dozen days of events with holiday themes. Quite appropriate for me, wouldn't you say?

"Quite appropriate for you!"
(smile)
"And just when did this begin?"

Well, I consider the first day to have been last Saturday. I had not one, but TWO, holiday classics on that day! First was "The Nutcracker", then "It's A Wonderful Life"... and it is!

"Okay, I'll grant that was definitely a good start. What did you have on Sunday?"

I had "Joy Wrapped In Strange Packages", thanks to Reverend Billy. Seriously, that was the definition of 'Christmas-themed'! Then I 'gave' my time to usher for Collective Face that afternoon, and they 'gave' me a second viewing of "Harvey". Such a nice giving of gifts!

"Ehhhh... that's a bit of a stretch. Not the part at church, that's totally legit."

Day 3 of Twelvetide found me having my Christmas meal with the Boomers. As the majority of us wore our holiday sweaters, that was quite fun! I liked the walk to look at lights, too.

"Definitely deserving of inclusion in Twelvetide!"

I absolutely agree.
(smile)
Day 4 of Twelvetide was a Tuesday, so you know what that means: Tina Tuesday! (Holds up my hand.) Now wait, it does too count. Is not the giving of gifts a holiday event?

"Yes, yes, it is."

Well, Kevin bought my ticket to see "Thor:Ragnarok" and I am regarding that as a gift. Yes, I am! Also, he gave me a key to his place so I can take care of his old-lady cat, Jinx. If that wasn't a gift, then I don't know what that word means.

"I'll grant you that one, for sure. Especially as tricky as things were for the two of you back in October. How wonderful that your friendship is so strong again!"

You're telling me! And now I get to take care of his kitteh while he's home for the holidays. That's a sure sign of trust... and that is a blessing.
(smile)
Let's see, the next day was Wednesday... what did I do? Oh, yes, I went to see "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol"! What a holiday treat! I wish I could see it every year!

"Okay, that brings you up through Day 5 of your Twelvetide. What was up yesterday?"

Well, first I went to Wash Plus
to check in on Nami
after her trip to Texas
for her daughter's graduation
from college.
How exciting that was for her!
She gave me a Santa bag of Byrd cookies -
yum! - and a reindeer-bedecked kitchen towel.
She is so very kind to me!

That evening, Carolyn and I had dinner and a Christmas movie! We dined at Carey Hilliard's, then drove out to the Tybee Post Theatre for "White Christmas"! How very good to see Danny Kaye dancing on their silver screen! And, believe it or not, we knew almost all of the songs in this 1954 film!

"I don't doubt that for either of you! You seem to know so many old musicals and Carolyn is of an age that she would have seen that when it came out."

She does seem to have a deep fondness for the film. It was her idea to see it!
Now, then, that gets me halfway through Twelvetide.
Today, this 7th day of Twelvetide, I've already had more Christmas this afternoon! The Savannah Children's Theatre had a free show, "Holiday Follies" - such great fun! Singing and dancing galore - and that was just me in my seat!
Tonight, I have another evening of Christmas entertainment at Tybee.
Then, on Saturday, there will be the Odd Lot show. Sunday is Christmas Eve, Monday is Christmas....

"Now, all you have to do is get a little Christmas into Tuesday and Wednesday..."

No worries! Now, I should wrap this up and head for the coast!
Later!

ghost stories for the holidays!

Here's the interesting part: the same four ghosts appear in each, but they also differ in each.
Which ghosts are being referenced?
Well, the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, and, of course, the ghost of the miser's partner.
I have seen three shows this month which are all centered upon Charles Dickens' holiday tale which was published December 19, 1843 - that was 174 years ago. Titled "A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas", all copies of the first edition had been sold by Christmas Eve, five days later.
My tale is of the three experiences I have had this month alone, all centered on the ancient tome, all taking different creative paths.

The first day of December 2017, it was a movie that caught my fancy. "The Man Who Invented Christmas" does a fine job of portraying the fever pitch of the six weeks during which the tale was originally written, by an author strapped for cash and in need of another best seller. As coincidence would have it, the new nanny was an Irish lass who not only told ghost tales to his children, but also informed them that Christmas Eve was the night that spirits could most easily pass between the worlds of the living and the dead. As coincidence would also have it, Dickens' nephew was a sickly child with a lame leg. As well as those references, he also knew had a cast of other characters that were pieced from those he met along life's path... and the rest is history. Scrooge was created, as was the kindly nephew, Marley and the three Christmas ghosts, the clerk Cratchit and tiny Tim.

The next encounter I had was through a radio broadcast production, recorded before a live audience (which included me). Odd Time Radio Hour's "A Savannah Carol" required two airings, each fifty minutes long and recorded one week apart, on the 7th and the 14th, aired on the following Saturdays on WRUU.
Christopher Soucy, the author of this version, is the fellow in the center, above, running the recorder. His cast is populated by females in the lead roles, from Abigail Scruggs (the miser, far right) to her niece (far left). The assistant, Sharon Crane, has a blind son and injured husband, both hurt during a car wreck. Scruggs' business partner was also female, Suzanne Moore, as well as the Ghost of Christmas Present. The other details shifted slightly, adding Savannah flavor and Southern accents, but the plot remained the same: redemption of the miser, just in time for Christmas. Fabulous!
(I do hope WRUU will eventually post the podcasts.)

The third encounter was this very evening. A new troupe in town, Savannah Repertory Theatre, put on a five-man production of "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" (written by Tom Mula). Staged as theater-in-the-round, the energetic play had the five racing hither and yon, with minor wardrobe changes along the way. In the photo above, that's Scrooge in the foreground, being hassled by Jacob Marley's ghost from hell (literally, with the spiteful sprite, Bogle, accompanying him).
Marley has spent seven years in hell, having spent the bulk of his life with far more debits 9crimes against humanity) than credits (acts of random kindness) in his life account. His one chance for a better fate lies in his ability to transform Scrooge back into a warm-blooded human being. To this end, he takes on the personae of two spirits, that of Christmas Past as well as that of Christmas Present, discovering his own heart along the way.
Truly, a warm and beautiful way to round out the Christmas holiday, with these three tales of redemption of people cast out of society for their ill treatment of others.
Perhaps there's even a word of hope for those like my youngest brother...
for each and every one of us...
Dear God, i pray that it be so.