Charms of Savannah

 

Foggy Savannah

Treetops obscured in cloud
The day wakes with resound
The higher you go, denser the cloud
Swallowing the city in shroud
A blanket of weather touching my head.

I plod down Liberty Street, a quiet tread
Muted by the undertones of grey
I tuck myself into Mirabelle to stay
With my pen scribbling jots in view
The cathedral standing graceful in hue
While towers rising into fog raising eyes
To the ultimate source, a surprise
To most who pass by, with astonished gaze
Maybe a moment their heart to God, so raise.

Savannah always charms me. Not only do I get to spend some time with my dearest friend and hang a bit with her husband and two daughters, but I get to explore the downtown history, bookshops, southern hospitality, architecture, cafes, and old traditions (like horse drawn carriages slowly clonking down the streets with tourists riding along wearing big grins). I've been coming here for many years, so it hold memories of different visits, always with my friend joining into my days, and I am deeply thankful for that time with her.

We met up again for a day of exploring and visiting the bookshops and squares I gaze at with googly eyes. One of her daughters joined for the fun, and hopefully she enjoyed these excursions! We ate at a cafe deli enjoying lunch and hot tea (for her) iced matcha (for me). Highlight of the day was visiting Flannery O'Connor's childhood home, which sits on Lafayette Square, across from the cathedral where she and her parents attended. From the upstairs parent's bedroom there is a lovely view across the square and the cathedral towers rise into view over the tallest tree branches. 

I've wanted to visit Flannery's home for so many years, but it is not a drop-in kind of place. You need to book a tour ahead of time, and they limit the number of people, of course. The tour was such a delight. Our guide was a passionate appreciator of Flannery, and we learned many stories, history, and insights. We learned how the family came to live in such a beautiful home (thanks to their cousin Katie's generous spirit as she "adopted" them all). Flannery's name is Mary Flannery, which was how she was known to all her family and friends. I feel like I can call her Mary Flannery now that I've spent time hanging out in her home.

The fate of Flannery's family took a big turn when cousin Katie adopted them, giving them super low rent to live there and implementing fancy upgrades like gold molding picture ledges, other architectural elements, and the first refrigerator on the market. This is all during the great depression, which puts it all into perspective. Cousin Katie even had an electric car, yes in 1929!  The stories of Flannery were so fun: she was six years old when she told her parents that her childhood was over and she henceforth would call them by their first names, which she did from then on. When she was little she wrote critiques of all her books inside the front cover, whether it was a good or bad book. One children's book on display was opened to show inside the cover she wrote "not a very good book" and then initialed it, signing her authority. A very early book critic.

I've read some of the stories and the prayer book by Flannery. Visiting her home was the perfect excuse to buy another book by Flannery (Mystery and Manners), which I've already read now (and it was amazing), and feeling inspired to read much more, as she was the kind of person and writer worthy of being read and appreciated. True to her beliefs, independent, not afraid to speak her mind, she wrote "grotesque" stories that accentuate our sinful natures to show the opportunity for grace in each story, in which the character can make that choice. Her Catholic faith shines through her writings. 

The rest of the day was filled with more wanders, more book shopping, browsing, enjoying the glorious weather that still had a chill in the air, then stopping for burrito bowls for dinner. What a delightful time, and I acted like I was on holiday!