there are no accidents

 

Sure, this is most certainly an accident scene.

Four ambulances, as many police cars, and four lanes of blocked traffic at a major intersection (Abercorn and DeRenne) during rush hour...

most certainly an accident scene.

Even Master Oogway would have to agree.

However, we all know he was not speaking of physical mishaps when he uttered those words.

His reference was in regard to timing of events to set a course of action: there are no accidents with those.

This wreck occurred yesterday, on Tina Tuesday, with me fortunately eastbound.

I had been westbound not thirty minutes earlier, planning for a movie in Pooler, when I realized I was going to be too late.

Moments earlier, as I was topping off the brake fluid and oil levels in my car, I had known I was cutting the drive time too close.

The glut of traffic for the I-16 exit had confirmed that, so I had continued on,  planning to turn around and head home in Garden City.

Instead, a CVS there caught my eye and I stopped by to look for the Olly Men's multivitamins that I had planned to buy in Pooler.

Lo and behold!

The store had them, as well as a superb sale on canned chicken and tuna, and those unsalted peanuts I like!

Having saved a whopping $18.23, I headed back for home.

That's when I came upon the accident scene and became grateful that I was not traveling westbound, where the line of cars stretched back almost to Waters Avenue.

i thank You, God.

That placed me home again in plenty of time for Dr. Sam Beckett to save someone's day - and to sing to me!

"Catch A Falling Star" found him as the understudy of a falling-down-drunk alcoholic Don Quixote... and in the presence of the piano teacher he'd loved when he was fifteen.

Ah, yes, a second chance...?

Not quite, as she and Ray - his new body - had been an item at Julliard.

Those embers were easily coaxed into the fire he'd nurtured as a teen!

Very nice!

 

Then what to do?

It was still 'Tina Tuesday', so of course I chose to watch a movie, 

e ere anei?
Crackle stepped up and presented "Cooped Up", an Australian made-for-tv film, made by Aussie tv stars, about a wrestler who has to go into quarantine because he might have caught a rare, but deadly, coronavirus.

Such a perfect choice!!!

Even though it was made four years ago, it was absolutely pertinent for these days.

Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

viruses have no boundaries

I woke up this morning with that thought on my mind.

Blame the countless number of political ads besieging the airwaves.

I fully realize that the United States of America is not alone in this battle against a microscopic menace... but how many others in this country acknowledge that?

I do have to wonder.

This image, though, should get the point across.

My thanks to the researchers at Johns Hopkins University for this succinct image.

My country, the USA, is in purple, with the nation as a whole mirroring the trends I have posted for the states of Florida, California, and Texas.

The jagged red line is that of Brazil, the largest of the South American countries, finally seeming to have levelled off, though not down, as it still has more than 30,000 new cases weekly... but that is still better than the USA is doing.

India, however, decked in the sweeping blue, has topped out at 100,000 cases weekly -

but it isn't done yet and has a long way to go to control the contagion.

All three countries are experiencing the same terrible pandemic.

All three countries have a huge number of people who have had their lives altered, or taken, due to infection by SARS-CoV-2.

All three countries.

That's because none of these countries have a population that is willing to follow the three basic rules:

maintain social distancing;

wear a face covering or mask;

wash your hands.

That's okay, though.

Regardless of what the politicians want to preach, here's the truth.

Viruses do NOT have a political persuasion.

Viruses do NOT have a party of preference.

Viruses do NOT have an aversion to any country.

Viruses do NOT discriminate against color of skin, religious preference, size of bank account, or sexual identity.

Viruses are the great equalizer of all people.

The only agenda of viruses is to make more viruses, and we mammals provide them with that capability.

We have to stop being such willing captives to them.

We must follow the rules.

We must.

Please.

not the groove, but groovy

I found out tonight how he received the name for red panda.
He had told me that he had learned some Mandarin so he could better enjoy the Chinese-language martial arts films that he enjoys.
I had assumed his teacher had given him the name.

No, that was not true.

I'm so thankful for the change in our schedule this week.

 

I had contacted him via text last Thursday.

The two local cinemas have reduced their days open to three per week, meaning our 'Tina Tuesday' would be movie-less.

I wanted him to have a heads-up to that change in our groove.

We both - not just me - use our weekly get-together to help us track time passage during this pandemic.

He thanked me for letting him know and grumbled off like the bear he is.

(smile)

On Friday, he had contacted me to suggest an alternative.

His home group was having their monthly meeting dedicated to celebrating their members' anniversaries on Monday evening.

That would be from 5:30 to 6:30, not too late for dinner afterward, if I'd like.

I replied in the affirmative, thinking it was just for the dinner.

No, that was not correct.

He invited me to be present for the meeting, too.
THAT is not only something different, but a welcome inclusion into this important part of his life.
Wow.

Afterward, he asked for suggestions on where to dine and I popped up with Cracker Barrel...

primarily because I have such a fond memory of a pre-holiday meal ahared there, with carolers, two years ago...

proffering a second suggestion of Olive Garden (knowing his comfort food is Italian)...

since choices are good to have...
and, after a moment to decide, he gladly accepted the first option.

Somehow, in the bright lobby lighting, I really noticed his red hair tonight.

Of course I knew he had that...

I just never quite noticed it.

Perhaps it was because he was dressed quite sharply, fostering a new, more grown-up look, with the cream tie and dark vest, that really completed his image much more so than a t-shirt ever did.

Perhaps that was what drew my attention to his hair, who's to say?
He had his favorite meal at that restaurant (country fried steak) and I dined on 'greens and beans' and the cornbread I had been missing with my chili yesterday.
I guess he must have been much more relaxed than usual...
maybe his new grown-up clothes have lent him some confidence...
but he told me he had been an ESL teacher for 6 months in China, post-graduate school...
and that is where he learned to eat with chopsticks...
and that is where he was given the name Xióngmāo, by the students.
Wow.
I really love these times when we just wander, taking the road less traveled in our conversation.
This truly has been a Marvelous Monday.
i thank You, God.

4 signs of fall in savannah, plus 1

Sign #1

It's God on Broadway time at AMC!

No, I mean the church, not the cinema, though I was quite surprised that no one at the former knew the latter had been open for the past seven weeks.

This week we were treated to a reprise of 2016's "The Phantom of The Opera".

In the tag, Opera Ghost auditioned for next week's "A Chorus Line", which won't be live; it'll be Memorex (i.e., youtube video).

 

Sign #2

The oven can be turned on!

That means I can bake again and so I have been, starting with this delight.

Not enough flour for the recipe?

Substitute half a box of coconut cake mix and no sugar is needed, either!

The resulting apple coconut cake is quite nice and I still have mix and fruit for another.

I'll be sharing two slices with Kevin on our Marvelous Monday.
(More on that later.)

Sign #3

Time for shrubbery trimming again!

It's cool enough outside for me to dress in the attire needed for this type of work: long pants, socks, long-sleeved shirt, gloves.

Lest one think I'm overdoing it, let's look back at the rashes, shall we?

My grounds have a surplus of poison ivy, blackberry brambles, and thorn vines, so covered flesh is a must!

A 'before' and 'after' photo session is also a must, if I am to feel any sense of accomplishment.

I had labored for more than an hour on the back corner by the house and around the bird bath.

Those tree limbs and dead lantana were the product of that.

Then I toiled almost two hours cutting stray oaks and wild cherry and hauling all to the curb.

For now, three piles await the truck next week.

I hope to add at least one bag of flesh-aggravating flora. 

Sign #4

The crockpot made dinner!

That's thanks to the palindrome leading to my unexpected shopping trip at Food Lion last night.

Kidney beans, pinto beans, red beans, a bag of onions - all found their way into my buggy.

How wonderful to come in from all that yardwork... and smell chili in the air, all done and waiting on me!

What a relief to not have to cook!

Sign #5

The comforter is on the bed!

I finally relented Friday, pulling it out of its bag in the closet.

Hallelujah!

That was the first night of restful sleep in days and I awakened refreshed and WARM Saturday morning!

My hands were nice and toasty, too, after a night in socks -

ah, bliss!

Little blessings are the best!

i thank You, God!

where were you for the palindrome?

I was at the grocery store.

"Oh, that wasn't a rhetorical question?"

No, not really.

As you may recall, I had looked forward to this moment occurring on a road trip.

You know, as being part of me 'waking up somewhere different.'

 

"Are you referring to an odometer reading?

That's got to be it.

Strange that you never mentioned that here. " 

What do you mean by that?

I had to have written about!

I very much recall spending most of a day dreaming about it and planning an overnight excursion!

In fact, I've spent more than one day doing that very thing!

 

"Well, buttercup, you never wrote about it.

Never, ever.

Not even an allusion to such a trip. "

 

How could that be???

Let me take a quick look....

there's the post about the mileage hitting 214000...

then, I had this one on the day of gathering information for a two-day trip to Monticello and its walking tours...

and then I wrote this entry after trying to plan just an overnighter in the Darien or Jekyll Island area.

But, you're absolutely right.

I never actually mentioned those possible out-of-town outings.

How odd.

 

"My point exactly.

How unlike you to have not even mentioned that you had spent so much time DREAMING about such things.

Perhaps you don't want to make them REAL? "

 

Oh, let's hope that's not the case.

For my travel jones to have dissipated to a state of nonexistence would be a very sad thing indeed.

I think the real reason is this: my car needs some work done and I don't want to venture too far afield yet.

As long as I still have a spare tire that is useless...

as long as I still have the "BRAKES" light for the leak in that system...

as long as I still have the "Change oil soon" reminder illuminating...

I have a reason to keep my silly self home. 

"I totally get that.

I've noticed an increase in the number of nights per week that you are out and about.

Now that the cinemas have reopened, your need to return to your life as a 'busy, vibrant woman' has been reactivated. " 

My 'need' - that is exactly the perfect word.

I have been following the rules, as is my nature, since March.

I have grown weary of doing so, but I have persevered, attempting to keep the needle in the groove.

I have sought out diversions online and entertained myself with shopping excursions to different stores.

I have even ventured out for a drive-in movie in Jesup!

"Oh, yes, you did!

Okay, that's a sign that you still want to travel!

After all, you've needed a new spare tire since January! " 

You're right again, dearie!

Oh, that is perking me up!

Okay, I need to get these things taken care of for the car...

and what better motivator than a planned trip in the offing?

 

"Oh, hooray!

That's the spirit! "

Yes, that's what I will start doing!

This week's project will be to decide on a new place to go and a new activity to do there!

I'll go ahead and make a reservation at a motel, too, so the trip will be real and not a dream.

Yes, yes, good course of action!

I guess this odometer palindrome of 214412 has found me exactly where I needed to be: at a decision-making place in my life.

Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

all in the front, stripe across the back

 

What a mileage to see: 214400.

That's the reading back in my driveway again.

When I had called GEICO about my latest bill, I had explained that I am retired and no longer travel back and forth to work.

When Gregory asked if I knew how many miles I was putting on the car since I first retired, I could actually tell him.

I retired in fall of 2018, drawing my first TIAA ORP payment in November of that year.

That coincided with the date that I wrote this post, which noted the odometer reading of 202000.

That means I've only put twelve thousand miles on my car in almost two years.

When I was working, I'd run my car that far, easily, in just one year.

Thanks to my keeping track of such things, my insurance bill dropped.

Want to guess by how much?

I was quite surprised: more than 22 percent!!!

That's $171.36, per year, that's going to stay in my pocket!

Broken down by month, it's just $14.28, but here's the thing:

that's still staying with me, not going elsewhere.

Woohoo!!!

I felt like I was soaring above the clouds, headed for the sun!

Now I know how Hiccup and Astrid felt as Toothless took them to heights they'd never known in Berk.

I so love this movie!

It's hard for me to believe that "How To Train Your Dragon" is already a decade old!

I'm so glad I was able to see it as my 'Friday night out' movie!

The two cinemas in town have cut back to only having screenings on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

That began on Wednesday, so no more "Tina Tuesday" outings to movies in Savannah.

The Royal in Pooler will still have movies on that day, should the bfrb want to go to there.

I've let him know, of course, did that yesterday.

That's so he can wrap his head around the change for next week.

(smile)

Now, what's up with that silly post title up there?

Am I referring to some new haircut?

Only if mowing the grass can be thought of as giving the Earth's hair a trim!

Then again, I suppose whatever can be said about the sea oats also holds true for the crab grass, since both have ties to the beach.

(Get my little joke?)
Yes, I still feel like I'm floating on air ever since my talk to Gregory...

and, to think, I had so dreaded making that call and trying to save on my car insurance...

what great silliness.

I just wish I had known retirement would bring that perk!

Still, right place, right time, as the odometer attests.

i thank You, God!

unexpected conversation

You can only know the truths that someone else chooses to share with you.

It doesn't matter how long you've known them, or in what capacity.

It truly doesn't even matter if you live with them or not.

It doesn't matter whether they are a friend or a lover or family.

You can only know what is in their head if they choose to share it...

and you never know what might spark a revelation.

I had certainly not expected the following initial text to elicit a truth.

Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

me:
Just to let you know - the two cinemas here are only going to be open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday henceforth.
The Royal in Pooler still has Tuesday.

him:
Grumbles*
(Goes on about economics)

me:
Knew you would need a heads up.
Knew you would understand.

him:
Thank you.
I know we've never talked about it but I am almost certainly on the autism spectrum.
Somewhere between plain old neurotic as hell and what used to be called Asperger's syndrome.
Not severe enough to be diagnosable perhaps but easily enough to make my life (and other people's lives) sometimes more challenging.
Thank you for understanding.
I'm not difficult on purpose, I promise.

me:
Understood.
I got yer back, dear.
That's what Aunties do.

him:
Thank you.
You are much loved.

me:
You are too.
Never forget that.
Seriously.
You are family I have chosen and that makes you a loved part of my life.

Where does our friendship go from here?

Does the path veer to the left?

Does it curve to the right?

It doesn't matter.

We proceed ever forward...

one step at a time...

one day at a time.

I know he has become well acquainted over the past eight years with that concept...

because he has told me of his upcoming anniversary with sobriety.

Plus, one step forward at a time 

is all anyone can do anyway

here on this blue-green orb

spinning through space.

(smile)