2/28/2021

 

Update 2/28/2021

I got my second COVID shot on Tuesday. It was even easier than the first time. I didn’t have to wait at all until the 15 minute lull at the end to make sure I didn’t have a reaction. This time, it was in my right arm. Since I sleep on om left side, it wasn’t as sore the following day. Now, I’m protected, but I still need to wear a mask to protect others.

I finally did something I’d been promising myself that I would do for a long time. I joined Ancestry.com, but only with a trial membership. I wanted to see if I could find out anything about My Soldiers, John Chapman and Dessie Roberts. Those are the two graves at BC that I’ve occasionally been decorating with seasonal flowers from The Dollar Store. All the information that I have is on the headstones - names, date of death, and military service info. I didn’t even have birth years. I wasn’t able to find out much. I did find that they were both born before the turn of the 2oth century, and that they both served in WWI. I could find nothing about family – no marriages, children, siblings or parents. I found that Dessie had lived on 41^st Street in Savannah (where I rented a room when I first moved to Savannah in 2009) and worked for the City on the 1930 census. John lived for 15 years at the VA hospital in Augusta and died there from TB. Why he would be buried at BC, but not in the veterans’ plot is another question. I may have a chance to look a little further this week, but I am rather at a roadblock.

On Thursday, after meeting with my friends in Green Square for a nice outdoor visit, I wandered over to Forsyth Park. There was a beautiful magnolia tree that was in full bloom. Azaleas are not out yet, but it’s early.

Driving back to my apartment that afternoon, I couldn’t get down Benton Blvd because the road was blocked off. There must have been 25 emergency vehicles there: police from Savannah, Chatham County, Pooler, Port Wentworth, Effingham County, and Georgia State police. I was sure there would be something on the news about that because the law enforcement presence was HUGE. Nope. Not a word. Not that day nor the day after. This is within a mile of my home! I emailed to two of the local news stations here, and also the Chatham County Police, requesting information. I told them I was not being nosy – I wanted to know if I was SAFE. Silence. (I found out later that there had been a car chase that ended there, and because it’s at an intersections where several cities and counties merge, agencies from all the separate groups responded. I found this out private responses to a FB article I posted. I never did hear from officials). I believe this is how conspiracy theories take hold. I request information that I have a right to know, but get no response. That leads me to fantasize about what is going on. Education and Information is key, and that’s not what is happening.

On Saturday, I had been invited to MP to meet outside with a few of my former neighbors. The weather was delightful, and we all brought a snack and something to drink. I had not been back to MP since I moved, and it was not something I ever really hoped to do again. But it was fine.

On Sunday, I went to BC for a remembrance gathering for Lyn Hadwin. Mr Hadwin was a fellow member of the Board, a mentor to me and others, a wonderful person, and a good friend. He died last month. Because of the pandemic and the way it has changed how we can gather to mourn at Funeral Home settings, the Board put this together to honor him. It was very nice. They set up tables in the cemetery near the parking area along the river and catered a picnic for us all to come together and remember his kindness and goodness. He will be missed by many for a long time.

2/21/2021

 2/21/2021

This was a cold, dreary, rainy week. I am so-o-o ready for spring. It may only be February, but I’ve had it. On the other hand, I’m pretty glad I don’t live in Texas! I’m trying my best to think warm thoughts. I bought a new door mat when I was out shopping with Kay this week. Between that and the forsythia on my front door, I’m trying hard!

Not only am I anxious for spring to come, but I’m also very ready to emerge from isolation. This has gone on long enough. I had my first COVID shot back on February 1, and my second dose is scheduled for Tuesday this week. When I took a walk today, I went out without a mask. That’s the first time I’ve done that, even to just walk. But no one else had one on, and I was in the open air, and It’s difficult to walk with a mask, so I took a chance. Could we be returning to some semblance of “normal”? Wouldn’t that be great!

I also enrolled in the training at DH for new docents. Much has changed in the full year since I last did a tour there, and I wanted to be updated. I did that on Monday, and on Thursday, I took a tour. I think I will like some of the new patterns that are necessary because of the social distancing. For example, the tours no longer begin in the basement of the house, but in Columbia Square. That gives the guides an opportunity to tell not only of the Davenport House, but also of the greater history of Savannah, and what it may have been like in the 1820s. I signed up and am scheduled to give a tour on March 9. I hope this works, because I do miss it. 

And finally, I filed my tax return. I had been reading that by filing early, it not only may ensure that if there’s another stimulus check those who have filed would get theirs fastest, but it also adds a little protection against identity theft and fraud. I had been dreading it because of the questions about the sale of the condo, the reporting of last year’s stimulus money, and the forgiveness of 401K withdrawals. None of those were issues, and the program I use walked me through everything. I will be getting 100% of my payments returned to me. I’m not really happy about that – I am a citizen, and I should pay for my part in keeping this country financial afloat. And I can afford it. But I’m not going to turn it down. Just like I don't turn down the stimulus checks. But I will turn them around. And I will be able to direct my contributions where I want. I guess there’s that.

2/14/2021

Update 2/14/2021

I did try to get out a little more this week to walk. It’s a losing fight. This is what it’s like today, and it’s supposed to rain all week. And be cold too.

The ground is absolutely saturated, and the sun hasn’t been shining since I can’t remember when.

I had a couple of zoom meetings, but nothing that was so great that I need to write about it. I watched a lot of tv – the Australian Open all night, and the Impeachment all day. So there’s not a lot to say this week. Next week doesn’t look as if it’ll be any busier. I may have to abandon this blog if things don’t open up soon.

2/7/2021

 

Update 2/7/2021

The game:

Of course I was disappointed.  But the Chiefs played a horrible game and deserved to lose.  

I finished putting the Nutcracker jigsaw puzzle together. Ishy sent me a 1000 piece puzzle, and I’ve been working at it since Christmas. I’m very used to doing puzzles on my iPad, and they normally take about 20 minutes to complete. This one took me more than a month!

On Monday last week, I got my COVID shot. I’m not convinced it’s going to help, and I’m also not convinced wearing a mask (or two), or staying six feet away from people, helps. If that was true, all the people at the Trump political rallies would be sick or dead, and they’re not, and everyone who followed the science would be safe, also not true. But this fell into my lap. St Joseph Candler, the hospital that my doctor is associated with, called and left a message for me to call their Hot Line to schedule an appointment. I could not think of a reason not to do this. I asked a few questions when I was there, and the biggest concern I have is that it doesn't prevent me from passing the germ on if I’m infected: it only protects me from getting a serious case of the “flu” if I should get it. I want to feel secure to give friends hugs, to go out for a drink at The 90, to watch football at a Sports Bar. But, the same as federally mandated seat belts, which do not protect others against my poor driving habits, but only protect me from more serious injury should I come across a driver even worse than I am, I decided it was better to do What I Can. My arm was sore for about a day, but I had no other side effects. I’m scheduled for my second dose in two weeks.

While I was out that day, I got my hair cut. My hair looks terrible, and I don’t know what to do about it. The last cut I had was at the Great Clips near me in Pooler, and it was a horrible cut. My hair stuck out all over the place, no matter how I tried to blow dry and style it. I felt I would have to pay a kings ransom to find a hairdresser I liked, but in one last ditch effort before I resorted to that, I went to the Walmart. I liked it right away, but we’ll have to see how it grows out. In a related story, I was out to lunch and I saw this lady eating there. She had a very nice cut – short, neat, just what I want. I didn’t know her, but that often doesn’t stop me from talking (ask anyone in Savannah who has a Bills sticker on their car, or looks lost and I stop to ask if they need directions) and I asked her where she got the cut. She told me that she goes to a Great Clips a little further out from Pooler. I may have to try that.

I had three zoom meetings this week, and three lunches out.

Mitchelville, SC, near Hilton Head Island, held the Freedom Day program. Mitchelville is a town built during the Civil War for formerly enslaved people, and there is now a park that holds annual events. I have attended in past years. This year, because of the pandemic, it was limited to a zoom slide show which told stories of families who are still active in the community and are descended from the first free Black people who created the town. I also attended the Coastal Museum Association monthly meeting, although I’m technically no longer a member. When I resigned from the Board at BC, I was no longer eligible to be the representative to CMA. Nonetheless, their record keeping is not up to date, and I was welcomed. I am trying to become an “individual” member, but they have strict guidelines for that process. I would hope that my former membership would allow me to continue, but I'll have to see. I also zoomed with The Learning Center. I haven’t been to any lectures or programs there since last March because of the shutdown due to COVID. This meeting was interesting because they are trying to get ideas for a remote book club. I used to like this book club because they seemed to chose a variety of books, and interesting ones: history, biography, current events, science, etc. as opposed to the mysteries and novels that the library book club opts for. I hope something comes of this brainstorming session. I’ll have to see about that, too.

On Tuesday, I met former neighbor from MP, June, for lunch. She moved about a year ago, so she’s been gone longer than I have. Again, because of the isolation of the pandemic, I have not kept in touch with her as well as I should have. I met my Green Square Group on Thursday at a cafe instead of the Square because Jane had to have her car serviced at the Subaru dealership close to the luncheonette. If you put food in front of me, I’ll go anywhere! And on Friday, I met Beth, another friend that I don’t see enough of. So I went out three times, and I also enjoyed Kay’s company when she came over to visit on Saturday. We sat with our Bloody Mary and G&Ts and ate crackers and cheese. It was too cold to be on the porch, so I’m glad I had the jigsaw puzzle finished and we could sit at the table.

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You may notice that I have not posted many photos on recent blogs. That’s because I’m pretty sure no one wants to see more screen shots of the zoom meetings, or photos of what I eat for lunch. And another thing I think COVID has taught us, is privacy. No one can be within six feet of anyone else, no one knows what your face looks like or if you’re smiling, and I don’t think people want to have their pictures taken and posted on the internet. So, the photos will be fewer.