2/23/2020

Weekly Update 2/16/2020

Jan and her friend Gerry visited from Gulf Shores Alabama. They drove all day Wednesday, arriving in the evening. We really didn’t have time for anything the first evening except going out for a quick supper at Papa’s.

Thursday, we went downtown. Because Gerry is an artist, she wanted to go to the Blick Store. That was really handy to DH, and I parked there. It was good that I could do that, because it started to rain, and we didn’t have for to go far to get back to the car. We also went to the Owen Thomas House for a tour that was very good. It continued to rain, so we drove around Savannah a little – River Street, the squares, Forsyth Park, and Jan took photos from the car. I took them out to the Tybee Post Theater, because I love that place, and they were showing the movie Little Women.

By Friday, the rain had stopped, but it was cold, and made worse by the high winds. It was the day of the Georgia Day History Parade, and I always enjoy that. This year the theme was votes for Women. Jan and I went, but Gerry stayed behind because standing in the cold to watch a bunch of kids is not something she was enthusiastic about. Jan left me downtown so that I could do my tours at DH, while she and Gerry went out to Wormsloe, and I think they liked that. Then they met me at The 90 for drinks after that.

Saturday, I had to open BC, but after that, we drove to Beaufort for a more touring. It still wasn’t warm, but it was sunny, so that made it seem a bit better. We took a horse drawn carriage ride of the historic part of the city. That was interesting and informative. And I learned something new: much of Forrest Gump was filmed there! I didn’t know that. But the Vietnam scenes were filmed at Parris Island, shrimp boat scenes were filmed on the Beaufort River, and bridge across the Mississippi River when Forrest was running, was actually over the Beaufort River. When we got back to the condo, we watched the movie, and identified some of the things we’d seen.  

They left early Sunday morning. It was wonderful to have them here, and they were very casual and did not demand much from me. Which works out well, since I don’t offer much as far as food and hospitality go. Clean sheets and towels is about the extent of my welcoming, but they seemed to be fine with that. I enjoyed having them here, and perhaps they’ll be back some day.  

2/16/2020

Weekly Update 2/16/2020

This week I attended couple of interesting lectures, and a couple of Black History month events.

The Victorian Society had an interesting talk about Chautaugua and the series of musical concerts, lectures, book reviews and cultural events that happen each summer. I had never attended that when I lived in NY, but my friend Jane used to live in Chautaugua before moving to Savannah. We attended together, and it was nice. It’s quite expensive to actually go to the festival, so this lecture is probably as close as I’ll ever get to being there.

On Thursday, I went to the Friendship Coffee House where I sometimes go to knit. But instead of being creative, I just sat and sipped good coffee and listened to the park ranger from Fort Pulaski (that’s my dream job – being an employee of the government with all their benefits at a historic site) talk about Valentines Day in the mid-1800’s. Naturally, VD is my least favorite of all holidays, and I’d prefer to stay home and ignore everyone, but I rather enjoyed the history of the day.

Saturdays in February, the City Cemetery Department is offering free tours (another draw for me – if it’s free, I generally can be found there) of Laurel Grove South Cemetery. This is to provide a little information about the city’s historically Black cemetery for Black History month. I went with my friend from BHS, Kathryn, and we knew the guide, John from the City. The cemetery was formed within 3 years of BC, but it is entirely different. There’s rarely any tours there, although Laurel Grove North has several private companies that offer tours. It was a good opportunity to learn something new.

Sunday, another free event for Black History Month was held at the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum. It was rainy and not too warm, and I nearly talked myself out of going; I’m glad I didn’t! Two performers gave a history lesson that included many important people who have worked for the rights of all, including Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass of Rochester fame. The actors were very good, and had given the performances at several local schools this past week. This was a good chance for those of us who haven’t been in school in a half century, to enjoy the show.

Rosa Parks

Sojourner Truth

a Tuskegee airman flying with Eleanor Roosevelt (an audience participant)

 

2/11/2020

Weekly Update 2/11/2020

A few days late, but here it is: The Sarah and Jack visit

They arrived Saturday about noon. I picked them up at the airport and we drove downtown. I parked at my usual area, south of Forsyth and we walked through the park and up to a restaurant on Broughton for Indian food. We went out to Tybee next, because Jack had said he wanted to see the ocean. We went to the lighthouse, but it was closed for repairs and they weren’t able to climb to the top. I’m also not able to climb to the top, but it has nothing to do with the renovations. We walked out on the pier, but it was not a warm day, and we didn’t stay too long. We stopped at Publix for a few food items, then went back to the condo to eat a bit and play a few games of Scattergories. They had been up since 4 am, so we made an early evening of it.

Because it’s Georgia Days, Sunday was Super Museum Sunday. It’s also the weekend of the Colonial Muster at Wormsloe. I always like to go there, so that’s where we started Sunday morning. We saw some canon and musket firings, the tabby ruins, the exhibits in the Colonial Life area – candle making, tanning, blacksmith, cooking, etc. We chatted for a while with a Yamacaw Indian, but I was disappointed not to see James Oglethorpe there. Sarah and Jack gamely participated briefly in a game of cricket. Sarah thought Wormsloe was pretty nice, and believes that it’s like that every weekend. No – only on one weekend in February, and the rest of the year there’s not a lot to see. We went downtown and I parallel parked (amazing!) right around the corner from Clary’s restaurant. We only had eggs and pancakes, but it was good enough for us. Because that’s close to Massie School, and because Massie is one of my favorites, we went there next. The lines weren’t too long, but when we walked past some of the other museums, like Owens-Thomas, or the Telfair, lines were very long because the admission fees were waived. The horse drawn carriage ride I’d reserved was scheduled for 3:30, and I’d hoped we could get into the Prohibition Museum, but there wasn’t time. After the ride, we went to the Little Duck Diner, and I convinced Sarah to have the tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich. I had also made plans to meet some friends at Rocks on the Roof for drinks in the early evening. I was proud to show off Sarah and Jack, and equally proud of my friends!

The flight back to Rochester wasn’t until 7 pm, so we had a whole day in Savannah again on Monday. I drove them through BC, and introduced them to Little Gracie. Then we went to the Juliet Gordon Low birthplace museum. I didn’t want to do that on Sunday because I wanted Sarah to have a better tour than the abbreviated ones they give when they don’t charge to get in. Sarah is Lifetime Girl Scout, and was really interested in this. Then we walked to DH. It’s interesting the way I planned that since you need to walk past Leopold’s to get to DH! I needed to take them to our famous ice cream parlor, and it did not disappoint – not me, anyway. We had a nice tour at DH, and I rather liked hearing someone else’s talk, not just my own, which can be pretty boring. Both the guides at The birthplace and DH were personable and humorous; I’m dry and it’s all one fact after another with no personality at all. We walked along River Street a bit and took the water taxi to get a view of Savannah from the other side of the water. Then we went to Tequila town for lunch. I think they both liked the table side guacamole, which is fresh and tasty, and we always get that. We still had quite a bit of time before having to get to the airport, so we went to the Prohibition Museum which we’d been unable to see the day before. It’s a different kind of museum - not a house, not something colonial - but it is history. Then I dropped them at the airport and they were gone.

They were here for just a short time. But I was THRILLED that they came to visit. They are a wonderful couple – kind and loving. I enjoyed getting to know Jack, and also getting to know Sarah a little better. It was Sarah’s first time in Savannah. It’s hard for me to believe that she has never once been to visit me since I moved, but I’m so delighted that she came now! I don’t know if it will happen again, but I have these wonderful memories of this trip.

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Before they arrived, I did a couple of things, mostly lectures. At DH on Monday evening, I heard a very interesting Broadway performer, Justin Havard, talk about the songs and especially Broadway musicals of the era when Preservation was just getting underway here in Savannah. Very good. On Wednesday, I was at TLC for a noontime talk by my friend, Charles Snyder, on poet, author, politician, and dramatist Edward Bulwer-Lytton. In Victorian times, he was as popular as Charles Dickens, but that popularity did not last. It was very interesting. And on Thursday, Kay and I went to hear a speaker at the Jepson as she talked about a new gallery opening featuring artists from Savannah in the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries. Some names I was familiar with, others, not so much.

2/9/2020

No Blog this week because Sarah & Jack are visiting.  I'll be updating Monday or Tuesday instead of Sunday.  

2/2/2020

Weekly Update 2/2/2020

Congratulations, Kansas City Chiefs! It was an exciting, well played game. It’s too bad both teams couldn’t win.

And Djokovic and Sofia Kenin! And the Tottenham Hotspurs! But now that the football season is over, and there’s not another major tennis tournament until May, what am I going to talk to people about?

I’ve been watching too many True Crime programs on YouTube. As I was walking at the Y this week, I was suspicious of every pile of leaves or fallen tree, thinking there may be a body hidden there. And when I saw a few small, white stones on the path, I nearly convinced myself that they were teeth. Com’on Wilma, get back to reality! Watch Grace and Frankie!

On Friday, I went out to the Tybee Post Theater for a performance of Designed Women by the Kansas City’s Late Night Theatre group. I saw them last year in Golden Girls in Drag, and really wanted to see this. It was hilarious! I don’t think there was anyone in the audience who didn’t laugh out loud. I went with Kay, Jane and Helen, and I we met at MP before driving out to Tybee together.

On Saturday, I forced myself to get out of bed at the crack of dawn – 8:45 – to drive to Mitchelville on Hilton Head Island. Since I’d watched the tennis at 4 am, it really was early for me. National Freedom Day was established in 1948 by President Harry Truman in remembrance of February 1, 1865 - the day President Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment to the U.S. constitution which outlawed slavery.  Mitchelville was a self-governing town established in 1862 by former slaves.  As a part of the celebration of Freedom, they had a program at Freedom Park highlighting the importance of voting rights,with the focus on African Americans, from the first freedoms in 1865, through Reconstruction, continuing with the fights in the civil Rights era and up until today.  It was wonderful.  The problem was - I was too cold.  Temps were only in the 40s, and I was not dressed to be sitting outside.  As I continued to shiver and my teeth were chattering, I left early, and never had a chance to hear Harriet Tubman speak.  I did, however, talk to her before the program started and told her that I had visited her house in Auburn.