"Don't laugh at me, don't call me names" Peter Yarrow sings Savannah

Kirschner’s march to the sea (Okay, the Atlantic Ocean)

Host George set up a fabulous last day in Savannah.  We began with breakfast out at a new, upscale restaurant, the 5.  They served a bagel and lox like no other.  Try cream cheese-caper roulade, soft and flavorful with fresh flakey salmon topped with equally fresh and savory tomato scallion bits.  And then it was off to Tybee Island.

Along the way we stopped at Joe’s Crab house to visit the alligator park, meander through the eclectic restaurant outdoor settings.  Too early for us but folks were already lining up for lunch-an hour wait.

We stopped at the Light Station and Museum at the mouth of Tybee Island where I climbed the light house, all 168 circular steps each way.  We explored the light house keepers house, where he and his misses raised their four children whose experiences were captured on a video which is part of the museum tour.  Great, restored house, all wood interior, lots of quiet time for puzzles and family games.

And then it was full speed ahead to the island center where its annual Pirate Fest was in full swing.  I thought Shakespearian fairs were the final rage, but I was wrong. It seems in the right circles Pirates are it.  Costumed participants, vendors selling pirate garb and accessories, and authentic hornpipe music played on electric guitars.  I was there.  Couldn’t keep my feet from stamping, hands from clapping.  I lacked only a pewter beer mug to hoist in salute of my mates.

We finished out our pirate experience with grub and drinks at Fannie’s on the beach.  Every bit as good as George remembered from a day gone by.  But the day wasn’t over.  We went from the Island back toward Savannah stopping at Grayson Stadium for the 24th annual Savannah Folk Music Festival.  We arrived at the stadium just in time for a 50 minute set by Peter Yarrow and son (Peter of the original Peter, Paul, and Mary).  Peter is aging, 75, and his voice might be a bit weaker than we remembered, but the sound and the gentleness were still in evidence.  The audience of a few thousand sang along with Blowing in the Wind, and teared up to Yarrow’s stories about www.operationrespect.org where he has developed a free curriculum to deal with school and playground bullies.  There weren’t too many who weren’t moved when we joined in the chorus, “Don’t laugh at me, don’t call me names.  Don’t take your pleasure from my pain.”  Everyone was back in the schoolyard being bullied, maybe being a bully, or knowing a child who is bullied.  I had heard this song nearly 15 years before when our granddaughter Alex was bullied at school.  

Educators and parents and grandparents there’s free curriculum and songs and games to help healing discussions about bullies and being bullied.  Worth checking out and sharing with others.   www.operationrespect.org     

Home again for our final night with George and watching the movie, Midnight in the Garden of Evil.  We loved the film again, identified the places we’d seen in Savannah.  George pointed out some of the real characters, including Chablis (who plays every week in a club in Savannah).  Worth watching again.  Jude Law had his first great performance in this movie.

Good night friends.  Tomorrow we’re off to Amelia Island and Lisa.   10/13/13