Savannah Mourns

It is with an extremely heavy heart that I write about the untimely passing of Scott Waldrup, who I met the first time I dined at the Grey Restaurant in Savannah, Georgia. From the minute he acknowledged me, I knew this guy was somebody special. He had a one-of-a-kind smile that showed his eternally positive attitude but also let you know that he would happily do something devilish at any moment.

Leaving work on the 4th of July he stumbled onto the scene of a car of gang members who were fleeing the police after a shooting spree. Pushing others out of safety, Scott was hit and killed. Completely senseless. Hailed as a hero, it would be a gross understatement to say that one of Savannah's favorites will be missed.

Click for Savannah online article about Scott's heroism.



On one trip to Savannah, Scott and I met for brunch at the Collins Quarter. He knew everybody; unfortunately, his favorite Barista was not there that day, as he normally created a penis design in Scott's beverage. Only for Scott. You just had to smile.



It was fantastic getting to know him and hearing his story, his travels, about his partner Tart, and experiencing his personality. While still young, he seemed wise beyond his years...yet still so able to be a Peter Pan and have his share of mischevous fun.



He was wearing his partner's jacket; of course, I had to manipulate Tart's name for him.



On my next visit to Savannah, I traveled there with my friends Shawn & Grant. Scott rolled out the red carpet and was a host supreme for the entire visit, meeting us at Mrs. Wilkes for lunch shortly after we stepped off the plane.



As with anyone who met Scott, Shawn & Grant immediately became fast friends with this magical man.



I cherish this shot with Scott, as he was passing the plates of food around the table.



Later in the day it was drinks at Public Kitchen and Bar.



More cocktails and stops at multiple establishments throughout Savannah ended up with this shot taken in front of Mercer House, where most of the action in the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" took place. It was a fun night, capped off with my first round of bed spins in years.



Here is how most people knew Scott; tending over his kingdom at The Grey Restaurant. He never met a stranger.



Another favorite shot, as we posed with a self-timer on the steps of a Savannah home.



On our last night in Savannah, of course we stopped by the Grey to see Scott. So many people did that. He had the kind of personality that made you want to be around him. All the time.





The next morning before we headed to Charleston, Scott and his partner Tart met us for brunch. The memory of that morning brings great happiness and sadness, as it was the last time I got to see his smiling face in person.



The shorts show Scott's love for his country; he was patriotic til the end.





I ask for everyone's thoughts and prayers to be with Scott's family and especially his surviving partner, Tart. Loss is terrible; unexpected loss is unfathomable, especially for such a senseless reason.





I hope that the city of Savannah can band together and do something about the rampant crime that has been increasing over the years. When the cost is one like Scott, action must be taken. And let's do it out of a place of love for Scott, not a place of hate for the perpetrators.

RIP dear man; you were a blessing to so many.

More of my photos that show the beauty of Savannah on my main website.

Tribute to a Lady

It was with great sadness that I read the news a few months ago that The Lady Chablis had passed away. I had purchased tickets to her show at Club One in Savannah for November, and obviously she didn't make it. If you aren't familiar with "The Lady" or "The Doll" (as she liked to be referred), then you obviously haven't read the best selling book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." She was by far the biggest hit of all the "characters" John Berendt made famous, along with the sleepy historic city of Savannah, Georgia.

Although my ticket for Club One was no longer good, I was able to see a special showing of "Midnight" while in Savannah at the historic Lucas Theatre.



Before the show, there was a tribute to Chablis:



Author Berendt wrote a little piece in the program:



Some of her gowns were on display in the theatre's lobby:







Before the show started, slides with trivia were played on the big screen:



The applause began as soon as the opening sequence rolled out. Although the movie was not a favorite of mine, seeing Savannah on the big screen while in Savannah surrounded by locals was a thrill.



Chablis stole the spotlight in every scene that she was in.



She put Fred and Ginger to shame.



Local hairdresser Jerry Spence was in attendance; he can also be found in the book and the movie.



Doug and I had the pleasure of seeing Chablis for the first time back in 2008 at Club One. As soon as she saw those ones she was in love with Doug.



Naturally she wanted him up on stage.



Keep those ones coming, honey.



Now they are both in heaven; I sure hope Doug has enough ones.



The back of the program had Chablis' famous quote:



Many more Savannah, Georgia photos at my main website.

The Bird Girl

John Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" did an excellent job of weaving fact and fiction to create a compelling character study that firmly put Savannah, Georgia on the map of top tourist destinations. On the cover of the infamous bestseller is Jack Leigh's photograph of The Bird Girl, a sculpture made in 1936 by Sylvia Shaw Judson.



A family in Savannah purchased one of the four copies that Judson made and placed it in the family's burial plot in Bonaventure Cemetery. Once the book hit the bestseller list, apparently the tourist traffic to the plot caused the family to remove the statue. It didn't matter...people (including me) still visited the plot. Do you think I make a decent substitute?

The statue was put on display at the Telfair Academy Art Museum, also in Savannah. Unfortunately, photos were not allowed.



In 2014, the Bird Girl was moved next door to the Jepsen Center for the Arts.



For whatever reason, photos are now allowed.





Taking a closer look, you can see the little holes in the "dishes" that the Bird Girl holds, allowing water to flow out when it fills. Originally, it was designed to be a fountain.





More Savannah photos at my main website.

Splendid Decay

When asked why I love the city of Savannah so much, I find it difficult to put into words just exactly what it is that draws me back so often. I just booked yet another trip there and can't wait to see this historic city which beckons me to visit over and over again.



Artist Preston Russell put the feeling into words so very well:

When I drove down that first Savannah street in 1972, I saw something very moving—arresting. Old things, things that don't tend to dwell elsewhere in America. Old ways, old traditions. Tradition, someone said long ago, is the living faith of dead people. One can feel it here, even on a visit. After a few years, you know it. Old buildings, many dropping in splendid decay, like elderly folks who become more beautiful with the patina of survival. These old structures even seem to endow their occupants with an aura, as if an ordinary person walking down a Savannah street seems more real—even extraordinary—compared to that same person walking around the ubiquitous American strip mall.



Splendid decay. I love it. There is something about a historic building before it has been "restored." The moss, the cracks, the peeling paint...everything it has accumulated over the years adds to its character and heightens the story. For me, once a fresh coat of paint is slapped on, it begins to lose the wisdom and charm of its journey.



In his book, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," author John Berendt described it this way:



The city looked inward, sealed off from the noises and distractions of the world at large. It grew inward, too, and in such a way that its people flourished like hothouse plants tended by an indulgent gardener. The ordinary became extraordinary. Eccentrics thrived. Evvery nuance and quirk of personality achieved greater brilliance in that lush enclousre than would have been possible anywhere else on earth.







In anticipation of my arrival, a toast to dear Savannah...



because if it's good enough for Rembrandt...



it's good enough for me. Can't wait to see you again and feel your inspiration.

See more Savannah, Georgia photos on my Savannah web pages.