2/24/2014

weekly update 2/24/2014

I had a slow start to the week.

By Wednesday, it was time to get out. The Georgia Day parade was scheduled for the morning. It originally had been planned for February 12, which is the day that James Oglethorpe arrived in Savannah to form the new colony, but had been postponed for a week because last week was too cold. In addition, since I'd missed going to Goose Feathers during the book fest, this was an opportunity for me to go downtown and treat myself to a nice treat there. The parade was really fun. Second graders for all around the area are the participants. It's in the 2nd grade that they learn local history, so they dress up (some costumes are quite elaborate) and march along Bull Street to City Hall. Each year, a local historical figure is highlighted for the school children to learn more about and this year it was Flannery O'Connor. Book Club next month is reading her books and short stories, and they are difficult to understand; I doubt that the school children had to read any of her works. After the parade, I did some errands - walking to the IRS office (which moved, so that was a waste of time), getting some paperwork notarized, going to the post office. It was a nice day, and I had the top down on the car.

the kids were all dressed up and so cute

each school had to create a banner which included something about this year's "special person"

Thursday I wasn't feeling well. It may be that that horrible pine pollen is filling the air - and my sinuses - again, or maybe I was coming down with a cold. But I slept a lot on Thursday. And I had chicken soup. That's pretty much a sure sign that I'm not feeling well if I have chicken soup. I babied myself for a while, but had to get over it by Friday when it was DH day again.

AS I finished my last tour at DH in the afternoon, I ran into Donna, who was waiting for me in the gift shop at the museum. She had been teaching and was downtown just as she knew I would be finishing up. So we went to 17 Hundred 90 for have a drink. I had a fabulous key lime martini, and they had some complimentary food set out. They had fresh rye bread, deli ham, and all the trimmings - onions, tomatoes, mustard, horseradish, mayo. That was so good. We’re going to have to do that more often.

Saturday was an experience. I don't know how else to say it. I went to a memorial service for the mother of my good friend, Anthony (who is also the handyman for the condo development where I live and an all-around great guy; I've never seen him without a smile and a good word). I've seen these services on tv or in the movies, but I never thought they were real. Well, they are. The hand and arm waving, the shouts of “tell it brother” or “amen”, the loud choir and pastor with a microphone that he really did not need (I'm sure they could have heard him the next county without the mike). There were five of us from Mercer Point, and other than us, there was only one other non-African American in the group. This is not Hilton Baptist, or Rev. Pater doing a polite service at Crawfords. It was a genuine celebration of the life of Anthony's mother. I felt very out of place, but I'm hoping that Anthony would feel that we all care for him deeply and wanted to be there to support him.

Sunday I was back at BC for the afternoon shift at the cemetery. It was quite uneventful. I did have a few minutes to take some photos of the flowers that are beginning to bloom here. There are yellow trumpet flowers, white camellias, and even some pink azaleas are starting to flower. And after that, I was invited to Donna's for a delicious dinner. She always makes wonderful meals, and I'm beginning to feel guilt for not reciprocating. But I try to stay out of me kitchen as much as I can, except for occasional hamburg or sandwich.

Then I settled in front of my tv for the final episode in season 4 of Downton Abbey. This season just sped by! I thought it was to be a 2-hour final, but the last 30 minutes was all ads for PBS. I found a DVD of this season on ebay, and it's in the mail to me now. I should enjoy watching the old episodes until the new season starts again.