you make my dreams come true

Well, maybe the lyrics to the Hall & Oates song aren't quite the right fit, but the way the song makes me feel is very much so.
That's how I feel right now, after checking my school email.
To what am I referring?
Receipt of an email from one of my students this semester.
Correction: one of my former students.
(smile)
Let me explain.
I have an unwritten policy concerning Final Exams. I never announce the policy in class and I never include it on a syllabus.
Sometimes, I never even have a student to qualify for it.
This semester, I had four students who did.
All four had consistently scored mid-range "A" grades on the five exams as well as on the five homework assignments.
Consistently.
In other words, all four had completed all that was asked, and completed it very well.
That diligence to responsibility was worth a reward, worth something more than a grade would reflect.
My reward to those four was exemption from the Final Exam.

When I had returned Test 5 (taken two days ago) to the class, I had included the calculation of the score needed on the Final Exam to achieve a particular grade for the course.
For Kaitlyn, Sarah, Allie, and Nina, I offered congratulations!
They were stunned.
Their hard work all semester had merited an exemption from the Final Exam?
"Really, truly, are you sure?"
Yes, indeed, I am.
And, jubilant, and still a bit stunned, out they went into the night.

And out I went, also, after my last lab student had submitted their take-home Lab Final Exam. Ahead of schedule, too!
Jubilantly, I sailed forth from Ship Armstrong toward Shah Rukh Khan (and what I had thought would be a Bollywood film) in Pooler!
As it turned out, I was incorrect about "Dear Zindagi". The story of a woman (Kaira) and her consults with an unconventional psychologist (Jehangir Khan), who is helping her find her path to the just-right కుర్చీ or Kurcī. (Hint: the word is in Telugu. Look it up!)
I loved that analogy!
At one point, I had truly wished the running bear was with me. I had invited him, to make up for him missing Tuesday to study. The movie would be too late for him, he'd said.
About halfway through the film, I was glad he had abstained.
It may have run a little too close to real life for his taste.

Anyway.
Back to my story!
When I was home again, I checked my school emails, as is my practice every night.
Lo and behold!
This magical gift was waiting for me!

Dear Dr. Smith,
I had a really great time in your chemistry class this semester. Some science classes have been a frustrating challenge for me in the past, and I was nervous about all the required prerequisites when I decided to return to school for nursing. In contrast, I felt like your class was fulfilling and left me with an appreciation of chemistry in everyday applications (like in baking and medicine). It was so much fun! I have not experienced those feelings in all of the classes I have taken, and I felt so lucky to come away from yours with more than just a basic understanding of chemistry. Thank you!
I want to double check that I don't have to take the final exam to get an A; when I heard that, it sounded too good to be true! Per your suggestion, I checked the requirements for Emory's accelerated BSN program I was accepted to, and they changed it this year so CHEM1151 is sufficient (but you're right, this isn't the case for other programs). As such, I want to make sure I'm set up for the best possible outcome in this class.
I hope you have a great Holiday and New Years,
Nina

Wow, right?
Absolutely wow.
I sit here with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes.

Here's my response to her.

Dear Nina,
Thank you for the kind words! Truly, every professor dreams of making that kind of positive impact on a student's knowledge. Thank you for making my dreams come true!
You are EXEMPT from the Final Exam.
Completely, totally, for sure!
Again, You have earned the "A" in Chem1151 and I will be honored to mark it as such when SHIP allows final course grades to be entered.
I know you will do well in the BSN program and wish you much success - and a well-deserved winter break!
Prof. Smith

In the words of the bfe, I shall certainly have sweet dreams tonight...
and for more reasons than SRK.
(smile)

i miss charles osgood

"CBS Sunday Morning" is simply not the same without his calming, mirthful voice, his "journalism with heart".
I miss his quirky little poems, too.

Maybe part of my affinity for him was linked to the bowtie he always wore. I had a professor at FSU that I had adored, Charlie Mann, and he always had that sartorial adornment, too. Charlie died back in July of 2002, riding his bicycle as he usually did. I don't recall the details other than that, as I was already firmly ensconced here in Savannah.
Recently, his wife died, too.
They were very interesting people and I'm glad I knew them.

The final episode with Charles Osgood on deck was September 25th.
I had even made a note for my kitchen cabinet, to make sure I wouldn't miss it.
What a marvelous show it was on that Sunday morning!
Imagine a Celebration of Life in which the honoree was still healthy and able to enjoy the many accolades and fond memories voiced by family and friends - what a joyous time that would be!
And that's how it was in that episode.
His musical talents on the organ and dulcimer were the highlights of one segment.
His radio show, "The Osgood File", and broadcasting beginnings were the focus of another segment.
And did you know he wrote songs as well as poems?
I had not known, but it certainly makes sense. After all, what are songs if not poetry set to music?

One of his sons, the eldest I think, clearly has his dad's sense of humor!
"I haven't had a decent pancake in twenty-two years," he chirped, with an absolutely straight face.
Very funny!
But, you see, he had grown up accustomed to his dad making pancakes for the family on Sunday mornings.
That hadn't happened since 1994.
I hope he's been enjoying those pancakes for the past two months.

of three brothers and a stepmom

Hey, Dood!
I had a very nice Thanksgiving at Smitty's. Cheryl and Medina and Jessica were there. Also Christy and John and Caitlyn and Tyler was home from college (GA Southern). Christy brought 4 more with her, a family that she and John know. Lots of smoked turkey and fried turkey and even some ham!
On Friday, I was grading papers when....Ronnie came walking up! I had not even seen him but once since I got him the last phone, back in April. He was looking good and was probably looking for some leftovers, but I had none.
When I asked if he was ready to try a new phone again, he enthusiasticly responded with "Yes", so we spent the next few hours making that happen. He even ended up with a dinner invite from his son!
That was certainly worth it!
I took a photo of him and me before I dropped him off. I've attached it for you, too!
What else?
I had lunch and a movie with Bonnie yesterday, over in Bluffton. The movie was "Rules Don't Apply", about a segment of Howard Hughes' life, and we both enjoyed it very much! But it was so long that we didn't stay for the credits - we both needed to relieve our bladders. Oh my!
Well, I guess that is it for the moment. I had reached out to some folks on facebook to write to you, but I don't know that any of them did. They certainly didn't any of them contact me to let me know they were going to do so.
with my love!

hanging with the middle bro

Finally!
You may recall that the last time I saw my middle brother was in the spring.
Wait, let me take that back.
That was the last time I spent more than five minutes with him.
He had shown up on September 13th, moments before I was leaving for class. I had given him a few dollars and arranged to meet on the Friday for lunch at Zaxby's.
He had not shown up, though I had looked for almost two hours.
Flash forward to this morning!
I was grading lab papers when a knock comes on the door.
It was Ronnie!
I let him in and gave him a glass of milk while I finished grading the one question I had been working on for everyone.
Then we talked about Thanksgiving and other brothers and folks keeping in touch...
and I asked him if he was ready to have a new phone again...
and yes he was, was the grateful reply.
I made him promise to hold onto it for more than two weeks.
He did.
So, off we went to get a phone.
Then back we came to my house to get it activated.
Once the minutes were set, then it time to fill the phone book. I always do that for him, with every phone I've ever bought for him.
Then, I called his son.
"Make a note of this number. It's your Papa's new phone. Here he is," as I handed him the phone.
They talked for a little while, even arranging for Michael to pick him up later for a dinner of Thanksgiving leftovers with him and the family.
Nice!
Then, I called his daughter.
Repeating my earlier message, I then handed the phone to Ronnie again.
After a few minutes of conversation and words of love, he handed the phone back to me.
So I called our local brother, but his phone was tied up, so I left a message.
Major coolness!
By this time, it was approaching 2 PM.
Off to Popeye's to satisfy his craving for a fried chicken snack.
Then I gave him some money for cigarettes and off he went.
Mission accomplished!

i thank You, God, that I was home!
i thank You, God, that I was able to spend some quality time with him!

apparently a private joke

Happy Thanksgiving!
When I was readying my hair today, I had a brainstorm!
I would wear braids!!!
I thought for sure that folks would "get it"...
well, maybe not everyone, but certainly someone...
surely someone would point at my hair and say "good one!"...
but they did not.
No one at Smitty's house commented on my hairstyle.
I thought Caitlyn, my niece, was going to...
but she did not.
She did look at my hair and smile, though.

Perhaps the warm weather is to blame.
Perhaps they thought I wore my hair in braids for that reason.
I must admit, the weather did play a role in my decision.
But, that was not the final reason for my hair choice.

As I told Jeff the ex,
"There was a reason I wore my hair in braids.
Today.
Too subtle?"

His reply had been,
"Must be because I don't get it.
Turkey necks?"

Say what?

I responded,
"Like Indians!!!"

He said,
"Oh, I get it.
You would have had to tell me there was a significance because I wouldn't have sniffed it out on my own.
Ha ha!"

Well, I guess it will simply be my own little inside joke.
That's okay, though.
It still makes me smile inside and out!

happy thanksgiving eve!

Honestly, I can think of no better way to spend this evening that at the Lucas Theatre for the screening of "The Last Waltz"!
Especially as I was with the illustrious Roy Wood and the Boo of all Nixons!
Seriously!
Why was this an especially appropriate film?
Well, this year marked the 40th anniversary of The Band's final concert.
As a sweet-16 gift to the bandmates, they got their lives back and stopped touring.
The venue was the first they'd ever graced: Winterland, in San Francisco.
To make it truly memorable, they had Martin Scorsese document their event and had invited some of their favorite people to be there.
There were several fellow musicians (Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, Michael McClure) who joined them on their many songs as well as on the ones played with the others in this stellar cast.
Joni Mitchell,waving around that golden hair, talking about a "Coyote" on the freeway.
Neil Diamond, advising us to "Dry Your Eyes" on this celebratory eve.
Van Morrison, recommendng us to crank up the volume as the "Caravan" rock'n'rolled on by.
Muddy Waters, carrying on about a "Mannish Boy" who was a natural-born lover man - well, well, WELL!
The Staple Singers, billed as the Staples, harmonizing about "The Weight" and the load taken off Annie.
Eric Clapton was moving things "Further On Up The Road", a song all touring bands know.
Neil Young, with his "Helpless" smile and flashing blue eyes.
Paul Butterfield, wailing away on the harmonica while that "Mystery Train" rolled on around the bend.
Emmylou Harris sang of "Evangeline", who lost her love to gambling and the Mississippi Queen.
Dr. John, reminiscing about "Such A Night" - hey, if I don't do it...
Bob Dylan ended up the evening with a soulful wish that we all stay "Forever Young".
Amen to that, amen.

What a night!
i thank You, God, for placing this on my radar.
I am truly grateful.

bifocals and blues

hey, Dood!
The appointments at the VA in Charleston went well, so December 8th is THE date. I'll be taking the shuttle there on the 7th, they'll put me up overnight, then the surgery will be at some time on that Thursday morning. I' won't know the time until sometime on the 7th. The doctor told me it should only take about 15 minutes. I'm looking forward to a normal hand again!
I'm glad to hear the lockdown situation has calmed down a bit. Mostly, I'm glad you're able to go to work instead of sitting in a cell all day. Just sitting idle is hard on the head.
And I just remembered that you have glasses now! Bifocals, eh? The trick is to look downward when you are reading or doing close work, then to look straight ahead when you are looking into the distance. Be sure to look several steps ahead when you are walking, so you don't trip on anything. They take a little get used to, but I've had them since... well, probably since your age!
Lots of plays and music events going on lately! Fortunately, they've been at Armstrong or the Lucas or the JEA, so they were all free! Last night, I was at the Jonny Lang concert at the Lucas!!! Love his blues music!

But get this: a woman was so impressed with how well I treated her and her brother that she bought me a concert t-shirt AND a CD!!! Amazing!!! And the CD was the one of Jonny in concert back in 2010 - when I had seen him in Savannah!
She told me that she knew volunteers didn't get much recognition, but I had done an exceptional job with them and she wanted to reward me. You see, at one point, her purse had dumped out in the aisle, in the dark during the concert. I had seen the two of them trying to gather up everything and had gone to help.
That's all.
She told me she really didn't like most people and that it had only been worse lately, what with all the nastiness of the election campaigns and the post-election stuff. Meeting someone like me made her feel better about the human race.
Wasn't that the sweetest thing for her to say? And then, for her to buy me a t-shirt, too, just as she had done for herself and her brother... and then to let me choose which of the three cd's I wanted.... What a blessing to have been there for her and to have had such an impact.
God is truly wondrous.
with much love!

gifts of music

...GO
No, seriously, that was the title of the first piece from the Winterfest today! The Armstrong Wind Ensemble brought us a total of four works for the free concert this afternoon. All were modern compositions from the past ten years. Wow!
The other three works were the lively "Goddess of Fire", the sweetly moving "Sentimentale", and the boldly jubilant "KHAN". That last was quite lively and certainly my favorite!

Next on my agenda of free music was the "Musique De France"!
Que magnifique!
Here is the empty orchestra...

...and here it is for my favorite piece of the evening, Poulenc's "Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in D Minor,
FP 61".
Bugs Bunny cartoons kept flashing through my mind during it - and I was not the only one with those images!
Give a listen and you'll agree!
As for the rest of the concert, I've talked about it here.
'Nuff said!
(smile!)

This afternoon found me at the JEA for "Honoring The Legacy Of Richard Tucker". His son (David), his biographer (Jim Drake), and his fellow opera singer (Sherrill Milnes) hosted the free two-hour program of music.
I admit to going in blind. All I knew at the time was Sherrill Milnes would be there and I was likely to hear some opera.
Boy, did I! The trio had garnered fourteen audio and video samples to showcase the tenor, singing not only in multiple operas, but also performing Jewish services, being interviewed on television, and...singing "The Lord's Prayer". In fact, I realized when I heard it that this 1967 version with this Jewish singer was the one I had grown up hearing in the Southern Baptist church! Amazing!
I know my Grandma and Grandpa must have been smiling at that!
Now, I'm off to the Jonny Lang concert at the Lucas! It'll be free, too, as I'm ushering the event! Hooray! I have been looking forward to hearing this bluesman for so long!
Later, y'all!

i came to watch you dance

Where was I?
At the Lucas Theatre.
I had come to usher and stayed to dance.
After all, it was a concert.
(smile)
The Savannah Philharmonic had their last concert this year at the vintage site. This "Musique De France" featured the "impressionist" works of Berlioz, Debussy, and Poulenc in the first half.
Ravel was the only composer featured after the intermission.
The final piece of the evening was his "Boléro", in all its fifteen-minutes-of-fame glory.
It actually is fifteen minutes long, too.
Composed when Maurice Ravel was 53 years old, the music was deliberately constructed for one purpose: dancing.
That's my kind of music!
And dance to it I did, allowing my arms to weave patterns in the air as my hips swayed to the insistent beat of the snare drum. What joy!
Toward the song's end, an elderly woman with a cane began traveling down the aisle of orchestra left, toward me. She was followed by a gentleman who may have been her son. As they neared the vestibule which I had been using as my private dance hall, I moved to open the side door for their exit.
"Oh, I'm not leaving yet," the woman said. "I came to watch you dance."
And so I resumed dancing for the few minutes remaining.
Give the people what they want, n'est-ce pas?
(smile)

What a different experience than I had on Friday night.
I had ventured out to the Savannah Social event, billed as the "last chance this year for a free dance lesson at Savannah Ballroom!"
Sadly, it seemed to have been misunderstood to be the "last chance to find a date for the holidays" by many in attendance.
During the dance lesson, I shared the floor with two men. In both cases, I had interjected myself into their path as they were headed for someone else. As it was an offer they could not graciously refuse, they acted as gentlemen and danced with me.
The rumba, or box-step, was the first dance we learned. The wiry older gent was not happy with my improvisation of also swinging my hips.
Next, we learned the swing, emphasizing the right side. The very tanned muscle man was actually a pretty good dancer, but his attention was elsewhere the entire time.
Ruth, one of my Lucas-mates, was also present, having been a student of the dance studio for some time. She actually performed with Gabriel! (I knew him from the sockhop following the Jepson lecture in April. Such a sweet young man! I had been dancing solo and he had come over and joined me... and he even remembered that dance with me!)
I stayed until the mixer began.
Then, I quietly ducked out.
No more ballroom for me.
I acknowledge that I am a control freak, but not in that direction.

The lesson learned?
I can dance with prescribed steps or I can move to the music, but I cannot do both.
Not that the lesson is a new one for me.
I've never been proficient as a line dancer.
But I once loved disco, with all the twirling and hip-flashing and arm-waving!
Free-form, that's my style, allowing the music to guide my movements!

Good choice, as I have been told time and time and time and time and time and time and time and time and time and time again.
I could go on, but you catch my drift...
and now, off I go to catch Tyler Perry's latest!
Bye!

fringe and tassels, working and thai!

This is a snippet from one of the two musicals the Savannah Stage Company will be performing this upcoming fifth season!!!
That's right, I said two musicals!!!
You know I'm in heaven about that, right?
(smile)
This scene is from "Working: The Musical", with songs from James Taylor and Lin-Manuel Miranda, among others.
I am so excited about it!
I'm already making plans to attend every production of the play!
(smile)
The teaser was performed at the Season Announcement Party at the Andaz Hotel. "Snack-sized" snippets from the other three plays were also performed, including the scene with the moon being lassoed, "Buffalo Girl" style. Yeehaw!

Afterward, I had about an hour until my next event downtown.
What to do for dinner?
Well, fortunately, I stepped into Ruan Thai Cuisine!
Is this not the most gorgeous plate of Nam Sod you've ever seen?
Tom Yum Gai was excellent, too!
I'll look forward to going there again - it wasn't as pricey as I'd heard it would be.

Then it was time to bop over to Club One for a game show, burlesque-style!
Hallelujah!
Kudos to Deb O'Nair for most creative use of shark hand puppet!
Kudos again to Deb O'Nair for most wonderful use of tassels, placing them on elbows and knees and not just the usual places. What marvelous twirling!!!
And Sallie B. Badd gets honorable mention for the hot pink and teal blue fringe on her third-round costume - shake, shake, shake it, baby!
"1, 2, 3, TEASE!" was worth the ten bucks, and more!
I hope to see more of these fine ladies of Savannah Sweet Tease in the future... I sure have missed going to their shows!

As I was returning to my car, at the square south of the Lucas Theatre, I was struck by this scene.
Moon above, holiday-clad lamp posts staggering across the park, and moss-laden oaks between...
what a serene and blessed setting to end my evening.

i thank You, God.

penultimate lecture of 2016!

Tonight was my next to last lecture for 2016.
In truth, it was the final lecture at Armstrong.
I will reprise it tomorrow morning at SavTech.
So, tonight's was the penultimate.
I like that word: penultimate.
Two Latin words, paene and ultimus, bridged together to form a new word with precise meaning.
Not the last, but the one immediately preceding.
Then, off to a new beginning.
How appropriate as we close this semester, this right-handed bookend of 2016, prior to the start of the holiday festivities! The true closure will occur during the first week of December, during the Final Exams at both institutions of learning.
Then, we will meet no more at these schools until the beginning of the new semester, in the left-handed bookend of 2017.
Some of us at Armstrong will continue to see each other in the second half of the survey chemistry series.
Most will be in different classes, however, with new people, new topics of study, new schedules.
But, for tonight, I had that penultimate experience.
That was nice.
I look forward to the "second verse, same as the first" in the morn.
(smile)

free food for veterans, 2016 edition

Tonight, I celebrated being a veteran for the fourth time in about as many days.
This time, I was being feted by Golden Corral, with a free buffet and free drink.
Hooray!
My first niece joined me for the meal, making it extra special.
(smile)
It had all begun on Thursday.
The physicist and I were long overdue for time together and had arranged to meet "next week on Thursday afternoon"...which happened to be the day before Veteran's Day. I had suggested Red Lobster, as I still had the gift card he had given to me for my birthday. As it so happened, that restaurant was giving free appetizers to veterans! Sah-weet deal for the F-grrl and J-Dawg! We split the free Sweet Chili Shrimp and had a quite leisurely slunch for the next two hours, with Chlorin taking care of all our needs. Oh, yeah! (I gave him his birthday gift then, too. After all, it is Jeff-tember! He very much liked the Dr. Who coloring book and the four different packs of Minions-inspired Crayola crayons. I'm sure he will smile and think of me as he colors during the six-month sabbatical he'll have in New York.)
On Friday, Applebee's was the source of my late lunch. They must have had every one of their wait staff there for the extra business! My free meal was this beautiful piece of fish, flavored with lime and cilantro - totally yummy! Thanks to Corey for keeping my iced tea glass full and a smile on my face!
Saturday night was free food, too, but not because I was a veteran. Nope! It was because I was dining on smoked pork, green beans, and fried rice at Roy's party!
(smile!)
On Sunday night, Carrabbas celebrated my status as a veteran with a free appetizer. This time, I selected the Shrimp Scampi...oh, so very good! Barbara was there to share them with, and to share a very leisurely post-movie dinner, too. (We had seen a delightful Swedish film, "A Man Called Ove", reminding us that love can be found in many forms.) My thanks to Rob for taking care of me so graciously...and the sweet dreams later. Oh, yeah!
And that brings us to tonight, at the buffet, with my niece. Cynthia was the dear who kept the table clear of clutter and our glasses full of drink. Muchas gracias!
All in all, a memorable weekend full of meals with friends...and little cost for me.

My many thanks to all who made that possible.
And, as always, i thank You, God.

cats say hello to dolly and peter pan, with the sound of music!

ASUMC's God On Broadway series was a bit shattered this year.
It began beautifully, and on schedule, with "The Phantom Of the Opera", as I had already written.
Then came the blustery bully, stomping up the coast and crashing the best-made plans all to pieces.
Life was out of kilter for me (and many others) for almost a week.
I had actually gone to the church on the 9th of October, making a three-block detour around downed trees to get there. I had known the service would not be the Broadway piece scheduled, but that would be okay. I just wanted to be there.
I was the only one there.
I had been greeted with the message "No service Sunday" on the marquee when I had finally arrived.
Sigh.
The next three Sundays went as Reverend Billy Hester had originally planned. "The Sound of Music" was to be skipped for now, but would definitely be rescheduled.
Sunday, October 16th, presented us with "Hello, Dolly!" Truly, I had thought I was only familiar with the title tune, but I was wrong! "It Only Takes A Moment" was a reminder of having watched this many years ago with Mama.

My favorite part of the service, besides Don Cohen's song, was the singing of a new hymn. The title song's lyrics were modified, in light of the turmoil caused by the hurricane. "Hello, Savannah" was our joyful response to our beautiful town still standing! Where am I? Look far right, by the piano, behind the man in the white shirt. See that long, graying hair on that swaying woman? That would be me!
Here are the lyrics.

Hello, Sava-nnah....well, hello, Sava-nnah
It's so nice to be with you where we belong.
You're lookin' swell, Sava-nnah,
we can tell, Sava-nnah,
You're still glowin'...you're still crowin'...
you're still goin' strong!
We saw the trees swayin'......as it kept rainin'...
Yes, we know that Matthew tried to do you in.
But...you stayed strong, Sava-nnah,
Found you a brand new song, Sava-nnah!
Savannah will always find a way again!

Hello Sava-nnah....well, hello, Sava-nnah
It's so nice to be with you where we belong.
You're lookin' swell, Sava-nnah,
we can tell, Sava-nnah,
You're still glowin'...you're still crowin'...
you're still goin' strong!
We saw the trees swayin'......as it kept rainin'...
Yes, we know that Matthew tried to do you in.
But...you stayed strong, Sava-nnah,
Found you a brand new song, Sava-nnah
Savannah will always find a way!
Savannah will always find a way!
Savannah will always find a way again!

Afterward, it was good to swap stories about the hurricane in the social hall. Everyone's tale was different, but they all ended the same way... we had survived to live another day.
i thank You, God!

Sunday, October 23rd, was full of "Cats" of all sizes and shapes! "Memory" was so beautifully done, both vocally and artistically. But I must say that the most fun piece was having Pongo and Freckles do the announcements! Hilarious!

Sunday, October 30th, brought what had been intended as the concluding production for this year's God On Broadway series. "Peter Pan" bid us to never grow up, to never lose our child-like wonder of the world we know and love.
My favorite part? I must admit, I had two of them! The first favorite bit was the announcements, done by the Captain Hook and his pirates! Yo, ho, me maties! But Tinkerbell certainly gave those boys a run for the money - literally, as she spoke of stewardship! Helen Downing was perfect as the real Tinkerbell: aged, plump, grandmotherly, as someone centuries old should look!

Now, October was over... but we still had a God On Broadway service to be held. However, it could not be the first Sunday in November, as that was All Saints Day.
No worries!
We were treated to "The Sound Of Music" on this second Sunday in November! What a smorgasbord of songs and productions! "The Morning Hymn" and "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" featured the choir only! "Do Re Mi" was a puppetry feature from the Creative Kids!
And the announcements? Well, they were done in song, of course! "My Favorite (Asbury) Things" listed them quite nicely!
(smile)
But my very favorite part was during the offertory. Billy's sister, Wendy, who had played Maria on stage years ago, came on to sing "The Sound Of Music". Then, she was joined by Billy and his wife, Cheri. Then came their cousins, John Hester (with my stepsister, Jean, and my niece, Molly!) and Kim Johnson (with husband, Steve)! And then... my favorite part!... Billy and Wendy's mom and aunt came to the stage!
Wow, wow, WOW!!!
But that was not the last "wow!" moment, as we call them here.
No, that came with the very last song, the song where the entire congregation sings together. And that song?
"Edelweiss".
"Bless my homeland forever", it implores.
What a timely message during these post-election woes.
If not for the hurricane's interruption to the schedule, this message would have been a month too early.
If not for the hurricane's effect on the Reverend's planned sermon order, we might not have been able to acknowledge the proffering of hope and healing in such a simple song.
There are no coincidences, right?

i thank You, God.

psychotronic zombie!

I know zombies aren't supposed to grin, but I just couldn't stop!
At 1:00 PM sharp, I was at Lake Mayer to pick up my race packet!
Yes, you heard correctly: race packet.
I was doing it again!
This time was to benefit the Alzheimer's Disease research. Having zombies present is rather appropriate, n'est-ce pas?
I know you're wondering if I've caught race fever from Kevin...
Well... maybe a tinge... but I don't run.
I walk.
Plus, the timing was excellent. Groupon had missed me and had sent a coupon for twenty dollars off the item of my choice. One of the first items to catch my eye was the 5KDeadRun, on a Saturday afternoon, right around the corner from me. "Run, walk, or jog", it proclaimed in the rules. Hooray! Between the Groupon price and my extra voucher, the seventy-dollar price-tag was cut to only nine bucks!!!
Besides the t-shirt and dogtag finisher medal, I could also get zombie make-up!
What great fun! I had never been a zombie before!

First, the base coat
was sprayed on.
That looks pretty
creepy right there!
(smile)

Then came the dark circles
around my eyes
and "sunken" cheekbones!
A bit of bloody veins
on the forehead, too!

Bloody spider veins
on my neck, too,
as well as dark shadows
of shrunken flesh!
(That tickled!)
(smile!)

Last, the bloody
I've-been-munching mouth,
created by
drizzling streams
of red Karo syrup
and then having me bite my hand!
Grrrraawwwrrrr!
(smile!)

He did a really great job,
didn't he?
Had some awesome
zombie tunes, too!
I was dancing
and dancing
there at the pavilion!

This was the race course!
I walked around it the first time with Diana and her mom, Martha, visiting from Arizona.
That took about 44 minutes.
My second lap, walked solo, was only 30 minutes.
Much better!
(I think I may sign up for the next zombie run in April, too.)

Afterward, even with the red stickiness in my hair, I just couldn't bear the thought of washing it all off.
I just couldn't!
I was having so much fun with that look!
Sooooo...
I kept it on for Roy's Annual Trivia Party!
That didn't begin until 7 PM, but by the time everything with the race was done, it was already after 5. Plus, I only had another hour before I needed to leave for Roy's place in Bluffton, SC....
Another reason to stay a zombie!
And so I did, staying in my bloodied race shirt, too!
Guess what?
Everyone liked it! Especially my trivia mates: Jim Reed and his squeeze, Amanda; Axelle and her man, Jordan; and sweet Melissa, stranger no more! Together, we were the Psychotronics! Woohoo!
Here's what we had in common: none of us were really trivia players, but we were all friends of Roy Wood and Heather, so that's how we really ended up there on a Saturday night.
Beginner's luck had us win the warm-up game!
Incredible!
And what did we win???
A package of moustaches!!!

I was the first to go ahead and don one, followed by the other women, then Jim. Jordan has a full 'stache and beard already, so he was set. We became the Psychotronic Moustaches!
We darn near won the real game, too.
Two more points...
Maybe next year!
Now, to shower and wash my hair before bed...
What a fabulous day!

i thank You, God!

happy veteran's day!

In memory of Daddy, Harvey Smith. He served in the US Air Force.

In memory of my stepdad, Frank Barry. He served in the US Army.

In memory of my uncle, Bob Walker. He served in the US Navy.

Happy Veteran's Day, on the actual day established to honor those who served the USA with military service.
I was blessed to tune in to the parade here in Savannah as it was beginning, there at the corner of Broughton Street and Bull Street.

The moment of silence,
for those who served
who are
no longer alive.

The moment of silence,
with the
US Army's 3rd Infantry Division holding steady.

Taps,
for those living only in memory.

Broughton Street, decked out in our nation's finest colors.

The parade begins!

The first steps of a new day!

for the sake of a little strange

Tonight, I was fortunate to be one of the forty in attendance.
This time, that number referred to the maximum capacity allowed in the Black Box in Jenkins Hall.
The small space is reserved for the Masquers' more experimental ventures into the thespian world. Some are comedic, some are dramatic, and all are quite intense.
"Theatre-in-your-face" experiences, if you will, much like all of the productions of the Savannah Stage Company.
Tonight, the Masquers offered up "Desdemona, A Play About A Handkerchief", a fairly recent Shakespeare-inspired one-act.
For a starting point, recall the tragedy Othello.
Now, consider that as the backdrop and enlarge the roles of three women: Desdemona, the general's beloved wife; Emelia, her maidservant; and Bianca, the harlot the wife has befriended.
The first, in the titular role, is portrayed as a very loose woman, with an itch that must be scratched, no matter the cost.
A woman who first was attracted to the Moor because of his skin color.
That was strange to her, and strange was her drug.
After her marriage to the Moor, she continued her search for strange, befriending Bianca, a woman of like ilk, at the local bordello.
She even took that woman's place one Tuesday night, "working" her shift in a darkened room... unknowingly being bedded by her maidservant's husband, a bitter man, jealous of a younger rival's promotion in the army of Desdemona's husband.
The maidservant is convinced by her husband to steal Desdemona's handkerchief, a gift of love Othello had bestowed upon his wife.
The one-act play opens with Emilia snatching the strawberry-embroidered "snot rag" off a table and stuffing it into her bosom.
And then the trouble truly begins, as the three women discover the web that has trapped them all.

The troupe utilized an interesting technique to control the tension, perhaps for the actors as well as the audience. The play was offered as a series of small vignettes played to a camera, with a huge screen behind the staging area to show the action from the lens' objective frame of reference. In between the vignettes, the actresses would relax out of the characters for a few moments, talking casually to each other.
In one sense, the technique allowed an easing of the emotional build-up during the scenes.
But the impact of the horrific ending, when Desdemona and Emilia realize Iago's betrayal of them both, cannot be softened.

Intense.

Tomorrow, I will attend "Henry V", a history lesson from Shakespeare, as interpreted by Savannah Shakes.
Even with its themes of warfare and swordfights, I suspect it will be lighter fare than that my senses dined upon tonight.

words of hope from the wisest woman i know

When I rose yesterday morning and discovered the results of the presidential election, I was in shock and was awash in sadness for this country I so love.
The old white men had turned out in droves to elect one of their own.
As a country, we have taken a giant step backward, just as we did when Ronald Reagan was elected.
Even the rest of this world we live in will suffer.

My dear friend, the indomitable JinHi, has shared her sanity on facebook.
She has restored my hope for a better day.
Here's hoping her words will salve your ache, too.

JinHi Soucy Rand
November 9 at 1:22pm · Savannah ·

Last night at dinner as friends were periodically checking their phones for early election results, I felt a calm. It had occurred to me that I am a person who has grown accustomed to waiting for Biopsy results, and then dealing with whatever those results may be. Either way the election was going to go, we were about to discover in some historic way who we are as a whole, and where the hurt is that most needs to be addressed.

We are struggling. And in times of struggle as well as times of grave personal illness, turn to your friends, families and neighbors and start repairing there and use that strength to carry on and continue to recover. Sometimes things can get pretty bleak before the healing begins. You have to address your overall health, our overall health, and not just the symptoms. Once there are undeniable symptoms, the illness has spread. The election results, and the fear and disappointments that have been confused for hate, are the symptoms not the whole of each individual that voted.

Just as I know that my cancer cells are still my cells, still my body. I have learned to claim them with a little bit of compassion, understanding that anything I do to them, I do to all of me. I ask that you consider our country and fellow citizens this way. I can't go after my cells with more rage and poison than my body and soul can handle.

Be kind to us. Be kind to each other. There is so much love, so much progress, and we can overcome anything. Maybe not in our lifetimes, but that's not our job. Our job is to use our time to keep progress moving forward. It can't happen without taking a really hard look at ourselves and acknowledging that we took our health for granted.

There are so many ways to get involved and so many amazing people who know how to organize and utilize all of your strengths. Reach out and lend a hand or hold mine. We've got this.

<3

We've got this, together.

farewell, to the lady

On Saturday afternoon, the Celebration of Life of Lady Chablis was held at the Lucas Theatre.
It had originally been scheduled for that second weekend in October...
which would have been one month after her death...
but Hurricane Matthew put those plans on hold...
at least temporarily...
certainly not permanently.

The Lucas was packed, of course, but my job as event usher assured me a space.
Brenda Dale Knox, born Benjamin Edward Knox on March 11, 1957, had been bringing tourists to Savannah for the last twenty years. Ever since her star turn in THE Movie, aka "Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil", in 1997, folks have come from all over the world to see her perform at Club One.
She really didn't have to act in the movie.
She simply played herself, albeit the make-up artist certainly helped her attain the needed look.
After all, consider the math. When the movie was filmed, she was already forty years old. Yet, she was playing her 24-year-old self, using the name Chablis Deveau.
She owes much of her fame to Clint Eastwood for allowing her to do so.

Now that pneumonia has clutched her to its clammy chest, I have to wonder what effect her loss will have not only on the LGBT night club, but also on tourism in this city.
There are many folks who still come here because of THE Book and THE Movie, hoping to meet some of the characters they've read about or seen on the screen.
However, it's been thirty-six years since the events which were the basis of THE Book.
Most of the people in the murder tale have died in the last ten years.
Now, Lady Chablis has died, too, at only 59 years old.

Honestly, I had thought she was a good bit older than me, not just by one year.
Scary thought...
I've had pneumonia twice in my life.
Maybe it's time for another pneumonia vaccine...

new people, old ghosts

I was sitting on the grassy hillside, under a blue sky, watching the waves roll up to the rocky spit of land that we called a beach.
It was one of my favorite places to just "be".
Then a cyclist pedaled into view on the road below...
and it was Toad, with his hand up in greeting as he rode past me...
then he, and his bike, glided out of sight on the curving road...
and I sat there and cried.
He had died on the biking portion of the triathlon just a week or so earlier.

That was 35 years ago.
I was 23 years old and in my first year at Okinawa.
Last night, the crystallized memory popped back into full view with all the clarity of that clear blue sky on that spring day.
I could even see Michael's face, smiling as he waved.

Kevin and I were at the Savannah Striders' post-race celebration downtown. He had asked if I would fetch him from his apartment, as he didn't trust his mermaid legs and fuzzy head to get him back downtown.
I did, of course.
Things were going very nicely at the restaurant. The family of four across from us welcomed us enthusiastically into their conversation. Maria and Robert had run the half-marathon, with their two daughters cheering them on - very nice!
Then Kevin asked if I had been concerned that he wouldn't finish the race and I had replied that I had been. I told him I had been quite concerned around mile 22, because I knew Jane was to meet him there and I had not heard from her that he was safely to that point. After almost an hour had passed since he had hit mile 20, I had contacted Jane and asked if she had seen him. Yes, she had, and she even sent me a photo!
But I had been very worried, and had continued to worry until his text at mile 25.2.
Kevin asked why I hadn't contacted him if I was worried.
I told him I hadn't wanted to concern him, especially if all was well.
I hadn't wanted to worry him and take his concentration off his quest.
We both knew that people have died on this race, here in this town.
Then, justthatfast, the memory of Toad on that blue-sky day popped into my head and I was suddenly drowning in grief.

I practically ran as I excused myself from the table.
I know me.
The only way to navigate the grief wave is to go through it, allowing myself to be totally submerged, until it has passed by and ebbed away.
That's what my counselor, Duke Miles, had advised during my divorce in late 2007.
He was absolutely right, too.
Getting the tears out of the way immediately, as it happens, allows me to get back to my day in just a few moments. That's much better than trying to postpone dealing with it and ending up with a meltdown.

After only a few minutes, I was able to compose myself and returned to the table.
I told Kevin about my friend and what had happened to him.
I had known I was feeling fretful these past few weeks as Kevin had been ramping up his training for the marathon. My level of anxiety had been ramping up as his enthusiasm rose.
But I had not realized that my concern went back to an incident thirty-five years in my past, when I was young.

Strange how the mind ties old forgotten memories to new events and new people.

As I drove him back to his apartment, I told him about my vision of Michael that long-ago day.
Then I told him about Grandpa's death in Waycross while I was in Okinawa and my vision of him in a dream.
And I told him about the pilgrim ghosts seen when I was a little girl. (That probably is part of my reason for going crazy in the dark, now that I think about it.)
And I told him about Mama helping me enlist, and my debates with Grandpa, and my tubal ligation, and Mama's conversation with me after my first niece was born...
Sigh.
I do hope I haven't run him off.

At least I'm not on parole or probation...
I would definitely be kicked out of his life then...
that would be heartbreaking for me.

Please say a little prayer...

kevin completes his quest!

This is Kevin, clad in his finisher's jacket and sporting his finisher's medal.
(You can't really see that because of budget cuts.
Trust me,
it's an inside joke.)

This is the race map for the 6th Rock'n'Roll Savannah Marathon.
Kevin's arrival times at the checkpoints are recorded thereon, based on his texts to me and Jane at the start, then every five miles.

Here he is, approaching Jenkins High School, near mile 15!
Kevin was in my 'hood!!!
He even veered off course to grant me a brief big, sweaty, hug!
What a treat!
(smile)

There he goes!
He was heading back toward the high school, then onward to Daffin Park before a return to downtown.
This was just past mile 19.
Go, dancing bear, go!

And so he did,finishing the 26.2 mile race in almost exactly 6 hours.
Impressive!
To finish a marathon has been his quest for seven years.
Today: success!!!

For my part, I tried to make sure he knew he was loved!
Besides my sweatshirt, I also decorated two posters to cheer him on and assure him that he was totally aWeSOmE!

This was the one I held as he neared me at the high school.
(Maybe it's the reason for the hug?)
The other was propped on a bush as he came back toward me for mile 19.


I also sent goofy little poems as he checked in along the way.
He had sent an early morning text to thank me and Jane (honorary Mom) for being there as his support group. After I responded, I climbed back into my warm bed. Trust me, I had meant to go back to sleep! Instead, two poems had popped into my head, self-made! I had to jump out of bed to write them down before they vanished back into thin air!
So, here they are, two spontaneous, two deliberately constructed to round out the set.

After mile 5:
Maintain your pace
with a smiling face
and that's how you
will complete the race!

After mile 10:
The parks downtown
are oh so pretty!
Time now to explore
the rest of the city!

As encouragement around mile 18 (before he came into sight at mile 19):
Move your feet
to the music's beat
with a smile on your face
as you go down the street!

After mile 25.2:
Returning to downtown,
maybe time for a stroll.
Just keep moving, Kevin,
you're close to the goal!

I'll leave it up to you to guess which ones got me out of bed!
(smile!)

Now, I'm off to the Lucas Theatre to usher for a memorial service.
Later!

tuesday timing

What a day this has been!
I woke up at 8 AM, took my little pill for my cyst-slowed thyroid, and climbed back in bed.
There I stayed until 10:31 AM.
I had apparently turned off the alarm!
Oh, no!
Class was at 11 AM!!!!
I got dressed, grabbed a to-go snack box, and set off for the college.
Amazingly, I made it safely to campus, without any coffee to wake my mind.
Then, even more amazingly, I slid the car right into an open parking space.
When I reached the classroom, the time was 10:51 AM.
i thank You, God!
That gave me a few minutes to get a little sustenance in.
Good thing, too. That bit of energy kept me going for the talk on the kinetics of reactions, including exothermic and endothermic factors...
which was especially good as today was the day the dean chose to audit my class.
Yikes!
Still, he had to be impressed that I seemed to be running on all cylinders, without notes, even reminding the students of the topics we had already studied and their place in our current studies.
I certainly hope so.
The timing of his visit gives me pause, though.
Why?
Well, late last week, he had sent the following email to all in General Studies.

"All,
At the link below, Malcom Gladwell discusses the U-shaped curve in relation to classroom size. He discusses class size at around 16:40.
U Shaped Curve and Classroom Size
What do you think about his idea about the impact of classroom size on poor students?"

I had viewed the link on Saturday and then responded.

"Very interesting discussion...and I concur with his results.
I am currently teaching the same course, with the same textbook and same homework assignments, to two different classes. One class began with thirty students, has much class participation during lecture, and has 27 students after midterm. The other class began with ten students, has very little participation during lecture, and will soon be down to five students.
Honestly, it has been a bit disheartening to witness this great difference.
But I shall persevere at providing a good education to those who remain, in both classes."

As I said, I find his timing on auditing my class to be curious.
Perhaps he wanted to see my energy level and style for himself?
I'm just grateful to have been there on time, teaching material I know well, in front of four students intent on learning.
Again, i thank You, God.

Now, it's time to head to my "Tuesday with Kevin" dinner and a movie. This time, he's selected "Inferno" for our weekly viewing.
He's also already invited me earlier today to go with him on Thursday to pick up his race packet for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Savannah! Of course I said I would go! (I even plan to cheer him on as he runs - twice - past my neighborhood on this Saturday.)
Thursday will make the third time this week that we've seen each other and had dinner together.
How so?
Well, on Sunday evening, I went over to help him study for his physiology test...and he bought me dinner! Ceviche at Jalapenos! Quite nice!
I suspect we will dine together on Thursday, too.
We'll see!
What delicious timing!
(smile!)
Maybe I am his favorite "fun aunt"...
I'll accept that honor!
(smile!)