12/11/2022

 

Weekly Update 12/11/2022

Well, the election is FINALLY over in Georgia. I was happy about the outcome. I’m even happier that I won’t have to see any more of the ads on tv, or drive past all the billboards, or hear any more commentary about the candidates. It will be only a very short time until we’ll be up to our necks with 2024 presidential propaganda.

I was delighted and honored to be asked to witness the adoption of Patsy Elizabeth Louise Lawrence on Wednesday. Patsy has been in foster care since she was born; she is now seven years old. Her foster parents, Vicki and Larry, have wanted to adopt her for many years. But Patsy’s mother, the mother’s lawyer, and the courts (who want to keep children with their biological parents at all costs) have made it impossible for years. Finally, one judge said This is Enough, and cleared the way for the adoption. I was with Jane and Denise at the courthouse as we witnessed the ceremony. One thing that I thought was wonderful was when the judge asked the social worker (this, I believe is a required part of the process) if it appeared to be in Patsy’s best interests to be adopted by the Lawrences. Without hesitation the social worker didn’t say yes, she Absolutely, without a doubt! We all then went out for lunch to celebrate. This couldn’t happen to a nicer family!

On Wednesday evening, I drove all the way out to Fort Pulaski in the dark. The CMA Christmas party was at the fort, and I wanted to be part of it. Everything was lit by candles and kerosene lamps, and it put us all in an old-fashioned Christmas Spirit. Food was excellent, too. It took me an hour each way to drive out to Tybee, and I was a little nervous about that, but it was all good.

At DH on Thursday, as I was leading one of my tours, I smiled to myself. I had just viewed a video of Adrian bowling on the Wii set up that Sarah and Jack have. And at DH, there’s a ten pin game set up in the boy’s bedroom. That might be the kind of games they would play. Two hundred years difference, but the games is still the same.

My creative process has been working overtime. I made cocoa cones for a few friends this year. Using Wilton pastry bags, I measured cocoa powder, marshmallows, and chocolate chips to make a little cocoa mix packet. I tied the top with a Christmas bow and they were ready to go. I made all my cookies this weekend, too. So I have a few plates to take to other friends this coming week. I do not like to get into gift exchanges, but just a small gift of food makes me feel as if I’ve expressed my holiday wishes, and no reciprocation is necessary.

Saturday, after I googled with Sarah and Adrian and read him a couple of books, I went downtown. I wanted to wander along River Street, look at the Christmas Market, and get a cup of mulled wine. I parked at Forsyth, and walked. And walked. And walked. It was more than three hours before I got back to my car, and my feet were protesting. I didn’t get any mulled wine because they had already sold out – and it was only mid-afternoon! Several families were decorating cookies in the J W Marriott by the huge dinosaur skeleton. Some were quite good, and they all looked delicious. I stopped to watch some Nutcracker dancers at the big tree on Broughton Street as I was heading back to the car. I took a lot of photos of the festive and tasteful Christmas greens and white lights decorating some of the historic town homes on Jones Street. I went by myself because the weather was cloudy and threatening to rain. I wasn’t sure if I would go until the very last minute, so I didn’t invite anyone to accompany me. It was a very pleasant way for me to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Some of the homes are indeed lovely!

I watched a lot of World Cup matches this week. For the most part, the matches were exciting, ending in shoot outs, or being won by only one score. I was disappointed that England lost. When I was downtown, there was a motorcade celebrating Morocco’s win over Portugal.

After meeting Kay for breakfast Sunday morning, I finally had a chance to go to the Boston Pizza sports bar. That place recently opened not far from my apartment, and I’ve wanted to try it. Today was my chance. It was ok, but not great, and I don’t think I’ll be back again this season. The game had me worried in the first half, but the whole team came through by the end.