4/7/2013

weekly update 4/7/2013

What a great week! The Flynns visited! My cousin, Robin (Wahl) Flynn and her two daughters, my grandchildren (I love them so much!) Rachel & Hannah visited from Syracuse, NY. They arrived at the airport late on Easter Sunday night, and left about supper time on Wednesday. In between, we spend a delightful 3 days together. The only thing missing was Wayne, and I'm hoping that next time he can come with his family to visit me.

The girls really didn't want to learn much of the history of Savannah, which is most of what I know. So, I had a little trouble finding things that I thought they might like. On Monday, I did force them to go to Massie school, and drive around the historic district while I droned on about this monument, or that building. And, of course, we HAD to go to Leopold's for ice cream! Rachel & I found a record store that she liked, and she bought some old LPs to add to her collection. Hannah went swimming in the condo pool.

Hannah in the condo pool

Since all they really wanted to do was see the ocean, on Tuesday, we headed for Tybee Beach. It was a windy day, so there were some waves, and the girls went in the water. We had more ice cream at the beach, and then went on a dolphin boat tour. We only saw 3 dolphins (and this is in dispute - some claimed to have seen only 2, some 5, but whatever the number that we saw, it was a pretty bad showing for the dolphins). We did a really quick tour of Fort Pulaski, and then I took them to the Crab Shack for seafood. It just seems that if you have visitors here, even if they don't like seafood, the Crab Shack is a must-see.

Hannah & Rachel in the ocean waves at Tybee beach

on the boat ride to see the non-existant dolphins

Robin, Hannah & Rachel at the Crab Shack

 

On Wednesday, we went out to Skidaway State Park to hike the trail. Poor Robin is in a cast with a broken foot, but she was a trouper and went along with us. We played some board games at the condo after lunch, and all of sudden it was time for them to pack up and get ready to leave. We stopped at the Waffle House near the airport (do I know how to show people a good time, or what?) so that they wouldn't get too hungry on the way back to New York State , and then that was it. I dropped them at the boarding gate, and they were gone.

 

 

hiking at Skidaway Sate Park



I was in withdrawal on Thursday, I missed Robin and girls so much. And, I think they took the good weather we'd enjoyed back with them. It was raining and cool when I woke up, so the weather matched my mood. Donna called and wanted to go to the movies, and I was very ready to say yes. We saw The Great and Powerful Oz, but not in 3D. It was OK, not the best movies I've seen, but so-so. And we had lunch at a Thai restaurant. So, thanks to Donna, I wasn't stuck inside on a rainy day.

I went back to Davenport House on Friday. They had sent out an email saying that there were many more visitors than ever before, and were in need of guides. I don't know what the increase is about - perhaps because the city just moved a trolley stop to right outside the door of the museum, so maybe people just get off the sight-seeing bus and walk in. It's also the tourist season here, and the spring break week to boot. So, I volunteered. I don't know how this will work, or if I'll do it for a long time, but I committed to leading tours on Fridays in April. It was like riding a bike - I didn't forget all the things I'd said on the tours in the past.

To treat myself for being a good volunteer and a good Savannah resident, I went out Friday night to the Savannah Children's Theater. I love that place! They were performing The 39 Steps, which was actually satire of the Hitchcock movie. It was excellent, but I expected it to be. Those kids are terrific. 

 

There was an event planned by the Victorian Society for Sunday afternoon.  As a group, we were given a tour of some of the areas that are currently under renovation at the birth place of Juliet Gordon Low (where she was born). We had the curator of the museum tell us a little about the damage, caused by age, weather, and (of all things) the 1886 earthquake.  The repairs couldn't be put off much longer, and they did wait until the 100th anniversary of the founding of Girl Scouts was past.  But something has to be done to preserve the building.  It was very interesting.  And then Donna & I went to the Crystal Beer Parlor where I had a Genesee Cream Ale with my burger.  You can't get those anyplace else in Savannah, and it always reminds me of Rochester.   

me & Daisy

 

Congrats to cousins Ellen & David in Michigan on the birth of their 4th grandson, Caleb Norton.  He was born yesterday, weight in at 8 lb 9 oz, and everyone is doing well.