I'll Call It Like I See It

by sheila morris

Category: photography

  • can you walk 4 miles in Pretty’s shoes?


    Occasionally I luck into making a good decision – not often, mind you, just once in a blue moon…

    the moon wasn’t blue, but it was a full moon

    (the view from our little balcony – the moonlight bathed our room)

    My apparently good decision was to take Pretty to the beach for a couple of days for our anniversary. The background story involves Pretty’s penchant for purchasing her own treasures not only for herself but also for her antique businesses which means there is nothing left for me to buy for major occasions such as our anniversary. Enter my idea for the beach trip to Tybee Island, thanks to the magic of online surfing. Yes, Pretty totally gave me credit for this splendid idea.

    neither Pretty nor I had ever been to Tybee Island

    (which is just across the Savannah River into Georgia)

    you betcha!

    As soon as we got to our room, after a minor aggravation at the front desk about who Pretty was and why wasn’t I the one rushing in to handle the check-in process since the reservation was in my name, Pretty took off for the beach to scope out her walking destinations while I made sure the tv was operating properly. She walked a mile the first afternoon we were there and came in raving about the Tybee beach.

    We determined to jump out of our box for tv viewing on our trip, and I became hooked on the house channel when Pretty went out for a walk. Yes, believe it or not, I had never watched the house channel before and I became emotionally invested in the couples who had to make the tortuous choice between “loving” their newly renovated home or “listing” it to move to the most fabulous new home in the universe. I mostly wanted to love it because I definitely preferred Hillary the hot renovator over David the blah realtor. Sigh. Who’s surprised.

    the weather was perfect, the island lovely

    I spent a small amount of time poolside

    the views were spectacular, the colors simply amazing

    Fannie’s offered a wide variety on their menu

    I’m not sure we would recommend the combination of

     nachos and fried shrimp for dinner –

    just because you love them both doesn’t mean they go great together

    Alas, while I pondered the love it or list it issues, Pretty spent most of the next day walking on the beach and ended up walking 4 miles from our northern end of the island all the way to the southern tip and back. Now why would she do something so excessive.  I have no clue.

    She came limping home with a huge blister on the bottom of her foot. Uh, oh. Pretty was confined to quarters, and we watched our very first episode ever of Dancing with the Stars that night. We found the competition among the athletes as gut wrenching as my roller coaster of emotions in the  love it or list it dilemmas. We were disappointed that the snow boarder was bumped instead of one of the basketball players who we felt should stick to hoops – no disrespect intended.

    on the way home Pretty discovered an art gallery…

    …and was excited to find a tiny treasure

    next stop: Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah

    the infamous resting place that became the cover for

    Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

    the bird lady statue had been moved to a museum

    but Pretty struck the proper pose

    while I soaked in the views

    Can you believe this luck? An estate sale!

    The end to a truly perfect mini-vacation for Pretty was the adventure of following the Estate Sale Today signs to a secret location hidden in a Savannah suburb.

    Utopia. Bliss. The words I would also use to describe the getaway to Tybee Island…I predict we, as General Macarthur famously declared, shall return.

    Stay tuned.

     

     

     

     

  • BONUS pics from Francis Marion trip!


    I was pleasantly surprised to find a very kind note from Dr. Lance Weldy this morning when I opened my email, and he sent more pictures he took after the panel presentation when we were signing copies of Southern Perspectives on the Queer Movement: Committed to Home that people purchased…sweet.

    Pretty and I sign books…

    while lady who prepared yummy refreshments looks on.

    Michael Haigler and Pat Patterson sign books

    (while Pretty looks, well, pretty)

    Pat talks, Pretty signs, while I eat probably my 10th. little sandwich

    We had a great conversation with students Andi (l.) and Sierra

    we were excited to hear their wedding plans after graduation

    Thanks again to Michael, Lance, Pretty, and Pat for a fun time!

    My special gratitude to all the students and faculty from Francis Marion University who came to the event and showed us and our book some love.

     

  • road trip to Francis Marion University!


    What a wonderful reception for Southern Perspectives on the Queer Movement: Committed to Home at Pride Week at Francis Marion University last night! A group of 30 students plus several faculty members gathered in Lowrimore Auditorium to hear four contributors discuss the book and  their individual essays as gay alliance faculty sponsor Dr. Lance Weldy moderated the panel.

    Contributor Pat Patterson was the person who originally suggested the panel discussion with Dr. Weldy since Pat is a regular participant at other Pride events. Dr. Weldy took the idea and ran with it – even giving his English Lit students extra credit for attending the event. (No wonder so many students were furiously taking notes! )

    Pretty listens intently as Dr. Weldy briefs us prior to program

    Pretty, Michael Haigler, Sheila –

    Michael entertained Pretty and me on the road trip from Columbia

    Pat Patterson makes us all smile with his stories

    the old girl in action

    Many thanks to Francis Marion student Amanda Montgomery for the pictures since Pretty was pressed into panel service for the evening. Amanda took pictures in between note-taking so maybe Dr. Weldy will give her extra, extra credit?

    Following the book talk, delicious refreshments were provided, books sold and signed. In the midst of signing books, a young lesbian couple came to tell Pretty they couldn’t afford a book but didn’t want to miss an opportunity to talk to us. Would we sign a piece of paper they could use as a bookmark when they did buy the book later. Of course we were happy to write something for them and as we did, one of the young women told Pretty she had never talked to any lesbians older than 20…what the night meant to her and her girlfriend to hear us talk so openly about being who we are. They live together now and plan to get married when they graduate. Repeat: they plan to get married when they graduate.

    Pat reminded us last night that the students in the auditorium were our hope for the future – no disrespect to us oldies but goodies on the panel but these young people aren’t exhausted from the crusades – they’re just beginning the journey. Some of them will see injustice and become agents of change. Thanks for the reminder, Pat.

    Michael, Lance, Pretty, Sheila, Pat

    Stay tuned.

     

     

  • hello, gorgeous – the memories, the music, the magic of Streisand


    When Ellen DeGeneres introduced Barbra Streisand on her show a week before Christmas, I was a member of her mesmerized TV viewing audience… but felt something was slightly off kilter from the moment Barbra made her entrance. What was wrong, I thought, as Barbra walked over from my right to greet Ellen in the center of the screen with the typical hug, smile and air kiss. Then Barbra sat down in Ellen’s chair while Ellen sat down across from her. I was gobsmacked – never in all my 15 years of watching Ellen’s show had anyone dared to sit in Ellen’s chair.

    I mean, this was like a cosmic shift. I felt my universe begin to rotate counterclockwise.

    But the interview confirmed Barbra has a preferred side to be filmed and unfortunately, it was the same side Ellen liked for herself. However, in the interest of fair play (and obtaining the exclusive interview), Ellen gave up her chair for the Streisand visit – and who wouldn’t? Good move, I agreed.

    The rare television appearance on the Ellen show was to promote Barbra’s new Netflix concert; and sisters and brothers, I was happy to answer her altar call for the holy church of Streisand music during the holiday season.

    Pretty made the mistake of sleeping in later on Christmas morning when I got up to see if Santa Claus had left me anything under the tree and lo and behold, he had. I started a fire in the den fireplace and turned on Netflix to find some Christmas music. The first image I saw was Barbra’s concert she had been talking about on the Ellen show, and I knew I must have been a very good girl to get this surprise from Santa.

    who needs chestnuts roasting on an open fire

    Pretty got up in time to see Jamie Foxx and Barbra sing Climb Every Mountain together after the intermission, and she was hooked, too. They made some majestic music together.

    I have to admit I’ve skipped quite a few football bowl games this year that I normally would never miss – in favor of listening several times to the Streisand concert on Netflix. But when a concert begins with The Way We Were, hang on to your misty water-colored memories and settle in for the musical magic that the incomparable Barbra Streisand has brought to us for six decades…that would be 60 years, but who’s counting.

    Thanks, Santa.

    Stay warm – and stay tuned.

     

     

  • man of Appalachia


    When Walker Williams (83) and his brother Dit (89) go looking for a good time these days, they get in Walker’s car and take a drive north and east of Landrum, South Carolina where Walker lives now toward a tiny holler called Spillcorn in Madison County, North Carolina where both brothers were born…literally…in a home that has stood the test of time deep in the heart of Appalachia.

    no wonder the brothers come back here to their old home place

    yep, Spill Corn is a real place

     Walker’s cousin John offers a drink of cool water to anyone who drops by

    one country store in the back hollers of Madison County

    Walker leads the way inside

    (I think the rice krispie treats were homemade – delicious)

    The little convenience store is like the old general stores – it has a little bit of everything. If you’re on a long drive, you better make a quick stop and visit with Ethel who likes to know who you are, who your people are, and what you’re doing way out here.

    Appalachia unvarnished

    According to our tour guide Walker (who is Pretty’s father btw), the tobacco barns are empty now, the cattle herds smaller and the only source of revenue left for most of the people who have remained in this remote area is logging…raiding their timber to sell down the mountains.

    deep poverty exists in these mountains, and yet an occasional oasis appears 

     

    this road leads to the notorious Appalachian Trail

    thank goodness the “color came late this year”

    pair of goats interested in visitors – any snacks?

     

    another cousin, Robert, cuts his wood for any neighbors

    who might need it in the harsh winter

    a river runs through it…the sounds of rushing water penetrate the stillness

     the barns of Madison County – Walker has asked me to

    make a photo book for him – he already has captions for the images

     

    we’ll have plenty of material for his book

    this man of Appalachia saying goodbye to the mountains for today –

    until next time

    Such a treat to spend the day with Pretty, her dad and sister Darlene in the middle of these magnificent vistas that are an important part of their family history. As my friend Meghan commented on Facebook, “these are the good ol’ days for you.”

    Right on, sister.