4/25/2021

 

Weekly Update 4/25/2021

I made an appointment for Monday to meet with a librarian at the main library on Bull Street. She was going to help me find more info about John and Dessie. I wasn’t really hopeful, because neither of my soldiers died in Savannah, so I doubted that they would have obits in the local paper. But find them she did! I didn’t get a lot more about them, but I did discover that Dessie’s mother and step father were also buried at Bonaventure, and I found their headstones on another visit. And she was able to find the name of Dessie’s wife and son (Allen, how’s that for a coincidence? And in Hudson NY no less!), but no other information about either of them. It was a successful venture, but again, I now have more questions than answers.

I got back to City Hall on Tuesday. I haven’t been there in more than a year, so some things have changed. It’s harder to get in the building, although it never was easy, as all public buildings have limited access because of the current fears, both of terrorism and infection. But I finally was able to get back into the archives. I was sorting old written records of property assessment by ward. It required me to be on my feet the whole time, but I was ok. I hope to do this on a weekly basis.

The library book club zoom meeting was scheduled for that afternoon. Because I’d been out and about, I didn’t have time to get back to my apartment before the meeting began. I went to BC (where I got the photos of Dessie’s mom and stepfather tombstones) and sat in the parking lot to zoom on my phone. The librarian thought I was driving because she could see I was in my car, but I assured her that I was sitting in a parking lot. To zoom for an hour uses a lot of cellular data, so I’ll have to be careful for the rest of the cycle.

On Thursday, one of my errands took me to the car wash. I was happily listening to tunes as my car was propelled though the tunnel. All of sudden, I was not moving, and the attendant (probably 12 years old) was at my window, telling me to turn my steering wheel. That didn’t work, and eventually everyone in the line behind me had to back up so I could back out of the tunnel. Because my window was down as I was trying to hear what the kid was instructing me to do, I got a wave of sudsy water sprayed on me and the interior of the car as I was reversing! I finally was able to get the wash completed, but had to make my next stop at the Dollar Store with my clothes all wet.

Connie Deja, who moved away from Savannah to North Carolina just about a year ago, was back in town to visit this weekend. It was great to see her. I met her at The 90 on Friday (just like the old days), and then Suzy and Bob had a small get together at their home on Sunday evening. I saw many people that I haven’t seen in over a year at one gathering or the other. It was wonderful. But the best was to see Connie again. I miss her, and her friendly smile and her warm hugs.

Before I went to MP to join friends there at Suzy’s, I stopped at the Tiny Homes Project in Savannah. It is a community of about 48 (only about 30 have been completed) that are available to veterans at a very low rent. I have been intrigued when I’ve driven by, but was never able to tour the community. They were holding an open house this weekend, so I wanted to go. I was given a tour, and was impressed by what I saw and what I was told. Low cost housing is needed everywhere, and I’m especially pleased to see something being done for those who need a warm, dry, safe place to live. The homes are very, very small, but it gives veterans a feeling of independence and value. Some even have small gardens near their homes. There is also a common house where there are laundry and meeting facilities, and a small donation of used books to share. It all seems like a good project to help with an overwhelming problem.

4/18/2021

 

Weekly Update 4/18/2021

For the first time in more than a year, I had a visitor! Jan Waggoner drove over from Alabama to spend time with me. She drove all day Monday, and arrived too late to do anything that day. But it was so great to see her and visit with her that evening. I had spent the day getting ready – a little housework, some shopping, and I baked cookies.

Tuesday, we did some sight seeing. Since she’d never been to the Mighty Eighth Museum, and since its in Pooler, we started there. I like that museum, and she seemed to be impressed. Both her parents served in WWII, but not in the Air Force. She had that connection, however, so it was great to be able to learn about the role the Mighty Eighth played in the War. After that, we went to the Power Plant District to walk around a little. This has only opened since the last time she was in Savannah, so it was new to her. We had drinks at a rooftop bar above the Marriott, watching the river. No big container ships went by when we were there, but it was fun. For supper, since we’d been immersed in British history at the museum, we went to Churchills for pub fare.

Wednesday, I gave tours in the afternoon at DH. She decided to stay at the apartment and read her book and get caught up on digital media stuff. When I got back home, we went to Jim and Nick’s for barbecue and then to the Chocolate Bar, a new restaurant / bar in Pooler that serves all types of martinis (mostly chocolate) and desserts as well as meals. Since we’d already eaten a big meal, we just had a drink and split a chocolate cake. It was wonderful, but we couldn’t even finish it. I see many visits to this place in my future.

Thursday, I dragged Jan with me to Green Square to meet my friends there. It was nice to be outside, sitting in the square with an old and some new(er) friends. Our next visit was to the SCAD Story Experience. That’s a multi-media show that tells of how SCAD was formed, and what it continues to add to the community today. We also quickly went into Betty Bombers just to look around. Because we’d eaten so much yesterday, neither of us was hungry yet, but I wanted to build on the WWII information we’d learned yesterday. We got back in the car and drove out to Pinpoint Heritage Center. This is another museum she’s never been to. Just as we walked in, a tour was beginning, so we got right to it. Varn and Sons Oyster Canning factory was at this site from about 1926 to 1985, and employed the descendants of the slaves that lived in the area. We stopped for supper at a restaurant out that way, the Driftaway Cafe, a place I haven’t been to in a very long time.

One thing I made Jan do in the evenings is watch Netflix. Because I live alone and I’ve been through an isolating pandemic, I amuse myself by watching a lot of TV. She had never seen The Crown, so I made her watch a couple of those episodes, and I also introduced her to Jack Whitehall’s Travels with my Father.

Friday, she got up early because she wanted to be on the road for her ten hour drive by 8 am. I got up too, but as soon as she was gone, I went back to bed.

Because I spend so much time being inactive, the days with Jan wore me out. I spent Friday and Saturday just staying in, reading, watching tv, playing games on the iPad. By Sunday, I was ready to go out again. I started at Massie Heritage Center. They had a new display about medicine in the civil War that I wanted to see. It was small, but interesting. The unfortunate thing about it, though, was I wandered through the museum WITH MY ZIPPER DOWN. Such class, Wilma!

After that, I went to a social gathering with the Victorian Society Group. We met in Gordonston Park, which I had never been to, because it’s private and a resident needs to sponsor an event. Many in the Society are also in the group that meets for drinks on Wednesdays, but others others I haven’t seen in more than a year. It feels so good to (almost) be back to normal.

4/11/2021

 

Weekly Update 4/11/2021

I did two afternoons at DH this week. It’s been really busy there because tourist season is really picking up. My scheduled day is now Wednesday afternoons, not Fridays as I did for all the other 10 years I’ve been doing the tours. It hardly matters, so Wednesday is now my day. On Wednesday, I got downtown early enough, but I couldn’t find a place to park in the DH lot. I went to the street, and tried to pay for an hour until I would have a chance to move the car to the lot where I can park for free. The parking app gave me a hard time, and then the meter wouldn’t print a ticket for me after I put money in. I was getting madder and madder (as only I can get) and finally just walked away. I was already to late to guide the first group, and one of the other docents had to lead it. I did find a place in the lot, and I worked on my parking app after I’d calmed down a bit. I hope it works now. But I think I went through this not long ago.

I got to the pool twice this week. My tan isn't progressing as quickly as I would like, but I’m getting a little color. On Tuesday, I was alone for about a half hour, then a mom and two daughters came. Then another group came - a mom, a grandma (I think, I could be wrong), a little boy, a little girl, and a baby. The kids were brats. The adults tried to control them (they made me tired just watching them trying to keep the kids away from the edge of the pool), but seemed to be as interested in taking photos as they were in watching the kids. And sure enough, the girl fell in at the deep end. Luckily, the other mom, and a gardener who was planting flowers, pulled her out.  I just panicked and didn’t help at all. They left shortly after that.

Friday, I was up really early to go pick strawberries. I haven’t done that since Emily was a little girl. There is a farm only about 5 miles from where I live now that has berry picking, and since I really don’t like the California cardboard-tasting fruit that I can get at Publix, I decided to try it. I was only there a short time before I had enough berries for myself and a few for Kay, so it didn’t take long. They really were delicious. I’ll probably go back again for blackberries and blueberries when they are in season.

I got the first pedicure I’ve had in more than year that same afternoon. I don’t like bare toes, but I’m going to have get out of socks and shoes and into flipflops now that the weather is warming up. I tried a new place not far from the apartment, and I was pleased with the way it looks. It would be nice if I could save some money and do it myself, but not only can I not see my toes, I can’t reach them. Leave it to the professionals.

We got a new signal light at the entrance to AP. We don’t need one right now, but we will eventually because there’s so much growth here – housing developments, apartment complexes, retail. Also, there will be a walk light, important for the school across the street. They’ve been working on it for a few weeks, and it’s still not totally operational. I think it’s a good thing.

4/4/2021

 

Update 4/4/2021

Happy Easter!

My Easter Sunday, like the rest of this past week, was quiet and uneventful. It was a little cooler this week, so I read in the comfort of my own living room, not at the pool all week. Sunday, I did get out to take a nice drive with Kay in the afternoon. I ate a ham sandwich and a slice of Publix carrot cake. To many, that doesn’t sound like a very good Easter feast, but for me, it was just perfect. Tomorrow, I’ll have to put all the baskets and eggs back in storage until next year.

I met my friends at the Creekside for drinks on Wednesday this week. The weather was pleasant enough for us to sit on the patio, and that also made it more comfortable for some of the group who hesitate to meet inside when it’s not possible to social distance. So, the group was large, and it was a nice evening with friends.

Thursday, I had my usual meeting at Green Square. Not only was it cold, but it was very windy. Helen, who lives on Green Square, suggested we go inside at her house to visit. Then she took us on a tour of her wonderful garden. The wisteria was marvelous. She has a green thumb, for sure. Last week I bought a hyacinth at the Publix, and it bloomed. The fragrance was overwhelming, but in a nice way. I do not have a green thumb, but I guess even I couldn’t deter this little flower.

I’d signed up to join in a book club meeting at The Learning Center. I haven’t been there in a year, and they have opened a brand new building since I last darkened their door. I found the front door (which is now in the back) and the room (which is a new multi-media area). A few seniors attended in person, and a few opted to join via zoom. As I sat there, I thought this must be what it’s like in school – some people learning in the same room, but wearing masks and sitting far away from each other, and some people on a big screen at the front of the room, in their living rooms. It felt strange to me; it must be strange to an 8 or 9 year old, too! Or maybe not.

Since I had some time to kill between Green Square and TLC, I went to a restaurant I haven’t been to in a while – Betty Bombers. I do not like to go out to eat alone, but this was ok. I got my fish sandwich (my favorite thing to order there) and sat in the corner, playing games on my phone.