your story, my story, our stories

I have managed to catch more of the Savannah Black Heritage Festival in this past month than I have in perhaps the last five years.
I really think so!
I would have to go back through my journals and blog posts to be sure...
but the one performance I recall most vividly from years past was that of Savion Glover -
and that was back in 2009!
However, for this year, when it would be celebrating its 31st year -much like the Savannah Music Festival is doing! - I needed to be present for more, I resolved.
After all, this is my 62nd year, which is simply 31 + 31, right?
(smile!)

I've already written about Althea Sumpter and her lecture at the Jepson about the importance of genealogy for knowing one's genetic history.
After all, I once thought I was I-C-E, and delighted in telling folks that.
Then, last year, I sent a sample for tesing and discovered that I have been wrong about that for most of my life.
Still, it's better to know the truth!
I like her message here:
"We owe it to the future

to make sure we tell the stories of the past."
I'll second that motion!
I Have learned that listening to stories from the past helps to illuminate the present and guide actions for the future.
The #art912 painter, William Kwamena-Poh, certainly knows how to get that message across, too.
"FEED YOUR SELF" is such a multi-level lesson on a fishing boat!
(smile)

On Valentine's Day, if not for ushering duties at the Lucas, I would have been at the Fine Arts Auditorium to hear these two brothers again!
Sons Of Mystro (get the joke?)
are violin masters Umoja (on the right) and Malcolm McNeish.
These twenty-somethings are an absolute delight to hear and to watch as they cover everything from classical to reggae to pop...
and more!

I did make it to that venue at GaSoU on the 16th, which turned out to be a day full of 31SBHF events, both official and unofficial!
This set was for a brand-new show, "Henry Box Brown: A Musical Journey" - and it was about a young man who literally had himself shipped to freedom!
Nationwide, only six performances were granted - and my little town was one of those six.
I am blessed to have been there,
and to have been on time after

the choral concert at AMUMC
(with 31SBHF-inspired finale)!
Not only was this musical very well done, but it told a true piece of history I had never heard.
I'm sure few had, so I'm very glad there was a question-and-answer session afterward with the cast and crew, including the writer.
I like that they had some local talent mixed in for this show - I know that opportunity was appreciated!
But was this day of 31SBHF events yet done?

No, it was not!
PFS was showing a special Sunday screening at the 'Bean, and, as it turned out, the documentary was right at home as a "mystery" entrant of the February festival.
"Recorder: The Marion Stokes Story" told of the woman who had captured thirty-five years, day in and day out, of network television on videotape.

On the previous day, I was at a new venue for me: the Crusader Center, in Coffee Bluff.
There, two members of the Bright Star Children's Touring Theatre held sway for two hours with "North By Night: More Heroes Of The Underground Railroad".
What fascinating stories of many, including Robert Small, Sojourner Truth, Louis Napoleon, John Fairfield, and Frederick Douglass.
I am so very glad I was there before my second shift with "Seussical" at the Lucas!

After all of that, I took Monday off.
Then, I was up and running again, with 'Tina Tuesday', special dancing edition, with the bfrb, an impromptu visit and dinner with my nephew and the twins, then a special steak and the Masquers with the bfe.
Good thing I'd taken Monday night off!

Last night, for my final event of this festival, I was treated to a dance 'concert' at the Kennedy Building on the SavStU campus.
"The Year Of Return", with the students in the Obsidian Dance Repertory, wordlessly told the story of the first black slaves brought to the United States from Africa.
What an excellent way to come full circle back to concepts in Althea Sumpter's talk and photography!
Now, I'm off to a rare lunch with the Peace Guy!
i thank You, God!

americana fifties, quaker sidebar

As soon as I saw the event's poster, I thought of my bfe.
If ever a man was born out of his time, he was.
He is such a fan of television from the 50's, shows like "The George Burns And Gracie Allen Show" and films with the Marx Brothers.
I could tell this was going to be his cuppa for sure!
I knew that its film noir essence was certainly mine.
(smile!)

So, tonight was the night!
We began our evening at The Outback, a place I hardly ever frequent... but a place I had requested.
I have been craving beef, having even gone to Arby's for a giant "roast beast" sandwich on Sunday.
I meant to take a photo of the 6-ounce, perfectly medium, Victoria's Filet... but I was too eager to tear into it ti think of my camera.
Oh well! It sure was good!
(smile!)

The Masquers' "Red Herring" - in Jenkins' Black Box - began with this red blanket on a rickety bed.
Nice joke for the Communist-heavy triple love affairs!
There were so many mid-50's references, too, like Nixon's Checkers Speech in 1952, the McCarthy hearings of 1954, A-bomb tests on Bikini Atoll - fabulous!
Coupled with the fashions and the way that they spoke, it was definitely a trip back in time, worthy of a late night for the physicist!
(smile!)

Here's the Secrest, by the way, looking quite professorial in this snazzy sweater jacket from The 'Cole.
He gave me a truly wonderful idea during our talks.
I'm going to turn the guest room into my dance area, but I'm going to name it in honor of him and the Peace Guy, my two longest tenants of that space.
Plus, I'll be hanging photos of them, for all to admire!
(smile!)

Now to figure out how to incorporate these into that room's new look.
After all, he gave me crabs, not once but thrice, so I should certainly let everyone know!
Plus, Joe had balled me, Coach-style, so that needs to be displayed, too!
Yes, I think I'm going to have some fun with this bit of inspiration... yes, I will!
(smile!)

some measure of closure?

Michael had contacted me while i was washing clothes.
Was it possible for him to come by and talk with me this evening?
I assured him that would be fine, but it would be at least 6 PM before I would be home.
That would be fine, he told me.

So, while the laundry whirled and twirled, I puzzled over what might be up.
Was he interested in moving back in with me?
Was he trying to see about his girlfriend moving in with me?
Just what was he wanting to see me about?

I had no idea it would be about her.
The last I had known was she had pleaded guilty to the federal charge and was to be sentenced last week.
I had not known the sentencing had been postponed until yesterday.
I had not known how fraught with concern Michael had been over the delay.
He needed this chapter of his life to be closed, to have an official stamp of "done" on it.
I could understand completely.
When I was getting divorced, I had been told it would be finalized on 14 December 2007.
Instead, my lawyer told me it was being postponed and might not be completed that year.
I had nearly lost my mind.
I had needed it to be "d-o-n-e", to no longer be part of a broken couple.
Then, the new date had been set: 21 December 2007.
I lost my mind again, as I had not wanted it so close to his birthday.
He had not minded that at all, not even coming to the court proceedings.
I remain ever grateful to my fsilm, Beverly, for being there with me.
I shared all of that with Michael.

At least I had not had to deal with my news splashed all over the television news.
When Michael had picked up the girls this afternoon, the sitter had greeted him with that.
Melanie's sentencing was on the afternoon news, which meant it would be on the evening and late-night editions as well.
Damn.
His biggest concern was about his daughters not hearing about all of that.
His biggest concern has always been about the care of his children.
I tried to explain to him that the repercussions of the wife's actions are not ended.
She still faces multiple counts in state court and that will likely drag on for years.

There was some good news for him, though.
Now that she is a convicted felon, he can get divorced with no red tape.
She will be in federal prison, with no parole ever, for thirty years.
That means there will never be a possibility of her having custody of their two daughters.
With that possibility being null and void, he can eliminate her as his wife, no contest.
i thank You, God.

I pray that the girls are young enough to make a recovery from her actions.
I pray that they will have guidance and good counsel as they grow older and mature.
I am grateful that they will be in their mid-thirties by the time she is released on probation.

i thank You, God, for my time with the twins.

assessing the change from ww

Today marked two years since I began this latest Weight Watchers journey.
Two years - hard to believe, isn't it?
How about some documentation to mark my efforts?
Well, consider the above photo of my weigh-in history.
A picture is worth a thousand words, that is true...
but I prefer the value of graphs when numbers are involved.
This photo combines both nicely.
Clearly, I have had a downward, though not linear, trend in my personal mass.
The leftmost data point, obtained on February 21, 2018, is clearly the maximum.
A year later, the data point of February 20, 2019, is 21.8 pounds less.
Scientifically, that represents 9.90 kilograms of mass.
The rightmost date point, determined by the scale today, is clearly the minimum.
It represents a value which is 38.2 pounds less than the original.
That means I am 16.4 pounds less than at this time last year.
Those values, for scientists, are 17.34 kg and 7.45 kg, respectively.
The loss can also be represented as six 5-lb sacks of sugar and one 3-lb sack.
Such a sweet way to think of it!
(Hey, I had to throw a pun in there to lighten the tone!)
(smile)
So, the good news is: I am continuing to lose weight.
The even better news is: I've done so with very little physical effort on my part.
The best news is: I've been able to continue eating the foods I love.
That all sounds like plus, plus, and plus, right?
It's been an average loss of almost 0.4 pounds per week, which is a healthy rate...
though it seems amazingly slow...
and has cost me close to $1000 for those two years' membership.
Now, I've joined Planet Fitness.
The locker room has a scale, so I could monitor my own weight progress...
but, do I want to do that?
My first niece has started at WW now, so I have her to talk to about the program.
I can even exchange my Wellness Wins using her app!
That will be good for my satisfaction with the program.
So, do I need to stay?
No, I really don't.
But do I want to?
I think so, as long as she is going to be in Weight Watchers.
She has always been so close to me and looked to me for guidance.
I've allowed my weight to reach ludicrous masses... and so has she.
The least I can do is show her that loss is possible for me...
and for her, too.

how i know the red panda loves me

Two weeks ago, he brought ribs for me.
We had met on our usual day and were dining at
"his place", which is fairly usual of late.
When I came from the buffet to the table, he was patiently waiting for me before he ate.
Plus, he was waiting for my reaction to the two
pieces of delightful food in a cup -
separate from his plate -
intended especially for me.
Little things mean a lot.

Twice, he has placed this cap upon my head in a darkened cinema.
The first time was when we saw "Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker", in the Big D, "just like I like it!"
He had noticed I seemed a bit down during the ride to the southside, so, trying to liven the mood during the previews, he'd plopped the hat on me, as a shenanigan, no doubt expecting me to do the same to him.
But I had not.
I was in need of "mothering" and the ballcap from AutoZone, a memento of a time when I had rescued him, did the trick.
The second time that he gifted me with the wearing of the cap was about three weeks ago.
That had been the first time he'd gone to a subtitled movie with me.
It was also only a few days after Michael and the girls had left and I was rather blue.
My favorite panda - that would be him - placed the cap on my head as we sat in the cinema.
So, not only had he agreed to my last-minute movie change to "Parasite", but also he'd done the next best thing to holding my hand throughout it.
Little things mean a lot.

Tonight, he again took me to Barrelhouse South for dancing!
Not for him to dance, oh, no.
Just for me to do what I so enjoy,
but on a Tina Tuesday with him.
Emerald Empire, courtesy of Marlow and others, laid down the marvelous music for an hour!
"Tell Me Something Good", "My Girl", "Don't Stop The Music"!
"I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)"! "Kiss"! "Shout"!
Little things mean a lot.


We had even dined at Rancho Alegre, as we had on that December night.
Plus, as he had then, he picked me up at my house, to travel together downtown.
That's a real rarity, making this the third time he's been to my house.
Like, ever.
And the first time he came here was years ago.
Here's the big difference between this time and those others.
This time, as we left the restaurant, he tried to give me the keys to Opal.
He had mentioned that he never gets to be a passenger, as he always drives.
I piped up and said I'd like to drive his little Prius...
and he trusted me to do that.
I already know I am the only one who has ever ridden with him in this car.
He made sure I understood that meant I was special to him.
That's pretty special for me.
Little things mean a lot.

Now, I'm going to listen to my Christmas present from him, "Elvis: The Platinum Collection".
Not only did the import travel across the ocean, like a pilgrim -
his words - but it was also brand-new, in its own packaging.
Those two factors are in direct opposition to his being a self-proclaimed cheapskate extraordinaire.
Yes, he most definitely loves me.
Little things mean a lot.

egbdf

That acronym was a clue in my post-brunch crossword puzzle.
Immediately, my mind recognized it as a mnemonic learned at Myers Middle School.
As a girl who'd been growing up singing along to the radio with Mama, I had naturally gravitated toward the Glee club on that campus.
So, I knew that "Every Good Boy Does Fine".
(smile)

Since that was the second time in as many days that I'd been reminded of that period of my youth, I thought I should write of the first time.
That was on Sunday.
I'd missed the service, but I was sure to be there - yes, even though the weather had shifted to rainy and cold - for the free concert afterward.
Deland High Chorus was in town to partake of Savannah's 31SBHF activities, ending their visit here at Asbury Memorial UMC.

The link above is for "Bonse Aba",
a song performed during the service earlier and then again as the first tune in this concert.
The 30-member contingent of the 180-strong chorus included components of its different groups.
Here, the all-female Dolce Vita performed a very lively number that I loved: "Viva La Musica".
How magnificent!
Definitely a toe-tapper and shoulder-wagger for me!

"Hallelujah For The Day" was another new favorite for me!
But it was the all-male rendition of "Shenandoah" that transported back in time - I remembered that folk song from my days in the Glee club!
The closing song, performed by all, with the "Man of La Mancha" set as backdrop, was also one I recalled from that time.
"Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing" -
hallelujah and amen!
How appropriate for this month!
i thank You, God.

hooray for history - purple, black, and blue!

After recording yester events into
my Star Trek journal earlier today,
I had unwittingly matched ink colors to their nature.
How serendipitous, n'est-ce pas?
Purple denoted my history with Planet Fitness and their decor;
Black highlighted the history lesson at the Jepson; and
Blue was most certainly for the seven-year history I've had with the Mint Jyleps - I mean, Savannah Sweet Tease!
If I write here on blogspot, why use a paper diary as well?
Well, that's partly out of habit, but also for ease of reference.
Those stars let me know at a glance how often I'm doing my PF program.
I know, it's a little nose-on to use stars in a Star Trek journal, eh?
But I'd received it as a PFS raffle prize years ago - not from the Shatnerfest, nor at a later Shatner film, though possibly at the 2015 tribute to Leonard Nimoy - and recently unearthed it from a drawer while making room for the twins.
I'd also relocated my Eberhard Faber set of a dozen artist pencils.
Mama had given that case to me, as well as a mythological creatures coloring book, for my 23rd birthday, back in 1981.
How wonderful to be reminded of her every time I color in my 2020 journal!
i thank You, God!

Now, on to "My Story, Your Story, Our Story", as told by Althea Sumpter at the Jepson!
Here, she is the one in the middle, receiving the award for giving the W.W. Law Lecture as part of the 31st Black Heritage Festival.
She gave an enthusiastic recap of the work she has done to chronicle stories from the Gullah elders, ending with encouraging all to seek out their own roots.
Not all blacks in the States, even the Southern ones, were slaves.

That lecture was longer than anticipated, but I was still in time for this longed-for event!
Yes, ever since I saw the show last month, I've had my attendance planned to come again!
(Get it? Seriously, got the joke, right?)
Being a Georgia peach myself, Sweet Tease's "Peaches and Cream" love letter was exactly what I wanted to make my Valentine's Day sparkle!
Most especially since Jack N. ThaCox was in this show - ooh la la!
That's him in the blue cape, vamping it up as General Sherman - swirl that cape, my dear,
and shine the light on that fine sabre!
I had not known he would be there, but, I swear, he really made my night!
Even during the first act, when he was a non-disrobing waiter at Alligator Soul...
he just moves so well to the rhythm of the music...
and that very much matters to me.
I'm so glad they had postcards to commemorate their "love letter" to Savannah -
I bought the whole set, naturally!
(smile!)
He was not the only fellow up there, either.
See the guy working the long, fringed, white gloves?
He's Corbin Monoxide - hahaha haha! - and he performed his first dance tonight! He must be taking lessons from Jack, because he had moves in all the right places as a pizza guy at Vinnie Van GoGo's - oh, yeah!
Let's continue counterclockwise, shall we, because that feels appropriate for burlesque, yes?
The lady against the iron railing is none other than Rita D'LaVane, one of the five founding members of Sweet Tease.
In the first act, she represented a "tumbleweed", a stray long hair left behind in a car - funny!
But even funnier was her Nathaniel Greene number, replete with Googly eyes just everywhere! Hahaha haha!
The next postcard features Savannah's own native son, Johnny Mercer (whose "Jeepers Creepers" was the backdrop to the Greene act).
The portrayer is Jane Holiday, aka Justin's Valerie, who'd taken a turn as Spanish moss earlier. (Not actually Spanish, nor moss, just a fun tale for tourists.)
The blue polka-dot dress is worn by Lady Von Luft, another original Sweet Tease, like Rita.
Her first act was the first in the show, with her as a pedicab cyclist, just like in the photo!
Another original Sweet Tease, Sadie DeSade, is in the middle, as The Waving Girl, trusty dog by her side.
The dog wasn't there tonight, but she carried on just fine, thanks!
The woman by the Forsyth Fountain?
Her name escapes me, but I can say she did a fine "Dance of the Seven Scarves" dance!
That leaves the woman in the eighth photo, dressed as a sweet-smelling flower and reminding me of Josephine Baker in her banana dress.
This woman is Magnolia Minx, aka Midnight Minx in January's show, and the fourth original Sweet Tease in tonight's line-up.
The final skit, highlighting Savannah's spot as a bachelorette party town, featured three Sweet Tease veterans - Rita, Minx, and Lady - as well as newcomer Jane.
What a hilarious show ender!
Thank you, thank you, my dears, for concluding my history lesson with such glee...
and beginning my love holiday with such mirth and good memories!
(smile!)