5/10/2015

Weekly Update 5/10/2015

It seemed like a busy week, but a lot of what I did was inconsequential. Like, getting my toenails done, washing the car (when I had the roof replaced, the mechanic suggested that I not go to the cheap drive thru washes that I always used, but that it would be better to hand wash the car. Since there's a wash center at the condo, I don't have to go far, and it's free, but it's just a hassle to do it myself. After all, I use paper plates so that I don't have to wash little dishes, so washing a whole car is something I'd rather not have to do by myself), book club, HOA meeting (a waste of time), calling again about the ceiling leak and the bathroom walk in shower, getting my drivers license renewed (I dreaded this for months, but it had to be done. I packed every document I could think of to prove I am who I say I am, and took a novel and some hand held games, preparing to wait for a decade or more. But I was in and out in less than 30 minutes - even had time to go to the pool that afternoon!). Then the usual DH and BC stuff. Like I said, pretty lame stuff, but I was busy.

On Tuesday, I decided to go to the May Day celebration that is held each year outside the Massie School in Calhoun Square. The elementary school children learn dances, crown a king and queen, and dance around a traditional May Pole. I had gone once before, a few years ago, and thought it might be interesting to see it again. 

 

Long ago, I signed up for an all-day lecture series through The Senior Learning Center that was held on Thursday. The topic was Heroes: Why Do They Rise and Fall. There were five lectures on various topics, beginning with ancient civilizations and the heroes/gods that were created, up to heroes among us today. Stan Deaton gave a wonderful talk on how history shapes and continually reassesses heroes. Although the others speakers were great, Dr Deaton is a favorite of mine, and I would be thrilled to listen to him recite nursery rhymes.

I was surprised that afternoon when I left the church hall where the lectures were held, that it was raining. More than raining really - pouring. I wanted to go to another panel discussion hosted by the Historic Savannah Foundation that evening, but thought I would skip it and stay dry. But even though the rain didn't let up, I sucked it up and went to the discussion anyway, thinking I'd not get another chance to listen to anything like this again. It was interesting. Four power women in the preservation movement in Savannah were on the panel to discuss what led them to become involved with historic preservation, and what they saw was the future of those efforts.

Friday, I did my DH tours, and then I'd planned to go to 17 Hundred 90 for a drink. Suzy's weaver group was having a gallery showcase opening downtown, and I wanted to attend to support her. As I was in the bar, sipping a beer, I had a phone call. The Historic Savannah Foundation needed an emergency replacement to volunteer that evening at the wine tasting fund raiser. Another volunteer had needed to cancel at the last minute, and it was suggested that I could fill in. So I went to a house in Ardsley Park, to stand in the garden and pour glasses of wine for a couple of hours. I have a vivid imagination, and I pictured myself, and that this was my early 1900s home and garden, and I was hosting a party for my rich OSM friends. The reality was I only knew one person who did this tasting. By the time I got home, my feet were really hurting. there was a photographer from the Society Page (just where I belong!) of the Savannah Morning News taking pictures. The one taken of me was on the site, but I couldn't load it to my own gallery - silly copyright laws! I did put it on FB though.

Suzy at the gallery opening with one of her creations

 Saturday, the Historic Savannah Foundation was having a block party on east 32nd Street and Lincoln. If you know Savannah, this is not the best neighborhood. But HSF is trying to turn it around. The homes are lovely, most built in the 1880s or 1890s. I had been in one of the house before when it had just begun to undergo the renovations. It was amazing to see it now. There were tents set up with craftsmen doing demonstrations (I was particularly interested in the plaster molding that were being created because there are some lovely moldings dating to the 1820s at DH), beer and wine, food, a poster contest that had contributions from schools in the area, and a GREAT oldies band. I guess they thought a lot of old people would be interested in historic preservation, because this band sang all the old tunes, may of which I have on my playlist. It was a fun day. 

Jim Abrahm's house in the middle of the HSF block party

The Bonaventure Historical Society has paid to have a monument placed at the resting place of John Walz. John Walz was a sculptor who did a lot of work in BC (and throughout Savannah), including Little Gracie. But he was in an unmarked grave in BC. Legend has it that his wife destroyed the monument he had created for himself because she was angry that he would die and leave her. He is in the same plot as his wife and her first husband - she's between them. I think the new headstone is appropriate and meaningful. It is a half finished stone in the process of being sculpted, with the master artist’s tools resting on the smooth service. 

John Walz's new headstone at BC

I have wanted to go to Kevin Barry's and listen to Harry O'Donough sing his Irish folk songs. He's also very funny. It didn't work out to do that when Allen was here, but Harry O'D was singing this weekend. So Saturday night, I treated myself to a night out. I messed up somehow, because I had read that he was to begin performing at 8. When I got there, the bouncer who was stationed at the door said not til 9:30. So I had quite a bit of time to hang out downtown. I did one of my favorite time-killing activities: I rode the water taxi across the river. In fact, I did it twice. I had my camera so I got some nice photos of River Street in the dark. But when I returned to Kevin Barry's at 9:30, the show was already going on. I asked the couple who I shared a table with about the time that he started. They told me about 8:15. I was pissed off about that, but I did enjoy the show. I asked Mr. O'D during his break if he knew Patriot Game, my favorite Irish song, and he had heard it but didn't know all the words. Maybe next time. And next time, I'll be with Dave and Lisa.

River Street and City Hall at night

Harry O'Donough, troubador