Happiness – NealEnJoy

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 4/3/26

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Palms on Palm Sunday.

2. Savannah‘s azaleas. As usual, they are glorious this spring.

3. I’m grateful for a back … that can hurt.

Two weeks ago today, I had my fourth lower back procedure in the last seven months. This time an RFA—radiofrequecy ablation (whew), “a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat from radio waves to temporarily deactivate nerves sending chronic pain signals to the brain, commonly treating spine and joint pain.” (Thanks, AI.)

Frustratingly enough, I am feeling no relief. The typical time period before feeling if the procedure was effective is 5-7 days. This is day 14. 🙁

But you know what? What I do feel is Gratitude that I have a back that has the ability to hurt.

So there, Universe!

4. Finding yet another Free Little Library! This time across the street from Savannah’s beautiful Daffin Park.

Do you have these little treasures near where you are?

What a Joy of Surprise.

5. My little Easter/Spring displays in our apartment.

May you have a few Displays of Joy in your life this Easter Weekend!

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 3/27/26

Posted on March 27, 2026March 27, 2026 by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. The beautiful Cherokee Rose that HR and I found along one of the hiking trails at Skidaway Island State Park near Savannah.

2. This Lovely Yellow at the Savannah Botanical Gardens.

I love my iNaturalist app, which helps me to quickly verify plants I see along life’s way.

3. My only complaint about all this springtime beauty would have to be the heavy overlay of pollen upon Savannah. So I am thankful for my Allegra, Flonase, and redi-melt Claritin.

4. My nose—even when it glows with springtime allergies.

5. Non-humans.

We all need a bit of Escape from People now and again.

Make you escape to a fun and healthy spring weekend ahead.

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 3/20/26

Posted on March 20, 2026 by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Discovering, on our recent stay at Magnolia Springs State Park in Millen GA, an aquatic plant that I have never encountered before: Bladderworts.

And they are carnivorous!

“Bladderwort (Utricularia) is a genus of carnivorous plants, mostly aquatic, that use tiny, bladder-like traps to capture small prey like mosquito larvae, zooplankton, and other microorganisms, supplementing their nutrient intake in nutrient-poor waters. These free-floating plants have finely divided leaves and produce small, snapdragon-like flowers, often yellow, that rise above the water.” animalogic

2. Speaking of discoveries, yesterday on a walk here on Skidaway Island near Savannah, where Robert and I are house- and dog sitting for daughter Amy, we came upon our first alligator of the season.

Wait! Look closer.

Alligators are very common in the Savannah area, often seen sunning along the rivers, lagoons and marshes.

You simply learn early on (and teach your children) to give the gators their space. And to NEVER walk your dog along the water’s edge.

HR taking a picture of me taking a picture of the gator.

We did not venture any farther along that path!

3. Giving heartfelt thanks to Mother Nature for her incredible abundance and remarkable diversity. May we resolve to take better care of Her.

4. Robert’s Buttermilk Fried Catfish breakfast the other morning.

Oh my Goodness.

5. Making it through (early this morning) the third and final part of my lower back procedure trying to help with my crazy back pain. Radiofrequency ablation. My orthopedic guy said it will take 5 to 7 days to see if the procedure was successful.

It better be. Each of the three parts had a $395 co-pay! (Healthcare in the United States.)

Make you take Great Care of your Health this weekend.

(P.S. I’m in and out of sleep, so this blog post may not make much sense.)

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 3/13/26

Posted on March 13, 2026 by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. HR all excited about his new Canon EOS R100 camera.

Can cameras really cost that much?!

2. Our great buddy Margaret being recognized at church for her 84th birthday.

3. The ability to AGE. (It is world’s better than the alternative.)

4. Chuckling at the important question in the bathroom at our Airbnb in Macon GA today:

5. The beauty of purple in Macon.

Early wisteria!

GOODness! The aroma.

I hope your weekend smells good!

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 3/6/26

Posted on March 6, 2026March 6, 2026 by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Making it through this morning’s part two (of a three-part procedure) to—hopefully/fingers crossed—help my chronic lower back pain.

The fun description: “CPT 64493 – Left – Facet Injection, Lumbar/Sacral, a shot of pain numbing substance in one level of the lower back using imaging guidance or detailed pictures to diagnose or treat lower back pain.”

I’m such a baby that even with local anesthesia, I’m sort of out of it for much of the day. But I’m back to the land of the living now, working on this post.

2. Several cool outdoorsy photos Robert took a little while ago, probably to get away from me and my “recovery.”

Is it Spring yet?

3. Our bodies, which I continue to believe/hope know how to be well and are always trying to move toward wellness.

4. Pausing to appreciate the view from above.

5. Proud of Daughter Amy being named by the Savannah area’s United Way as one of the Women Who Rule panelists.

And this sweet text I got from great buddy Jamie Marie during the event …

May you have a weekend of things that bring you healthy pride.

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 2/27/26

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Night beauty. Even at The Home Depot.

2. Coming across very neat posters.

I especially like the “Talk to the Flowers” suggestion.

3. The amazing ability to TALK and express ourselves.

4. Pets. If you’re a regular reader, I’m sure you get tired of seeing photos of Kitty Cat Benny. But what a positive difference pets can make to the quality of our lives.